恒星形成区的云核和星团

利用青海站13.7 m毫米波望远镜对17个与星团成协的恒星形成区进行了~(12)CO(J=1-0)、~(13)CO(J=1-0)和C~(18)O(J=1-0)的同时成图观测.除了IRAS04547+4753,这些源均探测到较强的C~(18)O(J=1-0)的谱线发射.由于分子云的大小不同,有13个源观测到~(13)CO(J=1-0)谱线积分强度极大值的一半处,其他源因分子云延展范围较大,没有进行大面积的成图观测.基于观测数据,计算了各云核的谱线线宽、亮温度、尺度、密度和质量等,~(13)CO和C~(13)O云核的维里质量与局部热动平衡(LTE)质量之比分别为0.66和0.74,它们接近于维里平衡状态.为了从形态方面比较云核与星团,将谱线的积分强度图与2MASS的K波段图像叠加.同时,计算了与云核成协的星团的大小和质量,数据采用了2MASS的近红外点源测光结果.基于云核与星团的质量结果,计算了分子云的恒星形成效率,大致在10%～30%的范围.     

大质量恒星形成核区的特性：^12CO、^13CO和C^18O的谱线观测及统计比较

利用青海站的13.7米射电望远镜对河内24个与水脉泽源成协并有红外Spitzer数据的巨分子云核进行12CO(J=1→0),13CO(J=1→0)和C18O(J=1→0)的同时成图观测,平均的成图范围为81×81.并全部探测到了C18O的谱线发射,其中11个源有较大范围(51-81)的C18O成图,这些分子云核均观测到C18O(J=1→0)谱线积分强度极大值的一半处,其余的13个源由于信噪比低或者成图范围较大等原因,没有进行如此大面积的成图观测.对样本中的11个已成图的稠密核进行了云核特性的分析并统计比较了CO与13CO,13CO与C18O及CO与C18O谱线积分强度之比(R12/13,R12/13,R12/18),结果是,C18O是光学薄的,可以探测到云核更加细致的结构.从核中心到边缘,3种谱线积分强度比是逐渐增加的.CO与13CO的谱线积分强度比R12/13的范围在2-6之间;13CO与C18O的比值R13/18范围在4-20之间波动,中心区域其值大部分集中在6-12之间,变化范围波动不是很大;CO与C18O之比R12/18在13-90更大的范围内,在更加致密的云核中心该比值集中在13-50之间.     

IRAS 02232+6138的13CO、C18O、HCO+和N2H+的观测研究

利用中国科学院紫金山天文台德令哈观测站13．7米望远镜在IRAS 02232 6138方向进行了13CO,C18O,HCO 和N2H 的观测．随着探针分子的激发密度从13CO到N2H 逐渐增加, IRAS02232 6138云核的尺度从13CO的2．40 pc减小到N2H 的0．54pc,云核的维里质量从13CO的2．2×103M⊙减小到N2H 的5．1×102M⊙．研究发现,该方向区域内存在双极分子外流．对云核的空间密度结构用幂函数n(r)αr-α的形式进行拟合分析,得到α=2．3-1．2;随着探测密度的增加,该指数逐渐变平．分析得到, 13CO／C18O分子丰度比值为12．4±6．9,与暗云的11．8±5．9及大质量核的9．0-15．6值一致;N2H 丰度是3．5±2．5×10-10,与暗云核的1．0-5．0×10-10和大质量核的1．2-12．8×10-10值一致;HCO 丰度为0．9±0．5×10-9,接近大质量核的1．6-2．4×10-9值,没有发现HCO 丰度增长．结合IRAS数据,得到云核的光度质量比范围为37-163(L／M)⊙,由IRAS光度估计, IRAS 02232 6138方向云核内嵌埋的大约是一颗主序O7．5星．     

对59个北天EGO天体方向上的分子云~(12)COJ=2-1和J=3-2频谱观测研究

为了研究有大质量恒星形成的分子云与其它分子云之间的差异,对北天的59个作为大质量恒星形成区的Spitzer延展绿色天体(Extended Green Objects,简称EGOs)视线方向进行了分子云~(12)CO J=2-1和J=3-2频谱观测,并与文献中对同一批天体方向观测得到的~(12)CO J=1-0频谱数据合并进行分析.对与EGO天体成协的分子云(简称EGO分子云)和其它non-EGO分子云进行了CO多跃迁谱线强度和宽度的统计比较分析.在数据统计的基础上,讨论了这两类分子云的气体温度分布、密度分布、速度场分布对观测数据统计特征的影响.分析结果表明,直接决定是否有大质量恒星形成的关键因素可能并不是巨分子云的质量是否足够大,而是巨分子云的引力塌缩程度足否充分(即分子云团块的体积填充因子是否足够大).     

