Overtones of silicate and aluminate minerals and the 5–8 μm ice bands of deeply embedded objects

The distinct patterns, relatively low intensities and peak positions of overtone-combination bands of silicates and oxides suggest that the 5–8 μm spectral region can provide clues for the dust composition when near optically thick conditions exist for the 10-μm silicate feature. We present 1000–2500 cm⁻¹ room-temperature laboratory spectra obtained from powders of silicate, aluminate and nitride minerals and silicate glasses. The spectra exhibit overtone absorption bands with mass absorption coefficients ∼100 times weaker than the fundamentals. These data are compared with the 5–8 μm spectra of deeply embedded young stellar objects observed with the Short Wavelength Spectrometer on the Infrared Space Observatory . Fits of the laboratory data to the observations, after subtraction of the 6.0-μm H₂O ice feature and the 6.0-μm feature identified with organic refractory material, indicate that crystalline melilite (a silicate) or metamict hibonite (a radiation-damaged crystalline aluminate) may be responsible for much of the 6.9-μm absorption feature in the observations, with melilite providing the best match. A weaker 6.2-μm absorption in the young stellar object spectra is well matched by the spectra of hydrous crystalline amphibole silicates (actinolite and tremolite). Relative abundances of Si–O in room-temperature amphiboles to low-temperature H₂O ice are in the range 0.46–3.9 and in melilite are in the range 2.5–8.6. No astronomical feature was matched by the overtones of amorphous silicates because these bands are too broad and peak at the wrong wavelength. Hence, this analysis is consistent with the 10-μm features of these objects being due to a mixture of crystalline and amorphous silicates, rather than only amorphous silicates.     

The interstellar clouds of adams and blaauw revisited: An HI absorption study-I

This investigation is aimed at clarifying the nature of the interstellar gas seen in absorption against bright O and B stars. Towards this end we have obtained for the first time HI absorption spectra towards radio sources very close to the lines of sight towards twenty five bright stars previously studied. In this paper we describe the selection criteria, the details regarding our observations, and finally present the absorption spectra. In the accompanying paper we analyse the results and draw conclusions.     

A high galactic latitude HI 21 cm-line absorption survey using the GMRT: I. Observations and spectra

We have used the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) to measure the Galactic HI 21-cm line absorption towards 102 extragalactic radio continuum sources, located at high (|b| > 15°) Galactic latitudes. The Declination coverage of the present survey is δ}> - 45°. With a mean rms optical depth of ∼ 0.003, this is the most sensitive Galactic HI 21-cm line absorption survey to date. To supplement the absorption data, we have extracted the HI 21-cm line emission profiles towards these 102 lines of sight from the Leiden Dwingeloo Survey of Galactic neutral hydrogen. We have carried out a Gaussian fitting analysis to identify the discrete absorption and emission components in these profiles. In this paper, we present the spectra and the components. A subsequent paper will discuss the interpretation of these results.     

The temperature of the warm neutral medium in the Milky Way

We report high-spectral-resolution Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) H  i 21-cm observations resulting in the detection of the warm neutral medium (WNM) of the Galaxy in absorption against two extragalactic radio sources, PKS 1814−637 and PKS 0407−658. The two lines of sight were selected on the basis of the simplicity of their absorption profiles and the strength of the background sources; the high velocity resolution of the spectra then enabled us to estimate the kinetic temperatures of the absorbing gas by fitting multiple Gaussians to the absorption profiles. Four separate WNM components were detected towards the two sources, with peak optical depths  τ_max= (1.0 ± 0.08) × 10⁻², (1.4 ± 0.2) × 10⁻³, (2.2 ± 0.5) × 10⁻³  and  (3.4 ± 0.5) × 10⁻³  and kinetic temperatures   T _k= 3127 ± 300, 3694 ± 1595, 3500 ± 1354  and  2165 ± 608 K  , respectively. All four components were thus found to have temperatures in the thermally unstable range  500 < T _k < 5000 K  ; this suggests that thermal equilibrium has not been reached throughout the WNM.     

