The infrared and molecular environment surrounding the Wolf-Rayet star WR130

We present a study of the molecular CO gas and mid/far infrared radiation arising from the environment surrounding the Wolf-Rayet (W-R) star 130. We use the multi-wavelength data to analyze the properties of the dense gas and dust, and its possible spatial correlation with that of Young Stellar Objects (YSOs). We use CO J=1-0 data from the FCRAO survey as tracer of the molecular gas, and mid/far infrared data from the recent WISE and Herschel space surveys to study the dust continuum radiation and to identify a population of associated candidate YSOs. The spatial distribution of the molecular gas shows a ring-like structure very similar to that observed in the HI gas, and over the same velocity interval. The relative spatial distribution of the HI and CO components is consistent with a photo-dissociation region. We have identified and characterized four main and distinct molecular clouds that create this structure. Cold dust is coincident with the dense gas shown in the CO measurements. We have found several cYSOs that lie along the regions with the highest gas column density, and suggest that they are spatially correlated with the shell. These are indicative of regions of star formation induced by the strong wind and ionization of the WR star.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, 6 Tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Optimizing adiabaticity in quantum mechanics

A condition on the Hamiltonian of a time-dependent quantum mechanical system is derived which, if satisfied, implies optimal adiabaticity (defined below). The condition is expressed in terms of the Hamiltonian and in terms of the evolution operator related to it. Since the latter depends in a complicated way on the Hamiltonian, it is not yet clear how the condition can be used to extract useful information about the optimal Hamiltonian. The condition is tested on an exactly-soluble time-dependent problem (a spin in a magnetic field), where perfectly adiabatic evolution can be easily identified.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

VLA radio continuum and IRAS observations of the ring nebulae around WR 101 and WR 113

We report radio continuum observations at 1465 MHz obtained with the Very Large Array (VLA) in the DnC configuration toward the ring nebulae associated with the stars WR 101 and WR 113, with resolutions of ∼38″ and 30″, respectively. IRAS images of the nebulae with resolutions of about 2′ (90 M⊙, 40 cm-3) are also analyzed. A remarkable resemblance among the optical, infrared, and radio images of these ring nebulae is observed. The VLA data indicate that Anon. WR 101 is thermal in nature. An ionized mass of ≈230 ± 40 M⊙ and electron densities in the range ≈40-55 cm-3 were estimated for Anon. WR 101. The derived ionized masses and electron densities in the inner and outer shells of the nebula related to WR 113 are ≈20 ± 10 M⊙, 180-500 cm-3 and ≈90 M⊙ 40 cm-3, respectively. Based on infrared data at 60 and 100 μm, the derived masses and temperatures for the dust component in the ring nebula around WR 101 are 0.3-1 M⊙ and ≈40 K. The associated masses suggest that the ring nebula related to WR 101 and the outer arc associated with WR 113 consist of swept-up interstellar matter, while the relatively low ionized mass associated with the inner shell of the nebula around WR 113 may contain a nonnegligible contribution of expelled ejecta material. The derived electron densities for the nebula around WR 101 and the inner shell around WR 113 are comparable to electron densities for other W-R ring nebulae. Low filling factors are inferred for both nebulae. The nebulae probably originated during the current W-R phase of the stars.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto Argentino de Radioastronomí

VLA radio continuum and IRAS observations of the ring nebulae around WR 101 and WR 113