IRAS 23133+6050云核的观测研究

利用紫金山天文台青海观测站13.7 m毫米波望远镜对IRAS 23133 6050云核进行~(13)CO、C~(18)O、HCO (J=1-0)谱线观测.~(13)CO、C~(18)O、HCO 分子谱线辐射所对应的云核直径分别为4.0pc、2.1 pc、2.3 pc,质量分别为2.7×10~3M_⊙、0.9×10~3M_⊙、2.3×10~3M_⊙,气体平均密度分别为2.7×10~3 cm~(-3)、5.1×10~3 cm~(-3)、4.6×10~3cm~(-3).用幂律模型n(r)～~(-P)的形式分析了云核的密度分布,得到的指数p分别为1.75、1.56、1.48.分析发现,密度结构谱指数从云核的外部向内部逐渐变平坦.观测得到HCO~ 丰度为4.6×10~(-10),比暗云低一个数量级以上,比巨分子云也略低,而~(13)CO、C~(18)O的相对丰度比X_(13/18)为12.2,这与暗云11.8和巨分子云9.0～15.6的情况一致.该区域发现存在~(13)CO双极外流.由IRAS远红外光度和维里质量得到的光度质量比,分别为18.1,51.1、21.2.     

W31分子云C18O(J=1-0)的新观测

利用紫金山天文台青海站的13.7 m射电望远镜首次对W31分子云西北部区域中不同速度成份的分子云进行了C18O(J=1-0)的成图观测与研究,观测范围为16′×25′,观测波束间隔为1'.对不同视向速度的分子云分开进行处理,在成图范围内新观测到3个C18O分子云团块,发现它们均属于较年轻的稳定分子云.根据谱线辐射温度(T*R)和半宽(△V),利用LTE方法计算了每个被测团块的物理参数,讨论了该区域的团块分布、HII区、脉泽源与恒星形成的关系.     

恒星形成区AFGL 5157的CO同位素分子谱线研究

通过对恒星形成区AFGL 5157进行了24′×24′(12 pc×12 pc)的成图观测,得到了该分子云的~(13)CO(J=1-0)和C~(18)O(J=1-0)云核各自的分布结构和平均物理参数.在云核的边缘位置,同位素丰度比X[(~(13)CO)/(C~(18)O)]约为10,接近于巨分子云的比值.~(13)CO和C~(18)O云核的维里质量小于云核质量,具有引力不稳定性,且C~(18)O云核更易塌缩.C~(18)O分子云核的东北方向和西南方向的分子云柱密度分布分别为1.1×10~(23)×z~(-0.43)和4.6×10~(25)×z~(-0.58),z表示到云核中心的距离.由~(12)CO(J=1-0)高速线翼成份的测量,估计了外流源的质量损失率,求得外向流的质量和速度的关系近似为m∝v~(-1.8).~(13)CO分子云核的恒星形成率为23%,该区域可能受反射星云NGC 1985的触发而正在形成中大质量恒星或者星团.     

红外暗云G79.2+0.38的性质

对MSX红外暗云G79.2+0.38的11'×7'的区域范围进行了12CO(1-0)、13CO(1-0)和C18O(1-0)谱线的同时观测.观测到的两个C18O(1-0)谱线所界定的云核峰值分布分别对应MSX A波段的两块高消光区域.该区域的氢分子柱密度N(H2)-(5-12)×1022 cm-2,平均密度n-(3±1)×104cm-3.两块分子云核的13CO的线尺度分别是1.7和1.2 pc,而C18O的线尺度分别是1.2和0.6 pc,它们包含的质量为2×102-2×103M(?).分子云核的视向平均密度结构可用幂函数(?)(p)-p-0.34±0.02表征. 13CO和C18O的丰度和典型的光学暗云相比低了4至11倍,但是目前还没有证据表明13CO和C18O的相对丰度比X13/18随柱密度有显著变化.     

若干恒星形成区的^12CO（J=1—0）与^13CO（J=1—0）观测

首次利用紫金山天文台青海观测站13.7m毫米波射电望远镜对若干分子云与恒星形成区的~(12)CO(J=1—0)和~(13)CO(J=1—0)分子辐射进行了观测,得到了各自中心位置的谱线轮廓。作为一个实例本文将介绍如何通过对分子云~(12)CO(J=1—0)和~(13)CO(J=1—0)谱线的综合分析与计算得到云中的物理参数。     