Silicate absorption in heavily obscured galaxy nuclei

Spectroscopy at 8–13 μm with T-ReCS on Gemini-S is presented for three galaxies with substantial silicate absorption features, NGC 3094, NGC 7172 and NGC 5506. In the galaxies with the deepest absorption bands, the silicate profile towards the nuclei is well represented by the emissivity function derived from the circumstellar emission from the red supergiant, μ Cephei which is also representative of the mid-infrared absorption in the diffuse interstellar medium in the Galaxy. There is spectral structure near 11.2 μm in NGC 3094 which may be due to a component of crystalline silicates. In NGC 5506, the depth of the silicate absorption increases from north to south across the nucleus, suggestive of a dusty structure on scales of tens of parsecs. We discuss the profile of the silicate absorption band towards galaxy nuclei and the relationship between the 9.7-μm silicate and 3.4-μm hydrocarbon absorption bands.     

δ Orionis: further temporal variability and evidence for small-scale structure in the interstellar medium

We report here the detection of both spatial and temporal variations in interstellar absorption in the line of sight to δ Orionis. First, we present new high-resolution ( R ≈110 000) observations of the interstellar D lines of Na  i towards both δ Ori A and C. Comparison of these spectra highlights variations in absorption between the two stars, indicative of small-scale spatial structure in the interstellar medium in this direction over distances of less than ≈15 000 au (the projected separation of the two stars). Components with the largest Na  i column densities and lowest velocity dispersions are, in general, found to be subject to the greatest differences; in fact the narrowest component detected is only observed in one of the sightlines. This effect has also been reported by Meyer & Blades. Secondly, we present new ultra-high-resolution ( R ≈900 000) Na  i D₁ observations and high-resolution ( R ≈110 000) Ca  ii H & K observations of δ Ori A which, through ultra-high-resolution work conducted between 1994 and 2000, has been shown to exhibit a time-variable interstellar Na  i absorption component. These new observations, while revealing the further reduction in intensity of the time-variable Na  i absorption, indicate constant Ca  ii absorption over the same period. This results in a dramatic reduction in the Na°/Ca⁺ abundance ratio, perhaps indicating the line of sight to be gradually probing a less-dense outer region of an absorbing filament.     

Interstellar Na i D lines towards the Southern Coalsack

The interstellar Na  i D absorption-line profiles observed for 15 stars with lines of sight towards the Southern Coalsack are analysed. The method of profile fitting was used in an attempt to determine column densities, linewidths and velocities for the individual interstellar clouds contributing to the observed absorption lines. In common, the observed spectra show a prominent component which is probably associated with the nearest absorbing material composing the Coalsack. The obtained spatial velocity distribution shows great similarity with earlier results from CO emission. In addition, the Na  i D data reveal evidence for the existence of two or three other structures with radial velocities of about −22, −33 and −40 km s⁻¹. Such components may be the counterparts of interstellar structures observed in diffuse H α and CO emission. The assumption that at least one of these components originated in the Carina arm imposes ∼0.9–1.0 kpc as the maximum distance to the near side of that arm.     

