Infrared velocities of carbon stars

We present CS(J = 1 0) observations of the high density gas in a sample of eleven star forming regions with molecular or optical outflows. The sources of this sample cover a wide range of physical sizes. All these sources had been previously mapped in NH₃ (1,1) with similar angular resolution. In all the sources of this sample CS emission was detected, indicating a global correlation between the emissions traced by the CS and the NH₃ molecules. However, the detailed characteristics of these two emissions (e.g., the extent and the location of the emission peak) show, in general, significant differences in the sources which are well resolved by the beam. As a general trend, the emission traced by the NH₃ molecule appears as compact clumps which engulf an outflow activity center. In contrast, the emission traced by the CS molecule, usually more extended, appears as a background which connects different outflow activity centers associated with each NH₃ clump.     

Anti-matter production in shocked ism clouds

The efficiency of the anti-proton (pBAR) production in interstellar clouds is increased by a factor 50 when the engendering cosmic-ray protons (CRs) experience diffusive acceleration by shocks. One can represent the pBAR/p observations by a conventional multi-phase model of the interstellar medium in which the volume-filling factor for shocked clouds is 1 % of that for all clouds. The pBAR/p ratio will reach a maximum value at an energy which depends upon a typical cloud size; the present observations give this size to be 1 pc. if individual cloud sizes do not get very much larger then thepBAR/p value may peak at a low energy, slightly above 10 GeV. The porosity factor of Cox and Smith (1974) is limited (Q0.2). Standard CR confinement models are examined using a diffusion equation approach. Most of the production ofpBAR's by any old CR population will occur in shocked clouds near the galactic plane. One does not need to assume an old CR population exists in order to explain thepBAR observations.     

Hα line emission and infrared excess in Be stars

The H observations of a selected sample of bright Be stars are presented. The available infrared observations at K band (2.2 m) of these stars have been used to find the infrared excess emission. The analysis of the combined data show thatL _H, the luminosity of the H emission line, is proportional toL _IR, the luminosity of the infrared excess emission. The linear correlation betweenL _IR andL _H shows that both the infrared excess and the H line originate in a common region. It is also detected that the infrared excess emission is produced throughout the whole envelope whereas the H is emitted in some defined region of the circumstellar (CS) envelope.     

Redshift difference between emission and absorption lines of QSOs

Distribution of the redshift difference (z) between emission and absorption lines of QSOs is half-gaussian. Also, the quantity z increases with increase in emission line redshift (z _em). The correlation between the two quantities (z andz _em) is statistically significant. The interpretation of the results indicate that the co-moving density of absorbing clouds decreases with redshift and that the absorbing clouds are associated with the QSOs rather than completely unrelated intervening material.     

Circumstellar clouds derived from the 2800 Mgii data

As a result of the analysis of the observed interstellar 2800 Mgii absorption line data, an empirical relationship — a positive correlation — between the equivalent widthW(2800) and the effective temperature of the starT was discovered (Figure 1). However, in the case when this doublet is of stellar (photospheric) origin, only a negative correlation betweenW(2800) andT exists. Hence, the existence itself of such a positive correlation betweenW(2800) andT may be viewed as incomprehensible for the present influence of the star on the strength of the absorption line 2800 Mgii of nonstellar origin.On the other hand, we have evidence that the ionizing radiation of hot stars cannot provide for the observed very high degree of ionization of the interstellar magnesium. In particular, the observations give for interstellar magnesium the ratioN ⁺/N ₁ 1000, while in the case of ionization under the action of stellar radiation only we haveN ⁺/N ₁ 10.The assumption that circumstellar clouds surround hot stars can naturally explain these and other similar facts. A method for the determination of the general parameters-size, concentration, mass etc. — of the circumstellar clouds is developed. The main results of the application of this method to the relation of more than 20 hot stars are:(1) The circumstellar clouds surround almost (70%) all hot giants and subgiants. In the remaining (30%) cases, the absence of circumstellar envelopes requires additional evidence. (2) The linear sizes of circumstellar clouds vary within wide ranges — from 0.002 pc up to 1 pc. Most frequent are clouds with size of 0.1 pc. (3) The main concentration of hydrogen atoms (electrons) in circumstellar clouds is of the order of 100 cm^–3; the minimum value is 20–30 cm^–3, the maximum 10⁴ cm^–3. In one case (Deneb) the electron concentration rises up to 10⁵ cm^–3 for the size of the cloud 0.001 pc=3×10¹⁵ cm. (4) Stars of the same spectral and luminosity classes may possess circumstellar clouds characterized by quite different parameters. (5) Hydrogen in circumstellar clouds is completely ionized; for these clouds the optical depth _c 1; on the average,T _c 0.005. (6) The integrated brightness of circumstellar clouds is substantially fainter (by 8–10^m) than that of the central star. This is the reason why these clouds cannot be detected by ground-based observations. (7) The masses of individual circumstellar clouds vary from 1 down to 10^–4 . This gives for the mass ejection rate from 10^–10 to 10^–6 per year in case if these clouds are formed by the braking and accumulation of the ejected mass.The method of 2800 Mgii seems very convenient, fruitful and promising for the detection and study of circumstellar envelopes. Also, this method is very sensitive for a determination of the general parameters of such clouds, and concerns practically all their geometric, physical, kinematic and other properties.     

