CS observations of selected star-forming regions

Maps of the CS (J=10) emission at 49 GHz of L43 (RNO 91), NGC 2068 (HH 19-27) and L1524 (Haro 6-10) are presented. Physical parameters of these clouds are derived from the observations. The CS emission is compared with ammonia emission maps obtained with a similar angular resolution. Both CS and ammonia molecules are tracers of the high-density gas in molecular clouds. Thus, a similar distribution of the emission is expected. However, our observations show evidence of some remarkable morphological differences.     

On The Internal Structure Of Starless Cores. Physical and Chemical Properties of L1498 and L1517B

We have characterized the internal structure of two close-to-round starless cores in Taurus, L1498 and L1517B, setting constraints on the initial conditions of star formation and on models of core condensation. Our analysis is based on high angular resolution observations in at least two transitions of NH₃, N₂H⁺, CS, C³⁴S, C¹⁸O, and C¹⁷O, together with maps of the 1.2 mm continuum. For both cores, we derive radial profiles of constant temperature and constant turbulence, and density distributions close to those of non-singular isothermal spheres. Using a Monte Carlo radiative transfer model, we derive abundance profiles for all species and find a pattern of strong chemical differentiation. NH₃ has a higher abundance toward the core centers while N₂H⁺ has a constant abundance over most of the cores. Both C¹⁸O and CS (and isotopomers) are strongly depleted in the core interiors, most likely due to their freeze out onto cold dust grains. Concerning the kinematics of the dense gas, we find (in addition to constant turbulence) a pattern of internal motions at the level of 0.05 km s^?1. These motions seem correlated with asymmetries in the pattern of molecular depletion, and we interpret them as residuals of core contraction. Their distribution and size suggest that core formation happens in rather irregular manner. A comparison with supersonic turbulence models of core formation shows that our observed cores are much more quiescent than allowed by these models.     

A search for radio emission from Galactic supersoft X-ray sources

We have made a deep search for radio emission from all the northern hemisphere supersoft X-ray sources using the Very Large Array (VLA) and multi-element radio-linked interferometer network (MERLIN) telescopes, at 5 and 8.4 GHz. Three previously undetected sources, T Pyx, V1974 Cygni and RX J0019.8+2156, were imaged in quiescence using the VLA in order to search for any persistent emission. No radio emission was detected in any of the VLA fields down to a typical 1 σ rms noise of 20 μJy beam⁻¹, however, 17 new point sources were detected in the fields with 5-GHz fluxes between 100 and 1500 μJy, giving an average 100-μJy source density of ∼200 deg⁻², comparable to what was found in the MERLIN Hubble Deep Field survey. The persistent source AG Draconis was observed by MERLIN to provide a confirmation of previous VLA observations and to investigate the source at a higher resolution. The core is resolved at the milliarcsec scale into two components that have a combined flux of ∼1 mJy. It is possible that we are detecting nebulosity, which is becoming resolved out by the higher MERLIN resolution. We have investigated possible causes of radio emission from a wind environment, both directly from the secondary star, and also consequently, of the high X-ray luminosity from the white dwarf. There is an order of magnitude discrepancy between observed and modelled values that can be explained by the uncertainty in fundamental quantities within these systems.     

A study of C3HD in cold interstellar clouds

We have detected the 1(10)-1(01) transition of C3HD at 19.418 GHz at twelve positions in cold, dark clouds and resolved the D hyperfine components in two sources (L1498 and TMC-1C) well enough to derive values for the D quadrupole coupling constants. Simultaneous observations of C3H2 in each source yield relative integrated line intensities in the range 0.10-0.18, from which we derive relative [C3HD]/[C3H2] abundances in the range 0.05-0.15. These are among the highest deuteration ratios yet observed. Within the limits of the observational and modeling uncertainties it is possible to explain the derived [C3HD]/[C3H2] ratios by ion-molecule chemistry if [e-] approximately 3 x 10(-7).     

Adaptive optics near-infrared imaging of NGC 2992 – unveiling core structures related to radio figure-of-8 loops

We present near-infrared adaptive optics, Very Large Array (VLA) radio and Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) optical imaging of the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992. Spiral structure and an extension to the west are traced down to the core region at the limiting resolution of our near-infrared images. A faint, diffuse loop of near-infrared and radio emission is also observed to the north, embedded within the prominent 2-arcsec radio loop previously observed to the north-west. Near-infrared colour maps and CO narrow-band imaging are then used to identify which regions may not be purely reddened stellar populations. Our new data provide evidence that the VLA radio-loop morphology in the shape of a figure of 8 represents two components superimposed: (1) outflow bubbles out of the plane of the disc, coincident with the extended emission-line region (EELR); (2) star formation along the spiral arm within the galaxy disc and through the dust lane. The near-infrared continuum emission associated with the outflowing radio bubbles suggests that the radio loops are driven by the active nucleus.     