We report radio continuum observations at 1465 MHz obtained with the Very Large Array (VLA) in the DnC configuration toward the ring nebulae associated with the stars WR 101 and WR 113, with resolutions of ∼38″ and 30″, respectively. IRAS images of the nebulae with resolutions of about 2′ (90 M⊙, 40 cm-3) are also analyzed. A remarkable resemblance among the optical, infrared, and radio images of these ring nebulae is observed. The VLA data indicate that Anon. WR 101 is thermal in nature. An ionized mass of ≈230 ± 40 M⊙ and electron densities in the range ≈40-55 cm-3 were estimated for Anon. WR 101. The derived ionized masses and electron densities in the inner and outer shells of the nebula related to WR 113 are ≈20 ± 10 M⊙, 180-500 cm-3 and ≈90 M⊙ 40 cm-3, respectively. Based on infrared data at 60 and 100 μm, the derived masses and temperatures for the dust component in the ring nebula around WR 101 are 0.3-1 M⊙ and ≈40 K. The associated masses suggest that the ring nebula related to WR 101 and the outer arc associated with WR 113 consist of swept-up interstellar matter, while the relatively low ionized mass associated with the inner shell of the nebula around WR 113 may contain a nonnegligible contribution of expelled ejecta material. The derived electron densities for the nebula around WR 101 and the inner shell around WR 113 are comparable to electron densities for other W-R ring nebulae. Low filling factors are inferred for both nebulae. The nebulae probably originated during the current W-R phase of the stars.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto Argentino de Radioastronomí

On the metal abundances inside mixed-morphology supernova remnants: the case of IC443 and G166.0+4.3

Recent developments on the study of mixed morphology supernova remnants (MMSNRs) have revealed the presence of metal rich X-ray emitting plasma inside a fraction of these remnant, a feature not properly addressed by traditional models for these objects. Radial profiles of thermodynamical and chemical parameters are needed for a fruitful comparison of data and model of MMSNRs, but these are available only in a few cases. We analyze XMM-Newton data of two MMSNRs, namely IC443 and G166.0+4.3, previously known to have solar metal abundances, and we perform spatially resolved spectral analysis of the X-ray emission. We detected enhanced abundances of Ne, Mg and Si in the hard X-ray bright peak in the north of IC443, and of S in the outer regions of G166.0+4.3. The metal abundances are not distributed uniformly in both remnants. The evaporating clouds model and the radiative SNR model fail to reproduce consistently all the observational results. We suggest that further deep X-ray observations of MMSNRs may reveal more metal rich objects. More detailed models which include ISM-ejecta mixing are needed to explain the nature of this growing subclass of MMSNRs.Comment: A&A in press. For journal style pdf file, http://www.astropa.unipa.it/Library/OAPA_preprints/fb10742.pd

X-ray Observations of the Compact Source in CTA 1

The point source RX J0007.0+7302, at the center of supernova remnant CTA 1, was studied using the X-Ray Multi-mirror Mission. The X-ray spectrum of the source is consistent with a neutron star interpretation, and is well described by a power law with the addition of a soft thermal component that may correspond to emission from hot polar cap regions or to cooling emission from a light element atmosphere over the entire star. There is evidence of extended emission on small spatial scales which may correspond to structure in the underlying synchrotron nebula. No pulsations are observed. Extrapolation of the nonthermal spectrum of RX J0007.0+7302 to gamma-ray energies yields a flux consistent with that of EGRET source 3EG J0010+7309, supporting the proposition that there is a gamma-ray emitting pulsar at the center of CTA 1. Observations of the outer regions of CTA 1 with the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics confirm earlier detections of thermal emission from the remnant and show that the synchrotron nebula extends to the outermost reaches of the SNR.Comment: 5 pages, including 4 postscript figs.LaTex. Accepted for publication by Ap

Searching for evidence of interaction between the of star HD 229196 and the interstellar medium

Massive stars with strong stellar winds are expected to have a huge impact on their interstellar surroundings, an effect which, in a surprisingly large number of cases, is not observed. This work is part of a concerted effort to obtain a better and more homogeneous observational data base with which to test the predictions of theoretical models. Analysis of the interstellar medium around the Of star HD 229196 shows that it coincides (in projection) with a region of lower radio continuum emission. This suggests that the star has shaped the surrounding interstellar medium via its ionizing flux and stellar wind. However, we find no clear evidence of the star's action in atomic hydrogen images. The radio continuum morphology and absence of a clear expanding H i shell are consistent with the possibility that the star, which is travelling supersonically at ∼30 km s-1 with respect to its local interstellar medium, is creating a weak bow shock. We cannot however rule out the possibility that the observed asymmetry is due to an inhomogeneous interstellar density distribution. We use data from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey to carry out this study.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto Argentino de Radioastronomí