Small dense molecular clouds which envelope groups of T-Tauri stars

Dense molecular clouds within the Taurus and NGC 2264 regions have undergone gravitational collapse and fragmentation to form groups of low mass (1M ) T-Tauri stars which are still embedded within the clouds and which are kinematically associated with them. Molecular column densities on the order of 10¹⁴ cm^–2 are inferred from the emission lines of OH and NH₃. Emission line widths are 2 km s^–1 and the antenna beamwidths include linear extents of order 0.1 pc. The OH emission appears to be in a condition of local thermodynamic equilibrium, and it cannot arise from circumstellar sheils similar to those surrounding the masing infrared stars. The OH and NH₃ emission occurs in clouds of 1 pc in extent with optical depths of 0.1 to 1.0 and excitation temperatures of the order of 10 K. The molecular clouds have radii of 0.5 pc, molecular hydrogen densities of 4000 cm^–3, masses of 100 solar masses, and kinetic temperatures of 20 K. The observed data are not inconsistent with the molecular clouds being in a state of hydrostatic equilibrium.Paper presented at the Conference on Protostars and Planets, held at the Planetary Science Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, between January 3 and 7, 1978.     

Molecular clouds around outflow sources

The (J, K)=(1,1) ammonia transition emission has been observed toward six regions with signs of active star formation (AFGL 5142, HH 33/40, AFGL 5157, AFGL 6366S, HHL 73, and S140N), using the 37 m antenna of the Haystack Observatory. We detected and mapped the ammonia emission in all of these sources with the exception of HH 33/40. The (J, K)-(2,2), ammonia transition was also observed at the peak position of each source in order to obtain the rotational temperature of the ammonia clumps.Paper presented at the 11th European regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Jupiter's ammonia clouds—localized or ubiquitous?

From an analysis of the Galileo Near Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (NIMS) data, Baines et al. (Icarus 159 (2002) 74) have reported that spectrally identifiable ammonia clouds (SIACs) cover less than 1% of Jupiter. Localized ammonia clouds have been identified also in the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observations (Planet. Space Sci. 52 (2004a) 385). Yet, ground-based, satellite and spacecraft observations show that clouds exist everywhere on Jupiter. Thermochemical models also predict that Jupiter must be covered with clouds, with the top layer made up of ammonia ice. For a solar composition atmosphere, models predict the base of the ammonia clouds to be at 720 mb, at 1000 mb if N/H were 4×solar, and at 0.5 bar for depleted ammonia of 10⁻²×solar (Planet. Space Sci. 47 (1999) 1243). Thus, the above NIMS and CIRS findings are seemingly at odds with other observations and cloud physics models. We suggest that the clouds of ammonia ice are ubiquitous on Jupiter, but that spectral identification of all but the freshest of the ammonia clouds and high altitude ammonia haze is inhibited by a combination of (i) dusting, starting with hydrocarbon haze particles falling from Jupiter's stratosphere and combining with an even much larger source—the hydrazine haze; (ii) cloud properties, including ammonia aerosol particle size effects. In this paper, we investigate the role of photochemical haze and find that a substantial amount of haze material can deposit on the upper cloud layer of Jupiter, possibly enough to mask its spectral signature. The stratospheric haze particles result from condensation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), whereas hydrazine ice is formed from ammonia photochemistry. We anticipate similar conditions to prevail on Saturn.     

