scholarly journals The Diffuse Ionised Gas in NGC 4449

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Muñoz-Tuñón ◽  
O. Fuentes-Masip ◽  
H. O. Castañeda

AbstractIt is now well established that there is a diffuse ionised medium which extends far beyond the disks of spirals. The mechanism responsible for the ionisation is still an issue of debate, and the method of measuring the total luminosity, independently of the observational set-up, has to be defined. Here we analyse the case of the Magellanic irregular NGC 4449, using Fabry–Perot bidimensional mapping of the Hα emission line, at the 4·2 m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) telescope on La Palma, Canary Islands. The total spatial coverage of 80×80 arcsec2 allows most of the star forming regions to be sampled at 0·26 arcsec/pixel spatial resolution. Using 3D spectroscopy, it is possible to define the individual star-forming regions and to produce a luminosity versus size diagram. This can be used to estimate directly the number of photons leaking out from those regions exceeding the thickness of the galactic disc. In the case of NGC 4449 it is shown that the large population of GEHRs can be the source of UV photons ionising the diffuse ionised gas (DIG) of the galaxy, and the logL–R diagram can be used to quantify the number of photons leaking out of the material surrounding the star forming regions. In the case of NGC 4449 it is found that 54% of the total luminosity of the giant star-forming regions is lost to the DIG. This implies a contribution of 3·12×1040 erg s−1 (1 erg s−1 = 10−7 J s−1) which amounts to 30% of the galaxy total Hα luminosity.

1999 ◽  
Vol 190 ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Rubio

The molecular gas content in the Magellanic Clouds has been studied, with different spatial coverage and resolution, through obervations of CO(1-0) line emission. In the LMC and the SMC the molecular gas is dominated by clouds whose properties are different from those of their Galactic counterparts. The relation between the intensity of CO emission and molecular hydrogen column density, or the conversion factor X, is different than that of molecular clouds in our Galaxy and depends on the ambient physical conditions. Studying the molecular gas through observations in the H2 emission line may prove an alternative way to determine the molecular content associated with star forming regions in the Magellanic Clouds. In particular, results obtained towards 30 Doradus in the LMC are presented.


1991 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 57-62
Author(s):  
Paul Hodge

The dust content of the Magellanic Clouds can be studied using optical, ultraviolet, infrared and, indirectly, radio wavelength data. All recent studies show that the dust content is lower than that of the Milky Way Galaxy for both Clouds and that the optical properties of the dust are different. At ultraviolet wavelengths, the 2165 Å “bump” in the extinction curve is significantly smaller than in the Galaxy (this now appears NOT to be a consequence of the lower heavy element abundances) and the far ultraviolet (shortward of ˜2000 Å) extinction is greater than in the Galaxy (this IS likely to be a consequence of the lower heavy element abundances). New optical data on background galaxies suggest that the total extinction in the central parts of both the LMC and the SMC is approximately 1.5 magnitudes. High local extinction values are derived from uv and optical observations of star-forming regions, where a spatial correlation with CO detections is sometimes, but not always, found.


2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. L3 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Cuadrado ◽  
P. Salas ◽  
J. R. Goicoechea ◽  
J. Cernicharo ◽  
A. G. G. M. Tielens ◽  
...  

Context. A significant fraction of the molecular gas in star-forming regions is irradiated by stellar UV photons. In these environments, the electron density (ne) plays a critical role in the gas dynamics, chemistry, and collisional excitation of certain molecules. Aims. We determine ne in the prototypical strongly irradiated photodissociation region (PDR), the Orion Bar, from the detection of new millimeter-wave carbon recombination lines (mmCRLs) and existing far-IR [13C II] hyperfine line observations. Methods. We detect 12 mmCRLs (including α, β, and γ transitions) observed with the IRAM 30 m telescope, at ∼25″ angular resolution, toward the H/H2 dissociation front (DF) of the Bar. We also present a mmCRL emission cut across the PDR. Results. These lines trace the C+/C/CO gas transition layer. As the much lower frequency carbon radio recombination lines, mmCRLs arise from neutral PDR gas and not from ionized gas in the adjacent H II region. This is readily seen from their narrow line profiles (Δv = 2.6 ± 0.4 km s−1) and line peak velocities (vLSR = +10.7 ± 0.2 km s−1). Optically thin [13C II] hyperfine lines and molecular lines – emitted close to the DF by trace species such as reactive ions CO+ and HOC+ – show the same line profiles. We use non-LTE excitation models of [13C II] and mmCRLs and derive ne = 60–100 cm−3 and Te = 500–600 K toward the DF. Conclusions. The inferred electron densities are high, up to an order of magnitude higher than previously thought. They provide a lower limit to the gas thermal pressure at the PDR edge without using molecular tracers. We obtain Pth ≥ (2−4) × 108 cm−3 K assuming that the electron abundance is equal to or lower than the gas-phase elemental abundance of carbon. Such elevated thermal pressures leave little room for magnetic pressure support and agree with a scenario in which the PDR photoevaporates.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S289) ◽  
pp. 188-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Reid