Searching for evidence of interaction between the of star HD 229196 and the interstellar medium

Massive stars with strong stellar winds are expected to have a huge impact on their interstellar surroundings, an effect which, in a surprisingly large number of cases, is not observed. This work is part of a concerted effort to obtain a better and more homogeneous observational data base with which to test the predictions of theoretical models. Analysis of the interstellar medium around the Of star HD 229196 shows that it coincides (in projection) with a region of lower radio continuum emission. This suggests that the star has shaped the surrounding interstellar medium via its ionizing flux and stellar wind. However, we find no clear evidence of the star's action in atomic hydrogen images. The radio continuum morphology and absence of a clear expanding H i shell are consistent with the possibility that the star, which is travelling supersonically at ∼30 km s-1 with respect to its local interstellar medium, is creating a weak bow shock. We cannot however rule out the possibility that the observed asymmetry is due to an inhomogeneous interstellar density distribution. We use data from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey to carry out this study.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto Argentino de Radioastronomí

Triggered star formation in a molecular shell created by a SNR?

We present a study of a new molecular shell, G 126.1-0.8-14, using available multiwavelength Galactic plane surveys and optical Gemini observations. A well-defined shell-like structure is observed in the CO(1-0) line emission at (l,b) = (126°.1, -0°.8), in the velocity range -10.5 to -15.5 km s-1. The H I emission shows a region of low emissivity inside G 126.1-0.8-14, while radio continuum observations reveal faint non-thermal emission possibly related to this shell. Optical spectra obtained with Gemini South show the existence of B-type stars likely to be associated with G 126.1-0.8-14. An estimate of the stellar wind energy injected by these stars shows that they alone cannot be able to create such a structure. On the other hand, one supernova explosionwould provide enough energy to generate the shell. Using the MSX, IRAS and WISE point source catalogues we have found about 30 young stellar object candidates, whose birth could have been triggered by the expansion of G 126.1-0.8-14. In this context, Sh2-187 could be a consequence of the action on its surroundings of the most massive (and thus most evolve) of the stars formed by the expanding molecular shell.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto de Astrofísica de La PlataInstituto Argentino de Radioastronomí

VLA radio continuum and IRAS observations of the ring nebulae around WR 101 and WR 113

We report radio continuum observations at 1465 MHz obtained with the Very Large Array (VLA) in the DnC configuration toward the ring nebulae associated with the stars WR 101 and WR 113, with resolutions of ∼38″ and 30″, respectively. IRAS images of the nebulae with resolutions of about 2′ (90 M⊙, 40 cm-3) are also analyzed. A remarkable resemblance among the optical, infrared, and radio images of these ring nebulae is observed. The VLA data indicate that Anon. WR 101 is thermal in nature. An ionized mass of ≈230 ± 40 M⊙ and electron densities in the range ≈40-55 cm-3 were estimated for Anon. WR 101. The derived ionized masses and electron densities in the inner and outer shells of the nebula related to WR 113 are ≈20 ± 10 M⊙, 180-500 cm-3 and ≈90 M⊙ 40 cm-3, respectively. Based on infrared data at 60 and 100 μm, the derived masses and temperatures for the dust component in the ring nebula around WR 101 are 0.3-1 M⊙ and ≈40 K. The associated masses suggest that the ring nebula related to WR 101 and the outer arc associated with WR 113 consist of swept-up interstellar matter, while the relatively low ionized mass associated with the inner shell of the nebula around WR 113 may contain a nonnegligible contribution of expelled ejecta material. The derived electron densities for the nebula around WR 101 and the inner shell around WR 113 are comparable to electron densities for other W-R ring nebulae. Low filling factors are inferred for both nebulae. The nebulae probably originated during the current W-R phase of the stars.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto Argentino de Radioastronomí