Gamma-ray astrophysics: parsecs to megaparsecs

A rapidly spinning, slowly accreting magnetic white dwarf (or X-ray pulsar) in hibernation is expected to result in rapid spindown as a result of the stretching and reconnection of magnetic field lines, leading to particle acceleration at the magnetospheric radiusoutside the corotation radius, and the propeller type ejection of magnetized synchrotron-emitting clouds. This may explain the non-thermal (radio and-rays) emission seen from the unique nearby AE Aquarii. Moving to Galactic distances we show how TeV-ray observations of pulsar-driven supernova remnants (with well-measured synchrotron X-ray spectra) allow us to obtain a direct measurement of the average magnetic field strength in the nebula. Finally, GeV to TeV observations of-ray blazars out to redshifts of 2 allow us to probe the intergalactic infrared radiation field, the Hubble constant and possibly the parameter of the Universe.     

The Unusual Herbig Ae/Be Star XY Per A

The results of an investigation of XY Per based on photoelectric observations in the Strömgren system are presented. It is shown that the brighter component in the binary system XY Per AB, classified earlier as A2 II, is a variable of the Herbig Ae/Be type. At the same time, our estimates gave M _V (XY Per A) = +1.25. An analysis of the variation of the indices and c showed that XY Per A is a typical shell star: along with intense hydrogen absorption lines it displays an appreciable emission deficit in the Balmer continuum. The most noteworthy are the results of observations indicating that as the brightness decreases, the opacity of the shell increases both in lines and in the Balmer continuum. This observational fact can scarcely be explained in terms of the model of brightness variation due to dust clouds revolving around the star.     

Ultraviolet observations of interstellar molecules and grains fromSpacelab

Observational results obtained to date on interstellar grains and molecules are briefly reviewed, and several promising areas for further research withSpacelab are suggested. Regarding grains, useful data can be expected on the shape of the ultraviolet extinction curve for new interstellar regions; the nature of UV extinction at short wavelengths, down to the Lyman limit; the presence or absence of structure in the UV extinction curve comparable to the visible-wavelength diffuse bands; the scattering properties of grains in new kinds of clouds and nebulae; and the polarization properties of grains in UV wavelengths. The principal advances which may be expected in observations of molecules will include the ability to probe more heavily-obscured regions, where molecular species are more abundant than in the diffuse clouds observed to date; coverage of wavelength regions (such as 1400–3200) not well-studied with previous instruments such asCopernicus; and the capability of observing in optical absorption species detected in the same line of sight in radio emission, which provides unique information on cloud geometry and physical conditions.     

The Local Interstellar Medium in the Direction of the Galactic Anticentre

High resolution observations of interstellar Na Iabsorptions in the spectra of early-type stars in the second Galacticquadrant have been used to derive the spatial distribution of thenearby interstellar gas in the Galactic anticentre hemisphere. The datashow the presence, within the region explored and within the nearest150 pc, of eight diffuse interstellar clouds with LSR velocities in therange 15–55 km s^-1. Molecular gas previously identified close tothe Sun by Trapero et al. (1995) and Trapero et al. (1996) is embeddedin one of the clouds. The motion of these clouds does not reflect anymotion of the gas away from the Scorpio-Centaurus association, showingthat the kinematics observed in the neighbourhood of the Sun byLallement and Bertin (1992) is restricted, in the second Galactic quadrant,to the nearest 50 pc.     

Is C/O enhanced in NGC 253?

We have mapped the nuclear region of the starburst galaxy NGC 253 in the³ P ₁ ³ P ₀ line of neutral carbon using the JCMT. Carbon is widespread across the nuclear region with a similiar distribution to CO as expected. Previous studies of Galactic star-forming regions showed that carbon emission is enhanced in photon-dominated regions (where UV photons impinge upon molecular clouds). Previous observations of other PDR tracers such as ionized carbon and FIR continuum constrain the physical conditions in the PDR gas of NGC 253. The carbon we have observed is far brighter than predicted by theoretical models of PDRs with solar elemental values. This indicates that carbon emission is not a reliable diagnostic of the physical conditions in the nuclear region of a galaxy undergoing a burst of star formation.     