Evidence of Evolution in the Dense Cores in Massive Star Forming Regions

The excitation of H2O masers usually needs very high density gas, hence it can serve as a marker of dense gas in HII region. We selected a sample of H2O maser sources from Plume et al. (four with, and four without detected CS(J = 7-6) emission), and observed them in 13CO(J=1-0) and C18O (J=1-0). C18O (J=1-0) emission was detected only in three of the sources with detected CS(J=7-6) emission. An analysis combined with some data in the literature suggests that these dense cores may be located at different evolutionary stages. Multi-line observation study may provide us clues on the evolution of massive star forming regions and the massive stars themselves.     

Joint radio and soft x-ray imaging of an ‘anemone’ active region

The Very Large Array and the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) aboard the Yohkoh satellite jointly observed the rapid growth and decay of a so-called anemone active region on 3–6 April, 1992 (AR 7124). The VLA obtained maps of the AR 7124 at 1.5, 4.7, and 8.4 GHz. In general, discrete coronal loop systems are rarely resolved at 1.5 GHz wavelengths because of limited brightness contrast due to optical depth effects and wave scattering. Due to its unusual anemone-like morphology, however, several discrete loops or loop systems are resolved by both the VLA at 1.5 GHz and the SXT in AR 7124.Using extrapolations of the photospheric field and the radio observations at 4.7 and 8.4 GHz, we find that the microwave emission is the result of gyroresonance emission from a hot, rarefied plasma, at the second and/or third harmonic. The decimetric source is complex -1.5 GHz emission from the leading part of AR 7124 is due to free-free emission, while that in the trailing part of the active region is dominated by gyroresonance emission. We also examine an interesting case of a discrete radio loop with no soft X-ray (SXR) emission adjacent to a hot SXR loop. This observation clearly shows the multithermal nature of the solar corona.     

暗云L1211的C~（18）O（J＝1－0）分子发射谱线的观测

本文作者首次对暗云Ｌ１２１１的Ｃ~（１８）Ｏ（Ｊ＝１－０）分子发射谱线进行了观测，发现了暗云Ｌ１２１１致密核的Ｃ~（１８）Ｏ（Ｊ＝１－０）的宽翼发射谱线和它的结构，得到了核区Ｃ~（１８）Ｏ（Ｊ＝１－０）分子的谱线轮廓图、强度分布图、速度分段积分等高图、速度位置图。     

High-Resolution Observations in B1-IRS: Ammonia, Ccs and Water Masers

We present a study of the structure and dynamics of the star-forming region B1-IRS (IRAS 03301+3057) using the properties of different molecules at high angular resolution (4). We have used VLA observations of NH₃, CCS, and H₂O masers at 1 cm. CCS emission shows three clumps around the central source, with a velocity gradient from red to blue-shifted velocities towards the protostar, probably due to the interaction with outflowing material. Water maser emission is elongated in the same direction as a reflection nebula detected at 2 m by 2MASS, with the maser spots located in a structure of some hundreds of AU from the central source, possibly tracing a jet. We propose a new outflow model to explain all our observations, consisting of a molecular outflow near the plane of the sky. Ammonia emission is extended and anticorrelated with CCS. We have detected for the first time this anticorrelation at small scales (1400 AU) in a star-forming region.     

Identification of newly discovered radio-emitting X-ray sources: results from spectroscopy

We present optical identifications for a sample of 20 previously unknown X-ray/radio sources that are present both in the source catalogue of ROSAT PSPC pointed observations ( ROSAT SRC) and in the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS). The optical spectroscopy was carried out with the 2.1-m telescope at San Pedro Martir (Mexico) during 1995 April and September. We have identified 15 active galactic nuclei [including 12 broad-emission-line (FWHM >1000 km s⁻¹) objects, one bona fide BL Lac, one BL Lac candidate and one narrow-line (FWHM < 1000 km s⁻¹) radio galaxy] and five radio galaxies. We derive the X-ray fluxes and luminosities by analysing the PSPC exposures, and show the radio morphology from the NVSS maps.  We find that the correlation between the monochromatic X-ray luminosity at 2 keV and the core radio luminosity at 5 GHz for the radio galaxies in our sample follows that found for the 3CR radio galaxies, suggesting a possible nuclear origin for the X-ray emission in these sources. This correlation is weaker in the case of broad-line objects, indicating the presence of another (unbeamed) mechanism for the X-ray emission only weakly related to the radio emission.     

