518 research outputs found
Atomic hydrogen in the disturbed edge-on galaxy NGC 4631
We present WSRT HI observations of the nearby, disturbed, edge-on galaxy NGC 4631. A low-resolution (45 in. x 87 in.) map shows previously unknown tidal debris at large distances from the plane, and two dwarf companions. A high resolution (12 in. x 22 in.) map reveals a very disturbed gas layer in NGC 4631, with a wealth of small-scale structure. The most striking discovery is a supershell in the eastern half of the disk with a diameter of about 3 kpc, a mass of approximately 10 exp 8 solar mass and a tentative expansion velocity of 45 km/s. If the expansion is real, the energy which must have been injected by supernovae to explain the shell's current parameters is roughly 4 x 10(exp 55) ergs. Such a high energy requirement suggests an alternative formation mechanism, such as a collision with a small companion
M51: Molecular spiral arms, GMAs and superclouds
Researchers present an aperture synthesis image of M51 in the CO 1 to 0 line at 9 seconds x 7 seconds resolution made with the Owens Valley Millimeter Interferometer. The image is a mosaic of 30 one-arcminute fields. The image shows narrow spiral arms which are coincident with the optical dust lanes and non-thermal radio emission, but are offset from the ridges of H alpha emission. Many dense concentrations of CO emission, termed Giant Molecular Associations (GMAs), are seen both along and between the arms. The typical GMA mass is about 3 times 10(exp 7) solar mass. Most of the on-arm GMAs appear to be gravitationally bound. These GMAs consist of several spectral components (Molecular Superclouds) with typical mass 10(exp 7) solar mass, which also appear to be bound. The observed streaming motions in the GMAs are consistent with density wave theory. The interarm GMAs are not gravitationally bound, and are likely to be due to a secondary compression of the density wave
The Online Laboratory: Conducting Experiments in a Real Labor Market
Online labor markets have great potential as platforms for conducting
experiments, as they provide immediate access to a large and diverse subject
pool and allow researchers to conduct randomized controlled trials. We argue
that online experiments can be just as valid---both internally and
externally---as laboratory and field experiments, while requiring far less
money and time to design and to conduct. In this paper, we first describe the
benefits of conducting experiments in online labor markets; we then use one
such market to replicate three classic experiments and confirm their results.
We confirm that subjects (1) reverse decisions in response to how a
decision-problem is framed, (2) have pro-social preferences (value payoffs to
others positively), and (3) respond to priming by altering their choices. We
also conduct a labor supply field experiment in which we confirm that workers
have upward sloping labor supply curves. In addition to reporting these
results, we discuss the unique threats to validity in an online setting and
propose methods for coping with these threats. We also discuss the external
validity of results from online domains and explain why online results can have
external validity equal to or even better than that of traditional methods,
depending on the research question. We conclude with our views on the potential
role that online experiments can play within the social sciences, and then
recommend software development priorities and best practices
Star formation and the distribution of HI and infrared emission in M51
H I, infrared, CO, H alpha and beta band observations of M51, the prototypical grand-design spiral galaxy, are used to study the consequences of star formation for the distribution of H I and dust. Using the H I and CO data sets new tests of the idea that the H I is largely a dissociation product in star-forming regions were performed. It was confirmed that the H I spiral arms are generally coincident with the H II region arms, and offset downstream from the CO arms. The radial distributions of total gas, H alpha and H I surface density have a simple explanation in the dissociation picture. The distributions also demonstrate how the surface density of H I might be related to the star formation efficiency in molecule-rich galaxies. The large width of the H I regions along the arms compared to that of the H II regions can be understood in terms of a simple Stroemgren sphere calculation. The longer lifetime of the stars producing dissociating radiation vs. those producing ionizing radiation will also contribute to the greater width of the H I arms if stars are continuously forming on the arms. The lack of detailed coincidence of the H I and H II regions along the inner arms has a variety of possible explanations within the dissociation scenario. Two simple tests to probe the origin of the IRAS emission in M51 were performed
Ionization, Kinematics, and Extent of the Diffuse Ionized Gas Halo of NGC 5775
We present key results from deep spectra of the Diffuse Ionized Gas (DIG)
halo of the edge-on galaxy NGC 5775. [NII]6583 has been detected up to about
z=13 kpc above the plane in one of two vertically oriented long slits -- making
this the spiral galaxy with the greatest spectroscopically detected halo extent
in emission. Key diagnostic line ratios have been measured up to about z=8 kpc,
allowing the source of ionization and physical state to be probed. Ionization
by a dilute radiation field from massive stars in the disk can explain some of
the line ratio behavior, but departures from this picture are clearly
indicated, most strongly by the rise of [OIII]/Halpha with z. Velocities of the
gas in both slits approach the systemic velocity of the galaxy at several kpc
above the plane. We interpret this trend as a decrease in rotation velocity
with z, with essentially no rotation at heights of several kpc. Such a trend
was observed in the edge-on galaxy NGC 891, but here much more dramatically.