Long-Term Spectral Variability of the Herbig Ae-Star HD 179218

The results of high-resolution long-term spectral monitoring of Herbig Ae star HD 179218 in the region of emission H line and the sodium resonance doublet Na I D are presented. The received data show the existence of short-term variability (about 10 days) and long-term wave-like variability of equivalent width EW, intensity of circumstellar (CS) emission I and parameters of H emission profile. The analysis of these data allows us to suppose the existence of the global variability of parameters of accretion disk.     

CS,C34S,and CH3OH observations of the molecular cloud associated with NGC 7538

CS(J=1–0), C³⁴S(J=1–0), and CH₃OH(1₀–0₀A and E) emission lines in the core region of molecular cloud associated with NGC 7538 have been surveyed at angular resolution of 33. Distribution of CS column density shows two prominent peaks. Both blue and red wings in CS line are most prominent at 30 northwest of IRS 11.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.This work was carried out under the common use observation program at the Nobeyama Radio Observatory (NRO). NRO, a branch of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory, University of Tokyo, is a cosmic radio observing facility open to outside users.     

PO — Prospects in interstellar medium

Proton transfer and condensation reactions followed by dissociative electron recombination and charge transfer processes may yield a significant concentration of PO in interstellar clouds. Relevant terrestrial PO lines in the ultraviolet, infrared and microwave regions are listed in order to aid the detection of PO in interstellar clouds. Within the framework of Klein-Dunham potential, spontaneous emission rates and oscillator strengths of strong (v=0 sequence) beta bands of the PO molecule are estimated. For SgrB2 source, under optically thin case, each of the two strongest²_1/2,J=2.5–1.5 rotational transitions (108.998 GHz and 109.206 GHz) of PO would have antenna temperature less than 125 mk for beam efficiency0.6 and =0.7D (electric dipole moment of PO in thev=0 level of theX ² state). For Orion molecular cloud, PO (4, 4.5, 5-3, 3.5, 4) (e, f) lines are excitable at 196.305 and 196.500 GHz and each line would have antenna temperature less than 110 mK.This work was partially supported by Fapesp and CNPq, Brazil, under contract numbers 80/1659-0 and 30.4076/77-FA01, respectively.     

The sio masers and dust shell of VX sgr

The circumstellar envelope of the late-type supergiant VX Sagittarii has been studied with VLBI observations of SiO maser emission (J = 1 0v = 1) and interferometric observations of mid-infrared dust emission.     

Turbulent motions in molecular clouds

We have studied the behavior of the inner motions of OH, H₂CO, and CO molecular clouds. This study shows the existence of two main components of these clouds: the narrow one, associated to dense small clouds and a wide one representing the large diffuse clouds seen in neutral hydrogen, the large clouds are the vortex and intermediate state between turbulent and hydrodynamic motions in the Galaxy.For the dense clouds with sizesd<10 pc we have found a relationship d ^0.38 consistent with the Kolmogorov law of turbulence; the densities and sizes of these clouds behave asnd ^–1. This last relation for these molecular clouds is compared with theHII one. Also, we discuss the effects of the inner magnetic field in these clouds.     

Coronal sources at meter and optical wavelengths during the declining phase of the solar cycle

We present observations of the corona at 169 MHz with the Nançay Radioheliograph during the summer of 1984. We compare synoptic maps of the metric radio emission on the solar disk with synoptic charts of the K-corona as well as of the green and the red lines. Local sources of radio emission are not located near regions of enhanced green or red line emission which, in turn, are in general above chromospheric faculae. Thus the radio emissions located in the surroundings of faculae are apparently related to different loop systems, with lower density. The comparison of the radio data with the K-corona showed one radio source associated with enhanced emission both at 1.3 and at 1.7 R , apparently a streamer. Other radio sources did not show any clear associations, but were nevertheless located within the coronal plasma sheet, delineated by the large-scale K-corona emission. Moreover the large-scale structure of the corona at 169 MHz was quite similar to the coronal plasma sheet observed at 1.3 R above the limb. The extent of the radio emission in latitude is very similar to that of the K-corona, while the coronal line emission is more concentrated near the solar equator.