165 research outputs found
Opening the Treasure Chest in Carina
We have mapped the G287.84-0.82 cometary globule (with the Treasure Chest
cluster embedded in it) in the South Pillars region of Carina (i) in [CII],
63micron [OI], and CO(11-10) using upGREAT on SOFIA and (ii) in J=2-1
transitions of CO, 13CO, C18O and J=3-2 transitions of H2CO using the APEX
telescope in Chile. We probe the morphology, kinematics, and physical
conditions of the molecular gas and the photon dominated regions (PDRs) in
G287.84-0.82. The [CII] and [OI] emission suggest that the overall structure of
the pillar (with red-shifted photo evaporating tails) is consistent with the
effect of FUV radiation and winds from eta-Car and O stars in Trumpler 16. The
gas in the head of the pillar is strongly influenced by the embedded cluster,
whose brightest member is an O9.5V star, CPD-59 2661. The emission of the [CII]
and [OI] lines peak at a position close to the embedded star, while all other
tracers peak at another position lying to the north-east consistent with gas
being compressed by the expanding PDR created by the embedded cluster. The
molecular gas inside the globule is probed with the J=2-1 transitions of CO and
isotopologues as well as H2CO, and analyzed using a non-LTE model
(escape-probability approach), while we use PDR models to derive the physical
conditions of the PDR. We identify at least two PDR gas components; the diffuse
part (~10^4 cm^-3) is traced by [CII], while the dense (n~ 2-8x10^5 cm^-3) part
is traced by [CII], [OI], CO(11-10). Using the F=2-1 transition of [13CII]
detected at 50 positions in the region, we derive optical depths (0.9-5),
excitation temperatures of [CII] (80-255 K), and N(C+) of 0.3-1x10^19 cm^-2.
The total mass of the globule is ~1000 Msun, about half of which is traced by
[CII]. The dense PDR gas has a thermal pressure of 10^7-10^8 K cm^-3, which is
similar to the values observed in other regions.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (abstract
slightly abridged
Spatial distribution of emission in Unidentified Infrared Bands from Midcourse Space Experiment Survey
Recently the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) has surveyed the Galactic plane
in mainly four infrared bands between 6 and 25 micron. Two of these bands cover
several Unidentified Infrared emission Bands (UIBs). With the aim of extracting
the spatial distribution of the UIB emission on a large scale, a scheme has
been developed to model the MSX data with emission in the UIBs alongwith the
underlying thermal continuum from the interstellar dust. In order to test this
scheme, a sample of five Galactic compact H II regions (Sh-61, Sh-138, Sh-152,
Sh-156, Sh-186; Zavagno & Ducci 2001) for which imaging study in some
individual UIBs is available from ISOCAM measurements, has been studied. The
results of this comparative study on small angular scale are as follows : (i)
the morphological details extracted from our scheme agree very well with those
from the superior ISOCAM measurements; (ii) the integrated strength of UIBs
extracted from the MSX database correlates extremely well with the sum of the
strengths of individual UIBs measured from ISOCAM. This tight correlation is
very encouraging and promises the potential of MSX database for study of large
scale spatial distribution of UIB emission (and the carriers of UIBs) in the
entire Galactic plane.Comment: to be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics; (9 pages including 2
tables & 11 figures
High Spectral and Spatial Resolution Observations of the PDR Emission in the NGC2023 Reflection Nebula with SOFIA and APEX
We have mapped the NGC 2023 reflection nebula in [CII] and CO(11--10) with
the heterodyne receiver GREAT on SOFIA and obtained slightly smaller maps in
13CO(3--2), CO(3--2), CO(4--3), CO(6--5), and CO(7--6) with APEX in Chile. We
use these data to probe the morphology, kinematics, and physical conditions of
the C II region, which is ionized by FUV radiation from the B2 star HD37903.