Experimental investigations of astronomically important interstellar silicates

In this paper methods and results of laboratory experiments for the investigation of the silicate component of interstellar dust are reviewed. In Section 2 basic properties expected for astronomically important interstellar silicates (AIIS) are discussed. Chemical constraints coming from the abundance of elements, from the depletion in the interstellar gas and from theoretical calculations of the condensation processes point to magnesium silicates. Some basic structural properties of interstellar silicates, the expected high degree of lattice disorder and spectral features expected for interstellar silicate grains are discussed. In Section 3 a review on laboratory investigations of AIIS is given. Physical and chemical methods for producing amorphous silicates are summarized. Important measurements of optical data for AIIS are listed. Spectral characteristics of amorphous silicates produced in order to simulate the interstellar dust silicates are discussed. From the comparison of the observed MIR silicate bands with those of the experimentally produced silicates it is concluded that at least two types of dust silicates exist in interstellar space: molecular-cloud silicate (suggested to be of pyroxene-type) and late-type star silicate (suggested to be of olivine-type). The mass absorption coefficient at the 10 m peak of both types of silicate grains amounts to 3000 cm² g^–1 and the ratio of 20 to 10 m peaks amounts to about 0.5. Finally, open questions in connection with laboratory experiments are mentioned and recommendations for future experiments are given.Paper presented at a Workshop on The Role of Dust in Dense Regions of Interstellar Matter, held at Georgenthal, G.D.R., in March 1986.     

Mid-infrared, spatially resolved spectroscopy of the nucleus of the Circinus galaxy

High spatial resolution spectroscopy at 8–13 μm with T-ReCS on Gemini-S has revealed striking variations in the mid-infrared emission and absorption in the nucleus of the Circinus galaxy (hereafter Circinus) on subarcsecond scales. The core of Circinus is compact and obscured by a substantial column of cool silicate dust. Weak extended emission to the east and west coincides with the coronal line region and arises from featureless dust grains which are probably heated by line emission in the coronal emission zone. The extended emission on the east side of the nucleus displays a much deeper silicate absorption than that on the west, indicating significant columns of cool material along the line of sight and corresponding to an additional extinction of   A_V ∼ 25 mag  . Emission bands from aromatic hydrocarbons are not subject to this additional extinction, are relatively weak in the core and in the coronal line region, and are much more spatially extended than the continuum dust emission; they presumably arise in the circumnuclear star-forming regions. These data are interpreted in terms of an inclined disc-like structure around the nucleus extending over tens of parsecs and possibly related to the inner disc found from observations of water masers by Greenhill et al..     

The light curve of the semiregular variable L2 Puppis – I. A recent dimming event from dust

The nearby Mira-like variable L₂ Pup is shown to be undergoing an unprecedented dimming episode. The stability of the period rules out intrinsic changes to the star, leaving dust formation along the line of sight as the most likely explanation. Episodic dust obscuration events are fairly common in carbon stars but have not been seen in oxygen-rich stars. We also present a 10-μm spectrum, taken with the Japanese Infrared Telescope in Space satellite, showing strong silicate emission that can be fitted with a detached, thin dust shell, containing silicates and corundum.     

An ISO survey of possible water and hydroxyl IRASER transitions towards the star-forming regions W49, W3(OH) and Sgr B2M

We report ISO LWS observations towards the star-forming regions W49N, W3(OH) and Sgr B2M in LWS04 mode (high-resolution Fabry–Perot scans). Possible far-infrared laser emission was detected in a water line at 133.55 μm towards W49N, but the spectral resolution was inadequate to establish firmly the nature of the emission. An additional water line was marginally detected in absorption at the 3 σ level, also towards W49N, at 169.74 μm. No OH lines were detected towards Sgr B2M or W3(OH) at either 134.83 or 135.95 μm, either in emission or in absorption.     

The spatial variation of the 3-μm dust features in Circinus

We report spatially resolved variations in the 3.4-μm hydrocarbon absorption feature and the 3.3-μm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission band in the Circinus galaxy over the central few arcsec. The absorption is measured towards warm emitting dust associated with Coronal line regions to the east and west of the nucleus. There is an absorption optical depth  τ_3.4 μm∼ 0.1  in the core which decreases to the west and increases to the east. This is consistent with increased extinction out to ∼40 pc east of the core, supported by the Coronal emission line intensities which are significantly lower to the east than the west. PAH emission is measured to be symmetrically distributed out to ±4 arcsec, outside the differential extinction region. The asymmetry in the 3.4-μm absorption band reflects that seen in the 9.7-μm silicate absorption band reported by Roche et al., and the ratio of the two absorption depths remains approximately constant across the central regions, with  τ_3.4 μm/τ_9.7 μm∼ 0.06 ± 0.01  . This indicates well-mixed hydrocarbon and silicate dust populations, with no evidence for significant changes near the nucleus.     