AbstractRecently, astrometric accuracy approaching ~ 10 μas has become routinely possible with Very Long Baseline Interferometry. Since, unlike at optical wavelengths, interstellar dust is transparent at radio wavelengths, parallaxes and proper motions can now be measured for massive young stars (with maser emission) across the Galaxy, enabling direct measurements of the spiral structure of the Milky Way. Fitting the full 3D position and velocity vectors to a simple model of the Galaxy yields extremely accurate values for its fundamental parameters, including the distance to the Galactic Center, R0=8.38 ± 0.18 kpc, and circular rotation at the Solar Circle, Θ0 = 243 ± 7 km s−1. The rotation curve of the Milky Way, based for the first time on ‘gold standard’ distances and complete 3D information, appears to be very flat.


2018 ◽  
Vol 614 ◽  
pp. A130 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. George ◽  
P Joseph ◽  
P. Côté ◽  
S. K. Ghosh ◽  
J. B. Hutchings ◽  
...  

Context. The tidal tails of post-merger galaxies exhibit ongoing star formation far from their disks. The study of such systems can be useful for our understanding of gas condensation in diverse environments. Aims. The ongoing star formation in the tidal tails of post-merger galaxies can be directly studied from ultraviolet (UV) imaging observations. Methods. The post merger galaxy NGC7252 (“Atoms-for-Peace” galaxy) is observed with the Astrosat UV imaging telescope (UVIT) in broadband NUV and FUV filters to isolate the star-forming regions in the tidal tails and study the spatial variation in star formation rates. Results. Based on ultraviolet imaging observations, we discuss star-forming regions of ages <200 Myr in the tidal tails. We measure star formation rates in these regions and in the main body of the galaxy. The integrated star formation rate (SFR) of NGC7252 (i.e., that in the galaxy and tidal tails combined) without correcting for extinction is found to be 0.81 ± 0.01 M⊙ yr−1. We show that the integrated SFR can change by an order of magnitude if the extinction correction used in SFR derived from other proxies are taken into consideration. The star formation rates in the associated tidal dwarf galaxies (NGC7252E, SFR = 0.02 M⊙ yr−1 and NGC7252NW, SFR = 0.03 M⊙ yr−1) are typical of dwarf galaxies in the local Universe. The spatial resolution of the UV images reveals a gradient in star formation within the tidal dwarf galaxy. The star formation rates show a dependence on the distance from the centre of the galaxy. This can be due to the different initial conditions responsible for the triggering of star formation in the gas reservoir that was expelled during the recent merger in NGC7252.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S248) ◽  
pp. 553-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Magnier ◽  
M. Liu ◽  
D. G. Monet ◽  
K. C. Chambers

AbstractThe Pan-STARRS pathfinding telescope PS1 will begin a major set of surveys starting in 2008, and lasting for 3.5 years. One of these, the PS1 3π Survey, will repeatedly observe the entire sky north of −30 degrees, visiting every position 12 times in each of 5 filters. With single-epoch astrometry of 10 milliarcseconds, these observations will yield parallaxes for stars within 100 pc and proper motions out to several hundred pc. The result will be an unprecedented view on nearby stellar populations and insight into the dynamical structure of the local portions of the Galaxy. One exciting science product will be a volume-limited sample of nearby low-mass objects including thousands of L dwarfs, hundreds of T dwarfs, and perhaps even cooler sub-stellar objects. Another project will use proper-motion measurements to improve the membership of nearby star forming regions.