The [CII] emission traces an ellipsoidal shell-like region at a position angle
of ~ -50 deg, and is surrounded by a hot molecular shell. In the southeast,
where the C II region expands into a dense, clumpy molecular cloud ridge, we
see narrow and strong line emission from high-J CO lines, which comes from a
thin, hot molecular shell surrounding the [CII] emission. The [CII] lines are
broader and show photo evaporating gas flowing into the C II region. Based on
the strength of the [13CII] F=2--1 line, the [CII] line appears to be somewhat
optically thick over most of the nebula with an optical depth of a few. We
model the physical conditions of the surrounding molecular cloud and the PDR
emission using both RADEX and simple PDR models. The temperature of the CO
emitting PDR shell is ~ 90 -- 120 K, with densities of 10^5 -- 10^6 cm^-3, as
deduced from RADEX modeling. Our PDR modeling indicates that the PDR layer
where [CII] emission dominates has somewhat lower densities, 10^4 to a few
times 10^5 cm^-3Comment: Accepted by A&
Excitation and abundance of C_3 in star forming cores: Herschel/HIFI observations of the sight-lines to W31C and W49N
We present spectrally resolved observations of triatomic carbon (C_3) in several ro-vibrational transitions between the vibrational ground state and
the low-energy ν_2 bending mode at frequencies between 1654−1897 GHz along the sight-lines to the submillimeter continuum sources W31C
and W49N, using Herschel’s HIFI instrument. We detect C_3 in absorption arising from the warm envelope surrounding the hot core, as indicated
by the velocity peak position and shape of the line profile. The sensitivity does not allow to detect C_3 absorption due to diffuse foreground clouds.
From the column densities of the rotational levels in the vibrational ground state probed by the absorption we derive a rotation temperature (T_(rot))
of ~50−70 K, which is a good measure of the kinetic temperature of the absorbing gas, as radiative transitions within the vibrational ground state
are forbidden. It is also in good agreement with the dust temperatures for W31C and W49N. Applying the partition function correction based on
the derived T_(rot), we get column densities N(C_3) ~ 7−9 × 10^(14) cm^(−2) and abundance x(C_3) ~ 10^(−8) with respect to H_2. For W31C, using a radiative
transfer model including far-infrared pumping by the dust continuum and a temperature gradient within the source along the line of sight we find
that a model with x(C_3) = 10^(−8), T_(kin) = 30−50 K, N(C_3) = 1.5 × 10^(15) cm^(−2) fits the observations reasonably well and provides parameters in very
good agreement with the simple excitation analysis
Mapping of Large Scale 158 micron [CII] Line Emission: Orion A
We present the first results of an observational programme undertaken to map
the fine structure line emission of singly ionized carbon ([CII] 157.7409
micron) over extended regions using a Fabry Perot spectrometer newly installed
at the focal plane of a 100cm balloon-borne far-infrared telescope. This new
combination of instruments has a velocity resolution of ~200 km/s and an
angular resolution of 1.5'. During the first flight, an area of 30'x15' in
Orion A was mapped. The observed [CII] intensity distribution has been compared
with the velocity-integrated intensity distributions of 13CO(1-0), CI(1-0) and
CO(3-2) from the literature. The observed line intensities and ratios have been
analyzed using the PDR models by Kaufman et al. 1999 to derive the incident UV
flux and volume density at a few selected positions.Comment: To appear in Astronomy & Astrophysic
Efficient absolute aspect determination of a balloon borne far infrared telescope using a solid state optical photometer
The observational and operational efficiency of the TIFR 1 meter balloon
borne far infrared telescope has been improved by incorporating a multielement
solid state optical photometer (SSOP) at the Cassegrain focus of the telescope.
The SSOP is based on a 1-D linear photo diode array (PDA). The online and
offline processing schemes of the PDA signals which have been developed, lead
to improvement in the determination of absolute telescope aspect (
0\farcm8), which is very crucial for carrying out the observations as well as
offline analysis. The SSOP and its performance during a recent balloon flight
are presented here.Comment: To appear in the February 2000 issue of the PAS
Infrared study of the Southern Galactic star forming region associated with IRAS 14416-5937
Aims: We have carried out an infrared study of the southern Galactic massive
star forming region associated with IRAS 14416-5937. Methods: This star forming
region has been mapped simultaneously in two far infrared bands at ~ 150 & 210
micron using the TIFR 1-m balloon borne telescope with ~ 1' angular resolution.