The interstellar clouds of adams and blaauw revisited: An HI absorption study-II

In the preceding paper (Paper I), we presented HI absorption spectra towards radio sources very close to the lines of sight towards twenty five bright stars against which optical absorption spectra had been obtained earlier, In this paper we analyse the results and draw some conclusions. To summarize briefly, in most cases we found HI absorption at velocities corresponding to the optical absorption features provided one restricted oneself to velocities ≲10 kms-1. At higher velocities we did not detect any HI absorption down to an optical depth limit of 0.1 (except in four cases which we attribute to gas in systematic motion rather than clouds in random motion). After discussing various scenarios, we suggest that this trend should perhaps be understood in terms of the high velocity interstellar clouds being accelerated, heated and ablated by expanding supernova remnants.     

Discs and the 10-μm silicate spectra of young stellar objects with non-photospheric continua

Dust emission in the non-photospheric 10-μm continua of HL Tau and Taurus-Elias 7 (Haro6-10, GV Tau) is distinguished from foreground silicate absorption using a simple disc model with radial power-law temperature and mass–density distributions based on the IR–submm model of T Tauri stars by Adams, Lada & Shu with foreground extinction. The resulting 10-μm absorption profiles are remarkably similar to those of the field star Taurus-Elias 16 obtained by Bowey, Adamson & Whittet. The fitted temperature indices are 0.44 (HL Tau) and 0.33 (Elias 7) in agreement with Boss's theoretical models of the 200–300 K region, but lower than those of IR–submm discs (0.5–0.61; Mannings & Emerson); a significant fraction of the modelled 10-μm emission of HL Tau is optically thin, whilst that of Elias 7 is optically thick. We suggest that HL Tau's optically thin component arises from silicate dust within low-density layers above an optically thick disc.     

The 3.4-μm absorption feature towards the nucleus of NGC 5506

We report the results of 3-μm spectroscopy towards the nucleus of a nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy, NGC 5506. A weak absorption feature of carbonaceous dust is detected at ∼3.4 μm. The optical depth ratio of the 3.4-μm carbonaceous dust absorption to the 9.7-μm silicate dust absorption is smaller by more than a factor of 2 than that in the interstellar medium in our Galaxy. The small ratio is consistent with the idea that the obscuration towards the nucleus of NGC 5506 is caused mainly by dust grains in its host galaxy (type S0/a) and that the contribution of carbonaceous dust grains to the visual extinction there is smaller than that in our Galaxy (type Sb/bc).     

Ice in the Southern Coalsack

To better understand the conditions under which ice mantles form on grains in molecular clouds, three globules in the Southern Coalsack have been searched for the presence of H₂O ice. Given the total lack of star formation in the Coalsack, it is an ideal site for studying unprocessed icy molecular mantles. In our sample of eight field stars lying behind the Coalsack we detect strong H₂O ice absorption in the lines of sight to two stars and possible weak absorption in four others. We estimate H₂O ice column densities or upper limits for these lines of sight. Compared to dark clouds such as Taurus, the Coalsack H₂O ice column densities are lower than expected given the quiescent nature of the Coalsack region. It is possible that the chemical evolution of the Coalsack may simply be at too early a stage for significant ice mantles to appear on the grains, except perhaps in the densest parts of some of the globules. Alternatively, the presence or absence of ice absorption may be related to the distribution of dust along each line of sight, specifically, the relative contributions of dense globules and a more extended diffuse component. For example, our observations are consistent with an ice threshold extinction similar to that observed in the Taurus dark cloud if extinction amounting to   A _V∼5  towards Globules 2 and 3 arises in the extended component. Globule 1 appears to have no extended component.     

