161 research outputs found
Extraplanar Dust in the Edge-On Spiral NGC 891
We present high-resolution (<0.65") optical broad-band images of the edge-on
Sb galaxy NGC 891 obtained with the WIYN 3.5-m telescope. These BVR images
reveal a complex network of hundreds of dust absorbing structures far from the
mid-plane of the galaxy. The dust structures have a wide range of morphologies
and are clearly visible to |z|<1.5 kpc from the mid-plane. In this paper we
discuss the general characteristics of the population of absorbing structures,
as well as physical properties of 12 individual features. These 12 structures
are characterised by N_H >10^21 cm^-2, with masses estimated to be more than
2x10^5 - 5x10^6 solar masses, assuming Galactic gas-to-dust relationships. The
gravitational potential energies of the individual dust structures, given their
observed heights and derived masses, lie in the range of 20-200x10^51 ergs.
Rough number counts of extraplanar dust features suggest the mass of high-z gas
associated with extraplanar dust in NGC 891 likely exceeds 2x10^8 solar masses,
or ~2% of the total neutral ISM mass of the galaxy.
We discuss several mechanisms which may produce high-z dust structures such
as those seen in the images presented here. It is not yet known which of these
mechanisms are primarily responsible for the extensive extraplanar dust
structures seen in our images. The data presented are part of a larger program
to search for and characterize off-plane dust structures in edge-on systems.
(Abstract Abridged)Comment: To appear in the Astronomical Journal: 37 pages, Latex; 9 separate
figures; the paper and high-resolution figures are also available at
http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~howk/Papers/papers.htm
A Method for Deriving Accurate Gas-Phase Abundances for the Multiphase Interstellar Galactic Halo
We describe a new method for determining total gas-phase abundances for the
Galactic ISM with minimal ionization uncertainties. For sight lines toward
globular clusters containing both UV-bright stars and radio pulsars, one can
measure column densities of HI and several metal ions using UV absorption
measurements and of H II using radio dispersion measurements, thereby
minimizing ionization uncertainties. We apply this method to the globular
cluster Messier 3 sight line using FUSE and HST ultraviolet spectroscopy of the
post-asymptotic giant branch star von Zeipel 1128 and radio observations by
Ransom et al. of millisecond pulsars. Ionized hydrogen is 45+/-5% of the total
along this sight line, the highest measured fraction along a high-latitude
pulsar sight line. We derive total gas-phase abundances log N(S)/N(H) =
-4.87+/-0.03 and log N(Fe)/N(H) = -5.27+/-0.05. Our derived sulfur abundance is
in excellent agreement with recent solar system determinations of Asplund,
Grevesse, & Sauval, but -0.14 dex below the solar system abundance typically
adopted in studies of the ISM. The iron abundance is ~-0.7 dex below the solar
system abundance, consistent with significant depletion. Abundance estimates
derived by simply comparing S II and Fe II to H I are +0.17 and +0.11 dex
higher, respectively, than our measurements. Ionization corrections to the
gas-phase abundances measured in the standard way are, therefore, significant
compared with the measurement uncertainties along this sight line. The
systematic uncertainties associated with the uncertain contribution to the
electron column density from ionized helium could raise these abundances by
<+0.03 dex (+7%). [Abridged]Comment: To appear in the ApJ. 25 pages, including figures and tex
Evidence for Correlated Titanium and Deuterium Depletion in the Galactic ISM
Current measurements indicate that the deuterium abundance in diffuse
interstellar gas varies spatially by a factor of ~4 among sightlines extending
beyond the Local Bubble. One plausible explanation for the scatter is the
variable depletion of D onto dust grains. To test this scenario, we have
obtained high signal-to-noise, high resolution profiles of the refractory ion
TiII along seven Galactic sightlines with D/H ranging from 0.65 to 2.1x10^-5.
These measurements, acquired with the recently upgraded Keck/HIRES
spectrometer, indicate a correlation between Ti/H and D/H at the >95% c.l.
Therefore, our observations support the interpretation that D/H scatter is
associated with differential depletion. We note, however, that Ti/H values
taken from the literature do not uniformly show the correlation. Finally, we
identify significant component-to-component variations in the depletion levels
among individual sightlines and discuss complications arising from this
behavior.Comment: 4 pages; Accepted to Astrophysical Journal Letter
Detection of Interstellar C_2 and C_3 in the Small Magellanic Cloud
We report the detection of absorption from interstellar C_2 and C_3 toward
the moderately reddened star Sk 143, located in the near 'wing' region of the
SMC, in optical spectra obtained with the ESO VLT/UVES. These detections of C_2
(rotational levels J=0-8) and C_3 (J=0-12) absorption in the SMC are the first
beyond our Galaxy. The total abundances of C_2 and C_3 (relative to H_2) are
similar to those found in diffuse Galactic molecular clouds -- as previously
found for CH and CN -- despite the significantly lower average metallicity of
the SMC. Analysis of the rotational excitation of C_2 yields an estimated
kinetic temperature T_k ~ 25 K and a moderately high total hydrogen density n_H
~ 870 cm^-3 -- compared to the T_01 ~ 45 K and n_H ~ 85-300 cm^-3 obtained from
H_2. The populations of the lower rotational levels of C_3 are consistent with
an excitation temperature of about 34 K.Comment: accepted to MNRAS; 10 pages, 6 figure
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