1979 ◽  
Vol 48 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 197-200
Author(s):  
Claus Bornemann

AbstractThe provisions relevant to aliens are not collected in a single legislative act, and administrative practise is not published. An aggregated exposition of the legal position of aliens seems called for. Ordinary aliens from third countries (outside the Nordic countries and EC) are in a weaker position than refugees who are settled here. Refugees are about 100 % safe from expulsion and they are integrated by a specific service body "Danish Refugee Council". Migrant workers show signs of anxiety and insecurity. However unfounded this may be, the insecurity is undoubtedly due to the formulation and administration of the aliens legislation. Critics, who in a number of cases are supported by the ombudsman, have pointed out that the Aliens Act is inprecise, open for construction and not subjected to judicial control. For the individual alien ,expulsion is as serious as a criminal sanction, and may appear as an additional penalty. It is therefore regretable that expulsion is not surrounded by the procedual guarantees of criminal procedure. Many decisions concerning aliens are based on administrative discretion. This pertains not only to the aliens police but also to social authorities who may return aliens in certain cases. Denmark has no central aliens administration such as the Swedish "Innvandrerverket". We have the Refugee Council, but there appears to be an iron curtain between this institution and aliens, who are not refugees. Migrant workers, however have the same need for integration, but the principle here is a total legal equality with Danish nationals. This equality in law is not however, enough to secure equality in fact. Much of the disturbance around the Aliens Act might have been avoided if the migrant workers had the same aid at their arrival as do the refugees. Municipalities with a large population of migrant workers have to set up special administrative units to handle their problems and it is understandable that the question arises why the Refugee Council cannot act as advisor for the municipalities, who have problems with aliens. Greater equality between aliens permanently residing here is called for. This can partly be achieved by enhancing the procedual guarantees in the Aliens Act. Furthermore all aliens should receive the same service as refugees do. I fail to see why greater legal security for aliens should deteriorate the legal position of refugees. Aliens should be looked upon as people, who have been invited to the country, and not merely as labour. Finally I should likt to know, if it is in conformity with humane justice to expel an alien merely because he is a burden to society?


1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Uchida ◽  
Kazunari Shibata

Characteristic behavior of cosmic jets predicted by a magnetodynamic mechanism proposed by Uchida and Shibata is discussed in terms of recent observational results of bipolar flows from star-forming regions as examples of low-energy cases. The theoretical model considers the twisting-up of part of the large-scale magnetic field with the driving mechanism being the contracting rotation of the accretion disk around the gravitating center. The twisted field screws out the mass from the surface layers of the disk along the large-scale external field, explaining the observed tuning-fork type of distribution of the cold CO bipolar flows, gradual acceleration of the flows from the vicinity of the disk, and the helical velocity field in the outflows, all of which are not easy to explain by previous hypotheses assuming the wind and blast from the central object. Prospects of application of this mechanism to high-energy jets from active galactic nuclei or such peculiar objects in the galaxy like SS433 or Sco X-1 are discussed from the point of view of the similarity inherent in the mechanism.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (S336) ◽  
pp. 417-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Sobolev ◽  
N. N. Shakhvorostova ◽  
A. V. Alakoz ◽  
W. A. Baan

AbstractObservations of the masers in the course of RadioAstron mission yielded detections of fringes for a number of sources in both water and hydroxyl maser transitions. Several sources display numerous ultra-compact details. This proves that implementation of the space VLBI technique for maser studies is possible technically and is not always prevented by the interstellar scattering, maser beaming and other effects related to formation, transfer, and detection of the cosmic maser emission. For the first time, cosmic water maser emission was detected with projected baselines exceeding Earth Diameter. It was detected in a number of star-forming regions in the Galaxy and two megamaser galaxies NGC 4258 and NGC 3079. RadioAstron observations provided the absolute record of the angular resolution in astronomy. Fringes from the NGC 4258 megamaser were detected on baseline exceeding 25 Earth Diameters. This means that the angular resolution sufficient to measure the parallax of the water maser source in the nearby galaxy LMC was directly achieved in the cosmic maser observations. Very compact features with angular sizes about 20\muas\, have been detected in star-forming regions of our Galaxy. Corresponding linear sizes are about 5-10 million kilometers. So, the major step from milli- to micro-arcsecond resolution in maser studies is achieved by the RadioAstron mission. The existence of the features with extremely small angular sizes is established. Further implementations of the space–VLBI maser instrument for studies of the nature of cosmic objects, studies of the interaction of extremely high radiation field with molecular material and studies of the matter on the line of sight are planned.


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