超新星遗迹SN1572周边的分子气体分布

超新星遗迹(supernova remnant,简写为SNR)在早期阶段的结构和演化是与周围星际介质环境密切相关的,这些星际介质也就成为研究SNR.演化的探针.观测了SN1572方向周围的12CO(J=1-0)谱线,拟调查SN 1572周围CO气体的分布,为研究SN 1572与周围分子气体的关系以及该超新星遗迹的演化提供观测依据.观测结果表明,在视向速度VLSR=-69～-58km s-1范围内的CO分子气体与SN 1572成协,此速度成分来自一个大尺度分子云.分子气体沿着SNR的射电壳边缘连续地但非均匀地分布,形成一个包围着SNR的半封闭的分子壳层.整个东半边有着增强的发射,尤其是东北边缘处的CO发射最强.峰值发射位置的谱线呈致宽(>5km s-1)的速度特征,结合光学,红外、X-射线等其它波段在对应位置上的已有观测,都表明了快速的激波和抛出物质正膨胀进入东北边缘的分子气体中,与稠密的气体发生相互作用.这种相互作用将对SN 1572今后的演化有着重要的影响.     

A study of the behaviour of the Na i/K i column density ratio in the interstellar medium using the Na ultraviolet doublet

Here we make a new study of the behaviour of the Na  i /K  i column density ratio in the interstellar medium, using a sample of new observations of 28 stars obtained at the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) in 1996 and 1997, and previously published observations (obtained by some of the authors) of 21 stars. The sightlines cover a range of distances and directions, including into the Galactic halo. We make use of new observations of the Na  i ultraviolet (UV) doublet for some 18 stars. This doublet is much weaker than the Na  i D doublet and so is less susceptible to saturation effects, and it is well known that it can be used to obtain more accurate Na  i column densities with a smaller error range. We find an average N (Na  i )/ N (K  i ) ratio from the Na  i UV data of about 90, which is rather higher than that found previously by Hobbs and Lequeux. The Na  UV–K  i   ratio shows a small increase in value with increasing column density, while we also find a sample of low N (Na  i )/ N (K  i ) ratio clouds generally seen towards distant objects on high-latitude sightlines that reach into the halo, so that the ratio decreases more sharply at lower column densities. As the values of the ratio for these halo clouds  (10–20)  bracket the cosmic Na/K abundance ratio, we suggest that these ratios result from a harder radiation field in the lower halo, such that the ionized fractions of Na  i and K  i become similar. Clearly caution needs to be applied in using any kind of 'standard value' for the Na  i /K  i column density ratio.     

The 'Carina Flare' supershell: probing the atomic and molecular ISM in a Galactic chimney

The 'Carina Flare' supershell, GSH 287+04−17, is a molecular supershell originally discovered in  ¹²CO( J = 1–0)  with the NANTEN 4 m telescope. We present the first study of the shell's atomic ISM, using H  i 21-cm line data from the Parkes 64-m telescope Southern Galactic Plane Survey. The data reveal a gently expanding,  ∼230 × 360  pc H  i supershell that shows strong evidence of Galactic Plane blowout, with a break in its main body at   z ∼ 280  pc and a capped high-latitude extension reaching   z ∼ 450  pc. The molecular clouds form comoving parts of the atomic shell, and the morphology of the two phases reflects the supershell's influence on the structure of the ISM. We also report the first discovery of an ionized component of the supershell, in the form of delicate, streamer-like filaments aligned with the proposed direction of blowout. The distance estimate to the shell is re-examined, and we find strong evidence to support the original suggestion that it is located in the Carina Arm at a distance of  2.6 ± 0.4 kpc  . Associated H  i and H₂ masses are estimated as   M _H I≈ 7 ± 3 × 10⁵ M_⊙  and     , and the kinetic energy of the expanding shell as   E _K ∼ 1 × 10⁵¹  erg. We examine the results of analytical and numerical models to estimate a required formation energy of several 10⁵¹ to  ∼10⁵²  erg, and an age of  ∼10⁷ yr  . This age is compatible with molecular cloud formation time-scales, and we briefly consider the viability of a supershell-triggered origin for the molecular component.     

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.     

Unlocking the Keyhole: H2 and PAH emission from molecular clumps in the Keyhole Nebula

To better understand the environment surrounding CO emission clumps in the Keyhole Nebula, we have made images of the region in H₂ 1–0 S(1) (2.122-μm) emission and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission at 3.29 μm. Our results show that the H₂ and PAH emission regions are morphologically similar, existing as several clumps, all of which correspond to CO emission clumps and dark optical features. The emission confirms the existence of photodissociation regions (PDRs) on the surface of the clumps. By comparing the velocity range of the CO emission with the optical appearance of the H₂ and PAH emission, we present a model of the Keyhole Nebula whereby the most negative velocity clumps are in front of the ionization region, the clumps at intermediate velocities are in it and those which have the least negative velocities are at the far side. It may be that these clumps, which appear to have been swept up from molecular gas by the stellar winds from η  Car, are now being overrun by the ionization region and forming PDRs on their surfaces. These clumps comprise the last remnants of the ambient molecular cloud around η Car.