H i and optical spectroscopy towards the M15 intermediate-velocity cloud

We present single-dish Arecibo 21-cm H  i observations, covering a 0675×0625 RA–Dec. grid, of the intermediate-velocity cloud (IVC) centred upon the M15 globular cluster. The velocity and positional structure of the IVC gas at V _LSR=70 km s⁻¹ are investigated; it is found to be clumpy and has a peak surface density N _{H  i} ∼8×10¹⁹ cm⁻². Additionally, we have performed a long H  i integration towards HD 203664, a Galactic halo star some 31 from M15, in which optical IVC absorption has previously been detected. No H  i with a velocity exceeding 60 km s⁻¹ was found to a brightness temperature limit of 0.05 K. However, additional pointings did detect IVC gas approximately mid-way between HD 203664 and M15. Finally, we present both Arecibo H  i pointings and low-resolution spectra in the Ca  ii H and K lines towards 15 field stars in the general field towards M15, in an attempt to obtain the distance to the IVC. Intermediate-velocity H  i is detected towards seven sightlines. Stellar spectral types are derived for 12 of the sample. Assuming that these stars lie on the main sequence, their distances are estimated to lie in the range 150≤ d ≤1350 pc. No Ca  ii absorption is observed, either because the IVC is further away than ∼1350 pc or more likely because the gas along these sightlines is of too low a density to be detected by the current observations.     

Circular polarimetry and the line of sight to the Becklin–Neugebauer object

The 3.1-μm absorption feature of water-ice has been observed spectroscopically in many molecular clouds and, when it has been observed spectropolarimetrically, usually a corresponding polarization feature is seen. Typically, on these occasions, and particularly for the Becklin–Neugebauer (BN) object, a distinct position angle shift between the feature and continuum is seen, which indicates both a fractionation of the icy material and a changing alignment direction along the line of sight.
Here, the dependence of circular polarimetry on fractionation along the line of sight is investigated and it is shown that the form of its spectrum, together with the sign of the position angle shift, indicates where along the line of sight the icy material lies. More specifically, a coincidence between the sign of the position angle displacement in the ice feature, measured north through east, and that of the circular polarization ice feature means that the icy grains are overlaid by bare grains. Some preliminary circular polarimetry of BN has this characteristic, and a similar situation is found in the only two other cases for which relevant observations so far exist.     

H i line measurements of pulsars towards the Galactic Centre and the electron density in the inner Galaxy

We have measured 21-cm absorption and emission spectra in the direction of a further seven southern pulsars with the Parkes telescope to derive their kinematic distances and to study the interstellar medium. For the first time we have successfully obtained H  i absorption measurements for PSRs J1602–5100, J1740–3015 and J1745–3040. We have also significantly improved the sensitivity and resolution on PSRs J1600–5044, J1752–2806 and J1825–0935, the spectra of which have previously been measured, and have corrected an error in the published distance to PSR J1824–1945.
Since the Frail & Weisberg summary of pulsar distances in 1990, a further 23 pulsars now have measured H  i distances, mainly through the efforts of the current group. We discuss the Taylor & Cordes electron density model in light of these new measurements and find that, although the model towards the Galactic Centre appears good, the line of sight through the Carina spiral arm is poorly fitted by the model.     

κ Velorum: another variable interstellar sightline?

We present ultra-high-resolution ( R = 900 000) observations of interstellar Na  i and K  i absorption lines towards κ Vel (HD 81188) which show clear evidence for temporal variation between 1994 and 2000. Specifically, the column densities of K⁰ and Na⁰ in the main velocity component have increased by 40 and 16 per cent, respectively, over this period. Earlier work had suggested that this component actually consists of two unresolved sub-components; this result is confirmed here, and the overall line profile is found to be consistent with only one of these sub-components having increased in strength since 1994. We argue that this variation is consistent with the line of sight gradually probing a cold, dense interstellar filament of the kind recently proposed by Heiles to explain other observations of small-scale structure in the interstellar medium.