Bending of Jets in the QSO NRAO 530

We present radio images of NRAO 530 on scales ranging from pc to kpc. The observations include the EVN at 5 GHz, the VLBA at 1.6, 8.6 and 15 GHz, the MERLIN at 1.6 and 5 GHz, and the VLA at 5, 8.4, 15, 22, and 43 GHz. The VLBI images show a core-jet structure with an oscillating trajectory on a scale of about 30 mas north of the strongest compact component (core). Superluminal motions are detected in five of the jet compo-nents with apparent velocities in the range of 13.6 to 25.2c. A new component is detected at 15 GHz with the VLBA observations, which appears to be associated with the outburst in 2002. Significant polarized emission is detected around the core with the VLBA observationsat 15 GHz. Rapid variations of the polarization intensity and angle are found between the epochs in 2002 and 2004. On the kpc-scale, a distant component (labelled as WL) located 11 arcsec west (PA=-86°) of the core is detected beyond the core-jet structure which ex-tended to several hundreds of mas in the north-west direction (-50°). A significant emission between the core-jet structure and the WL is revealed. A clump of diffuse emission (labelled EL, 12 arcsec long) at PA 70° to the core, is also detected in the VLA observations, suggest-ing the presence of double lobes in the source. The core component shows a flat spectrum,while the distant components WL and EL have steep spectra. The steep spectra of the distantcomponents and the detection of the arched emission suggest that the distant components are lobes or hot-spots powered by the core of NRAO 530. The morphologies from pc-to kpc- scales and the bending of jets are investigated. The observed radio morphology from pc to kcp appears to favor the model in which precession or wobbling of the nuclear disk drives the helical motion of the radio plasma and produces the S-shaped structure on kpc scale.     

85-GHz BIMA observations of the double-hotspot radio galaxy 3C 20

We present 85-GHz observations of the archetypal double-hotspot radio source 3C 20 made with the BIMA millimetre array. The resolution of BIMA allows us to separate the two components of the eastern hotspot. By comparing the BIMA observations with existing VLA data, we show that the spectra of the two hotspot components are very similar, despite the clear differences in their radio structure and their wide separation. We discuss the implications for models of double hotspot formation. Weak emission from the lobes of 3C 20 is detected at 85 GHz, at a level consistent with the predictions of standard spectral ageing models.     

VLA observations of Jupiter’s synchrotron radiation at 15 and 22 GHz

We observed Jupiter’s synchrotron radiation at frequencies of 15 and 22 GHz using the VLA (Very Large Array) in its most compact configuration (D-array) in March 1991. The spatial brightness distribution of the emission at these high frequencies appears to be very similar to that seen at lower frequencies (5 GHz down to 330 MHz). We measured a total nonthermal flux density at 15 and 22 GHz of 1.5 ± 0.15 Jy and 1.5 ± 0.4 Jy, respectively (both normalized to a geocentric distance of 4.04 AU). These numbers agree well with model spectra of Jupiter’s synchrotron radiation that were obtained by fitting the planet’s nonthermal radio emission between 74 MHz and 8 GHz and suggest a maximum cutoff in electron energies at ∼100 MeV. The degree of linear polarization observed with the VLA is 21.5 ± 1.9% at 15 GHz.     

视超光速源0106 013的观测研究

我们在利用上海和ＳＨＥＶＥ组成的ＶＬＢＩ网做南天区５ＧＨｚＶＬＢＩ普查的过程中，对致密射电源０１０６＋０１３的视超光速运动作了进一步的研究．结果表明：（１）分量１最有可能是核；（２）原视超光速喷流分量仍以０．２ｍａｓ／ｙｒ的自行速度向外运动；（３）发现一个新分量的爆发，新分量也是视超光速的，自行速度为０．１８ｍａｓ／ｙｒ；（４）喷流在大约５ｍａｓ处有较明显的弯曲，然后趋于与ＶＬＡ喷流的方向一致．     

Detection of interstellar hydrogen sulfide in cold, dark clouds

We have detected interstellar hydrogen sulfide (H2S) toward the cold, dark clouds L134N and TMC 1. We derive total column densities of approximately 2.6 x 10(13) cm-2 and approximately 7.0 x 10(12) cm-2 at the SO peak of L134N and at the NH3 peak of TMC 1, respectively. Since the expected gas phase reactions leading to the formation of H2S are thought to be endothermic, grain surface reactions may play a major role in the synthesis of this species in cold, dark clouds. If the carbon abundance is high and grain surface reactions are the dominant formation route, H2CS would be expected to form instead of H2S, and the abundances of H2CS have been observed to be high where those of H2S are low in L134N and TMC 1.     

The Cygnus X region: XXIII. Is 18P87 galactic or extragalactic?

