1,448 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 study of the fundamental characteristics of 2175A extinction
The characteristics of interstellar extinction were studied in the region of the 2175 A feature for lines of sight which appear to exhibit unusually weak ultraviolet extinction. The analysis was based upon a parameterization of the observed extinction via fitting specific mathematical functions in order to determine the position and width of the 2175 A feature. The data are currently being analyzed
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
O VI and Multicomponent H I Absorption Associated with a Galaxy Group in the Direction of PG0953+415: Physical Conditions and Baryonic Content
We report the discovery of an O VI absorption system at z(abs) = 0.14232 in a
high resolution FUV spectrum of PG0953+415 obtained with the Space Telescope
Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). Both lines of the O VI 1032, 1038 doublet and
multicomponent H I Lya absorption are detected, but the N V doublet and the
strong lines of C II and Si III are not apparent. We examine the ionization
mechanism of the O VI absorber and find that while theoretical considerations
favor collisional ionization, it is difficult to observationally rule out
photoionization. If the absorber is collisionally ionized, it may not be in
equilibrium due to the rapid cooling of gas in the appropriate temperature
range. Non-equilibrium collisionally ionized models are shown to be consistent
with the observations. A WIYN survey of galaxy redshifts near the sight line
has revealed a galaxy at a projected distance of 395 kpc separated by ~130 km/s
from this absorber, and three additional galaxies are found within 130 km/s of
this redshift with projected separations ranging from 1.0 Mpc to 3.0 Mpc.
Combining the STIS observations of PG0953+415 with previous high S/N GHRS
observations of H1821+643, we derive a large number of O VI absorbers per unit
redshift, dN/dz ~20. We use this sample to obtain a first estimate of the
cosmological mass density of the O VI systems at z ~ 0. If further observations
confirm the large dN/dz derived for the O VI systems, then these absorbers
trace a significant reservoir of baryonic matter at low redshift.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap.J., vol. 542 (Oct. 10, 2000
- …