This falloff is presumably due to the gravitational potential changing with z,
but will also depend on the hydrodynamic nature of the disk-halo cycling of gas
and projection effects. More detailed modeling of the ionization and kinematics
of this and other edge-ons will be presented in future papers.Comment: figures 1, 2a-d and 3 included. ApJ Letters, in pres
Ionization Sources and Physical Conditions in the Diffuse Ionized Gas Halos of Four Edge-On Galaxies
Deep long-slit spectra of the diffuse ionized gas halos of the edge-on spiral
galaxies NGC 4302 and UGC 10288 are presented. These data, along with
previously presented data for NGC 5775 and NGC 891, are used to address the
issue of how DIG halos are energized. Composite photo-ionization/shock models
are generally better at explaining runs of line ratios in these galaxies than
photo-ionization models alone. Models of line ratios in NGC 5775 require a
greater contribution from shocks for filamentary regions than for
non-filamentary regions to explain the run of [OIII]/Halpha. In either case,
the [SII]/[NII] ratio is not well fit by the models. Composite models for UGC
10288 are successful at reproducing the run of [SII]/[NII] for all but the the
highest values of [NII]/Halpha; however, the run of [OIII]/Halpha vs.
[NII]/Halpha does not show any discernible trend, making it difficult to
determine whether or not shocks make a contribution.
We also examine whether the data can be explained simply by an increase in
temperature with z in a pure photo-ionization model. Runs of [SII]/Halpha,
[NII]/Halpha, and [SII]/[NII] in each of the four galaxies are consistent with
such an increase. However, the runs of [OIII]/Halpha vs. z in NGC 5775 and UGC
10288 require unusually high ionization fractions of O^{++} that can not be
explained without invoking a secondary ionization source or at the very least a
much higher temperature for the [OIII]-emitting component than for the [SII]-
and [NII]-emitting component. An increase in temperature with z is generally
more successful at explaining the [OIII]/Halpha run in NGC 891.Comment: 42 pages in aaspp4.sty format. This includes the 19 figures.
Reference added. Accepted for publication in Ap
Molecular Gas and Star Formation in the Cartwheel
Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 12CO(J=1-0) observations
are used to study the cold molecular ISM of the Cartwheel ring galaxy and its
relation to HI and massive star formation (SF). CO moment maps find
M of H associated with the inner ring
(72%) and nucleus (28%) for a Galactic I(CO)-to-N(H2) conversion factor
(). The spokes and disk are not detected. Analysis of the
inner ring's CO kinematics show it to be expanding ( km
s) implying an Myr age. Stack averaging reveals CO emission
in the starburst outer ring for the first time, but only where HI surface
density () is high, representing M for a metallicity appropriate
, giving small ( M
pc), molecular fraction (), and H depletion
timescales ( Myr). Elsewhere in the outer ring
M pc,
and Myr (all ). The inner ring and
nucleus are H-dominated and are consistent with local spiral SF laws.
in the outer ring appears independent of ,
or . The ISM's long confinement in the
robustly star forming rings of the Cartwheel and AM0644-741 may result in
either a large diffuse H component or an abundance of CO-faint low column
density molecular clouds. The H content of evolved starburst rings may
therefore be substantially larger. Due to its lower and age
the Cartwheel's inner ring has yet to reach this state. Alternately, the outer
ring may trigger efficient SF in an HI-dominated ISM.Comment: 10-pages text; 5-figure
HALOGAS: HI Observations and Modeling of the Nearby Edge-on Spiral Galaxy NGC 4565
We present 21-cm observations and models of the neutral hydrogen in NGC 4565,
a nearby, edge-on spiral galaxy, as part of the Westerbork Hydrogen Accretion
in LOcal GAlaxieS (HALOGAS) survey. These models provide insight concerning
both the morphology and kinematics of HI above, as well as within, the disk.
NGC 4565 exhibits a distinctly warped and asymmetric disk with a flaring layer.
Our modeling provides no evidence for a massive, extended HI halo. We see
evidence for a bar and associated radial motions. Additionally, there are
indications of radial motions within the disk, possibly associated with a ring
of higher density. We see a substantial decrease in rotational velocity with
height above the plane of the disk (a lag) of -40 +5/-20 km/s/kpc and -30
+5/-30 km s/kpc in the approaching and receding halves, respectively. This lag
is only seen within the inner ~4.75' (14.9 kpc) on the approaching half and
~4.25' (13.4 kpc) on the receding, making this a radially shallowing lag, which
is now seen in the HI layers of several galaxies. When comparing results for
NGC 4565 and those for other galaxies, there are tentative indications of high
star formation rate per unit area being associated with the presence of a halo.
Finally, HI is found in two companion galaxies, one of which is clearly
interacting with NGC 4565.Comment: 17 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journal, modified affiliatio
Infrared Spectroscopy of the Diffuse Ionized Halo of NGC 891
We present infrared spectroscopy from the Spitzer Space Telescope at one disk
position and two positions at a height of 1 kpc from the disk in the edge-on
spiral NGC 891, with the primary goal of studying halo ionization. Our main
result is that the [Ne III]/[Ne II] ratio, which provides a measure of the
hardness of the ionizing spectrum free from the major problems plaguing optical
line ratios, is enhanced in the extraplanar pointings relative to the disk
pointing. Using a 2D Monte Carlo-based photo-ionization code which accounts for
the effects of radiation field hardening, we find that this trend cannot be
reproduced by any plausible photo-ionization model, and that a secondary source
of ionization must therefore operate in gaseous halos. We also present the
first spectroscopic detections of extraplanar PAH features in an external
normal galaxy. If they are in an exponential layer, very rough emission
scale-heights of 330-530 pc are implied for the various features. Extinction
may be non-negligible in the midplane and reduce these scale-heights
significantly. There is little significant variation in the relative emission
from the various features between disk and extraplanar environment. Only the
17.4 micron feature is significantly enhanced in the extraplanar gas compared
to the other features, possibly indicating a preference for larger PAHs in the
halo.Comment: 35 pages in ApJ preprint format, 8 figures, accepted for publication
in ApJ. Minor change to Introduction to give appropriate credit to earlier,
related wor
- …