The radio source 18P87, previously thought to be a point source, has been serendipitously found to be resolved into a core‐jet geometry in VLA maps. H I absorption of continuum emission (in data from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey) appears in gas with radial velocities >+2 km/s but not in brightly emitting gas at lower radial velocity. Examination of further archival observations at radio, infrared and optical wavelengths suggests that the “obvious” interpretation as a radio galaxy requires a rather unusual object of this kind and a highly unusual local line of sight. We argue that 18P87 may be a Galactic object, a local astrophysical jet. If this is correct it could have arisen from outbursts of a microquasar (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Plateau de bure observations of IRC+10216: high sensitivity maps of SiC2, SiS,and CS

We have obtained high angular resolution ( 3), and high sensitivity maps of IRC+10216. SiC₂ is found both in a spherical shell and in the very central region, indicating it is formed both in the inner envelope close to the star, and in the outer shell. The molecules SiS and CS are mostly found in the inner parts of the envelope, but are still detectable in the outer region (r 15) where the products of photochemistry are found. The maps show that IRC+10216 has a very clumpy envelope, with strong departures from spherical symmetry; an axis oriented NS-SW (P.A. 20°) can be seen in all maps. The radial brightness distribution of CS has secondary maxima, at the radius where the SiC₂ shell has its peak emission. A preliminary map shows CN in the same shell, but also in a still larger outer shell. Time variations in the mass loss rate, could be invoked to explain the multiple shell structure of this envelope.     

First detection of polarization of the submillimeter diffuse Galactic dust emission by Archeops

We present the first determination of the Galactic polarized emission at 353 GHz by Archeops. The data were taken during the Arctic night of February 7, 2002 after the balloon-borne instrument was launched by CNES from the Swedish Esrange base near Kiruna. In addition to the 143 and 217 GHz frequency bands dedicated to CMB studies, Archeops had one 545 GHz and six 353 GHz bolometers mounted in three polarization sensitive pairs that were used for Galactic foreground studies. We present maps of the I,Q,U Stokes parameters over 17% of the sky and with a 13 arcmin resolution at 353 GHz (850 μm). They show a significant Galactic large scale polarized emission coherent on the longitude ranges [100°,120°] and [180°,200°] with a degree of polarization at the level of 4–5%, in agreement with expectations from starlight polarization measurements. Some regions in the Galactic plane (Gem OB1, Cassiopeia) show an even stronger degree of polarization in the range 10–20%. Those findings provide strong evidence for a powerful grain alignment mechanism throughout the interstellar medium and a coherent magnetic field coplanar to the Galactic plane. This magnetic field pervades even some dense clouds. Extrapolated to high Galactic latitude, these results indicate that interstellar dust polarized emission is the major foreground for PLANCK-HFI CMB polarization measurement.     

Condensation and vaporization studies of CH3OH and NH3 ices: major implications for astrochemistry

In an extension of previously reported work on ices containing H2O, CO, CO2, SO2, H2S, and H2, we present measurements of the physical and infrared spectral properties of ices containing CH3OH and NH3. The condensation and sublimation behavior of these ice systems is discussed and surface binding energies are presented for all of these molecules. The surface binding energies can be used to calculate the residence times of the molecules on grain surfaces as a function of temperature. It is demonstrated that many of the molecules used to generate radio maps of and probe conditions in dense clouds, for example CO and NH3, will be significantly depleted from the gas phase by condensation onto dust grains. Attempts to derive total column densities solely from radio maps that do not take condensation effects into account may vastly underestimate the true column densities of any given species. Simple CO condensation onto and vaporization off of grains appears to be capable of explaining the observed depletion of gas phase CO in cold, dense molecular cores. This is not the case for NH3, however, where thermal considerations alone predict that all of the NH3 should be condensed onto grains. The fact that some gas phase NH3 is observed indicates that additional desorption processes must be involved. The surface binding energies of CH3OH, in conjunction with this molecule's observed behavior during warm up in H2O-rich ices, is shown to provide an explanation of the large excess of CH3OH seen in many warm, dense molecular cores. The near-infrared spectrum and associated integrated band strengths of CH3OH-containing ice are given, as are middle infrared absorption band strengths for both CH3OH and NH3.     

Observations of some oxygen-containing and sulfur-containing organic molecules in cold dark clouds

Observations of nine oxygen- and sulfur-containing organic molecules have been made toward the cold dark clouds TMC-1 and L134N. We have confirmed the presence of para-ketene (H2C2O) in TMC-1, have for the first time observed ortho-ketene, and find a total ketene column density approximately 1 x 10(13) cm-2. Thioformaldehyde (H2CS) is easily detectable in both TMC-1 and L134N, with a column density about 5 times larger in the former source (approximately 3 x 10(13) cm-2). The fractional abundance of ketene is comparable to the predictions of ion-molecule chemistry, while that of thioformaldehyde in TMC-1 is one to two orders of magnitude greater than that expected from such models at steady state. Interstellar sulfur chemistry thus continues to be poorly understood. We set upper limits for the column densities of formic acid (HCOOH), vinyl alcohol (CH2CHOH), methyl formate (HCO2CH3), formamide (NH2CHO), methyl mercaptan (CH3SH), isothiocyanic acid (HNCS), and thioketene (H2C2S) in both sources.