The low density ionized component of the interstellar medium and free-free absorption at high galactic latitudes

Author(s):  
R. J. Reynolds
1997 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 173-176
Author(s):  
Olivier Dupin ◽  
Cécile Gry

AbstractWe present HST observations of the interstellar medium toward the star β CMa known to be located in a low density extension of the Local Bubble. Most of the matter in the sight-line is ionized and clumped in two main components. One of them, as well as one of the components detected toward ϵ CMa, is mostly ionized and only slightly depleted. Their ionization ratios are compatible with collisional ionization at T~25 000 K. These clouds could have been ionized by shocks related to the Local Bubble creation and also responsible of some dust grain sputtering.


1983 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 385-392
Author(s):  
Donald P. Cox

We observe the heating of interstellar material in young supernova remnants (SNR). In addition, when analyzing the soft X-ray background we find evidence for large isolated regions of apparently hot, low density material. These, we infer, may have been heated by supernovae. One such region seems to surround the Sun. This has been modeled as a supernova remnant viewed from within. The most reasonable parameters are ambient density no ~ 0.004 cm−3, radius of about 100 pc, age just over 105 years (Cox and Anderson 1982).


2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (2) ◽  
pp. 1788-1794
Author(s):  
J Wagg ◽  
M Aravena ◽  
D Brisbin ◽  
I Valtchanov ◽  
C Carilli ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We present Herschel–PACS spectroscopy of four main-sequence star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 1.5. We detect [OI]63 μm line emission in BzK-21000 at z = 1.5213, and measure a line luminosity, $L_{\rm [O\, {\small I}]63\, \mu m} = (3.9\pm 0.7)\times 10^9$ L⊙. Our PDR modelling of the interstellar medium in BzK-21000 suggests a UV radiation field strength, G ∼ 320G0, and gas density, n ∼ 1800 cm−3, consistent with previous LVG modelling of the molecular CO line excitation. The other three targets in our sample are individually undetected in these data, and we perform a spectral stacking analysis which yields a detection of their average emission and an [O i]63 μm line luminosity, $L_{\rm [O\, {\small I}]63\, \mu m} = (1.1\pm 0.2)\times 10^9$ L⊙. We find that the implied luminosity ratio, $L_{\rm [O\, {\small I}]63\, \mu m}/L_{\rm IR}$, of the undetected BzK-selected star-forming galaxies broadly agrees with that of low-redshift star-forming galaxies, while BzK-21000 has a similar ratio to that of a dusty star-forming galaxy at z ∼ 6. The high [O i]63 μm line luminosities observed in BzK-21000 and the z ∼ 1−3 dusty and sub-mm luminous star-forming galaxies may be associated with extended reservoirs of low density, cool neutral gas.


1977 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 37-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Thaddeus

To attempt to understand star formation without knowing the physical state of the dense interstellar molecular gas from which stars are made is an almost impossible task. Star formation has developed late as a branch of astrophysics largely for lack of observational data, and in particular, has lagged badly behind the study of the atomic and ionized components of the interstellar gas because spectroscopic techniques which work well at low density have an unfortunate tendency to fail when the density is high. Optical spectroscopy, which has been applied to the interstellar medium for over 70 years, has made little progress in regions of high density because of obscuration, and the same is true a fortiori of spacecraft spectroscopy in the UV; radio 21-cm and recombination line observations, although unhampered by obscuration, are unsatisfactory because the dense condensations are almost entirely molecular in composition.


1996 ◽  
Vol 152 ◽  
pp. 261-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrick C. Bruhweiler

We are finally on the threshold of obtaining a coherent morphological and physical picture for the local interstellar medium (LISM), especially the region within 300 pc of the Sun. The EUVE is playing a special role in revealing this picture. This instrument can provide direct measurements of the the radiation field that photoionizes both hydrogen and helium. It also can yield direct measurements of the column densities of hydrogen, but especially He I and He II toward nearby white dwarfs. These observations suggest that the ionization in the Local Cloud, the cloud in which the Sun is embedded, is not in equilibrium, but in a recombination phase. Heuristic calculations imply that the the present ionization is due to the passage of shocks, at times greater than 3 × 106 years ago. The origin of these shocks are probably linked to the supernova which was responsible for the expanding nebular complex of clouds know as the Loop I supernova remnant, of which the Local Cloud is a part, extreme- UV radiation field, that which ionizes both hydrogen and helium in the LISM. Of the ISM within 300 pc, the volume appears to be predominantly filled by hot (106 K) coronal gas. This gas is laced with six largescale shell structures with diameters ~100−150 pc including the long-recognized radio loops, Loop I−IV, as well as the Orion-Eridanus and Gum Nebulae are identified. An idea that has evolved in the literature for over two decades is that the kinematically-linked OB associations representing Gould’s Belt, plus the gas and dust of Lindblad’s Ring, require that previous supernova activity and stellar winds carved out a 400–600 pc diameter cavity some 3 to 6 × 107 yr ago. This activity produced a pre-existing low density region, into which the present young loop structures have expanded. The outer boundaries of the identified expanding loop structures, inside this preexisting cavity, delineate the periphery of the the mis-named “local interstellar bubble.” Thus, this picture naturally explains some of the problems often associated with the presence of this low density region exterior to Loop I.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (H15) ◽  
pp. 539-540
Author(s):  
Gillian Nave

Atomic spectra in the infrared and sub-mm wavelength regions can be divided into two broad categories: electric dipole-allowed transitions, and forbidden lines due to transitions within the ground term or between low-lying levels of the same parity. Both are of potential importance in the interpretation of astrophysical spectra. Allowed transitions can provide diagnostic information for stellar photospheres, particularly for elements that are not accessible in the visible region. Electric-dipole forbidden lines are important diagnostics of low-density plasmas, such as nebulae and the interstellar medium. In order to interpret astrophysical spectra, accurate atomic data are required. This paper summarizes the techniques for measuring atomic data and lists the most important compilations and databases.


1997 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 211-214
Author(s):  
N.D.R. Bhat ◽  
Y. Gupta ◽  
A.P. Rao

AbstractWe present here the results from an extensive scintillation study of twenty pulsars in the dispersion measure (DM) range 3 – 35 pc cm−3 carried out using the Ooty Radio Telescope, to investigate the distribution of ionized material in the local interstellar medium (LISM). Our analysis reveals several anomalies in the scattering strength, which suggest that the distribution of scattering material in the solar neighborhood is not uniform. Our model suggests the presence of a low density bubble surrounded by a shell of much higher density fluctuations. We are able to put some constraints on geometrical and scattering properties of such a structure, and find it to be morphologically similar to the local bubble known from other studies.


1983 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Lawrence H. Aller

Planetary nebulae constitute a popular field of investigation because they offer a unique opportunity to study the final stages of stellar evolution before a star dies. They supply challenges not only to the stellar evolution expert but also to the spectroscopist, to the student of galactic structure, and to all observers, whether one works in the optical, ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR) or radio-frequency (r.f.) ranges. They offer insights into properties of dusty, low-density plasmas which may help unravel problems of the interstellar medium (ISM) and quasars. Finally, many are aesthetically beautiful art creations.


1999 ◽  
Vol 171 ◽  
pp. 161-168
Author(s):  
W.J.G. de Blok

AbstractI describe the properties of the interstellar medium in LSB galaxies, and conclude that apart from low density the other important factor determining the slow evolution of LSB galaxies is the metallicity, and (due to inefficient cooling) the corresponding lack of large amounts of molecular gas.


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