We have used 2MASS JHK as well as Spitzer-GLIMPSE data of this region to
study the stellar populations of the embedded young cluster. This region
comprises of two sources, designated as A & B and separated by ~ 2 pc. The
spectrum of a region located close to the source A obtained using the Long
Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) on-board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), is
presented. Emission from warm dust and from Unidentified Infrared Bands (UIBs)
is estimated using the mid-infrared data of the MSX survey. Results: The
spatial distributions of (1) the temperature of cool dust and (2) optical depth
at 200 micron have been obtained taking advantage of the similar beams in both
the TIFR bands. A number of atomic fine structure lines have been detected in
the ISO-LWS spectrum, which have been used to estimate the electron density and
the effective temperature of the ionising radiation in this region. From the
near and mid infrared images, we identify a dust lane due north-west of source
A. The dust lane is populated by Class I type sources. Class II type sources
are found further along the dust lane as well as below it. Self consistent
radiative transfer models of the two sources (A and B) are in good agreement
with the observed spectral energy distributions. Conclusions: The spatial
distribution of young stellar objects in and around the dust lane suggests that
active star formation is taking place along the dust lane and is possibly
triggered by the expanding HII regions of A and B.Comment: Accepted by the Astronomy and Astrophysics (21 pages, 7 tables and 13
figures
Far infrared mapping of three Galactic star forming regions : W3(OH), S 209 & S 187
Three Galactic star forming regions associated with W3(OH), S209 and S187
have been simultaneously mapped in two trans-IRAS far infrared (FIR) bands
centered at ~ 140 and 200 micron using the TIFR 100 cm balloon borne FIR
telescope. These maps show extended FIR emission with structures. The HIRES
processed IRAS maps of these regions at 12, 25, 60 & 100 micron have also been
presented for comparison. Point-like sources have been extracted from the
longest waveband TIFR maps and searched for associations in the other five
bands. The diffuse emission from these regions have been quantified, which
turns out to be a significant fraction of the total emission. The spatial
distribution of cold dust (T < 30 K) for two of these sources (W3(OH) & S209),
has been determined reliably from the maps in TIFR bands. The dust temperature
and optical depth maps show complex morphology. In general the dust around S209
has been found to be warmer than that in W3(OH) region.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy (20
pages including 8 figures & 3 tables
Herschel observations of interstellar chloronium. II - Detections toward G29.96-0.02, W49N, W51, and W3(OH), and determinations of the ortho-to-para and Cl/Cl isotopic ratios
We report additional detections of the chloronium molecular ion, HCl,
toward four bright submillimeter continuum sources: G29.96, W49N, W51, and
W3(OH). With the use of the HIFI instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory,
we observed the transition of ortho-HCl at 781.627
GHz in absorption toward all four sources. Much of the detected absorption
arises in diffuse foreground clouds that are unassociated with the background
continuum sources and in which our best estimates of the ratio lie in the range .
These chloronium abundances relative to atomic hydrogen can exceed the
predictions of current astrochemical models by up to a factor of 5. Toward
W49N, we have also detected the transition of
ortho-HCl at 780.053 GHz and the transition of
para-HCl at 485.418 GHz. These observations imply column density ratios that are consistent with the
solar system Cl/Cl isotopic ratio of 3.1, and chloronium
ortho-to-para ratios consistent with 3, the ratio of spin statistical weights.Comment: 31 pages, including 7 figures. Accepted for publication in the Ap
Far Infrared Observations of the Galactic Star Forming Regions associated with IRAS 00338+6312 and RAFGL 5111
Two Galactic star forming regions, one in a very early phase of evolution and another evolved one, associated with the IRAS sources 00338+6312 and 03595+5110 (RAFGL 5111) respectively have been studied in detail. These sources have been mapped simultaneously in two far infrared bands at 143 & 185 \micron), with about 1.5 arcmin angular resolution, using the TIFR 100 cm balloon borne telescope. The HIRES processed IRAS maps at 12, 25, 60 & 100 \micron, have been used for comparison. Whereas IRAS 00338+6312 is resolved only in the TIFR bands, RAFGL 5111 is very well resolved in both the TIFR bands, as well as in at least 3 IRAS bands. The neighbouring fainter source IRAS 04004+5114 has also been resolved in the TIFR bands. Taking advantage of the identical beams in the two TIFR bands at 143 & 185 \micron, dust colour temperature, , and optical depth, , maps have been generated for RAFGL 5111. These maps show interesting structural details. Radiative transfer modelling in spherical geometry has been carried out for individual sources. The best fit models are in good agreement with the observed spectral energy distribution (SED), radio continuum data etc. Another scheme of radiative transfer through the interstellar dust-gas cloud including the heavier elements has been used to predict ionic nebular line emission, which are in reasonable agreement with the measurements for RAFGL 5111. An important conclusion from the present study is that, for all the three sources (IRAS 00338+6312; 03595+5110; and 04004+5114, a faint source in the neighbourhood of RAFGL 5111), the best fit to the observed SED is obtained for a uniform density () cloud
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