Observations des bords brillants dans NGC 281, IC 434 et M 16

Sommaire Les photographies monochromatiques en H, [Nii] 6584 et [Oiii] 5007 ont été obtenues sur NGC 281, IC 434 et M 16 eu vue de la détection et de l'étude des bords brillants. A partir de ces photos, on accède à la carte d'égal rapport [Nii]/H grâce à la méthode décrite par Louise et Sapin (1972). A l'exclusion des bords brillants, ce rapport varie très peu à l'intérieur d'une même nébuleuse. Par contre à l'approche des fronts d'ionisation, il augmente de façon spectaculaire et systématique.Le renforcement de la raie [Oiii] vers les bords brillants suggère la présence des inhomogénéités (globules ou/et filaments) et le rôle possible que jouent les mécanismes d'échange de charges étudiés par Aller et Keyes (1980).

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Observations of bright rims in NGC 281, IC 434 and M 16

Monochromatic plates are obtained in H, [Nii] 6584 and [Oiii] 5007 lines for three Hii regions: NGC 281, IC 434 and M 16. They allow both detection and physical studies of bright rims. Indeed, it is shown that bright rims appear most contrasted on [Nii] and [Oiii] plates. Furthermore, maps of ratio [Nii]/H are derived from the method described by Louise and Sapin (1972). This ratio remains practically constant within the nebula, except for bright rims where it increases. This may be understood by means of both increasing abundanceN(N⁺/N(H⁺) and temperature following to the model of Mallik (1975).The [Oiii] enhancement towards bright rims in M 16 suggests the presence of inhomogeneities (globules or/and filaments) and the possible role played by charge exchange mechanisms as pointed out by Aller and Keyes (1980).

     

High velocities in the interstellar complex of M17 (NGC 6618)

High-velocity features over a velocity range of 180 km s^–1 have now been definitely identified on the profiles of the H line from the Hii region M17. A photon-counting image tube on the intermediate grating spectrograph of the 3.9 m Anglo-Australian telescope was employed.Many mechanisms for the formation of these high-velocity phenomena and the co-moving H I, molecular/Hii large-scale sheets, which have lower velocities, are considfered.Flows from ionization fronts moving into (and in one case breaking out from) small globules and large neutral sheets are compared to the large- and small-scale effects of energetic stellar winds.External and internal supernova remnants are also discussed and radiation pressure on embedded dust grains and the ionized gas is not discounted. Motions generated during periods of star formation are also mentioned.     

The variations of the electron density within M8

The ratios of the brightnesses of the [Oii] lines at 3729 Å and 3726 Å were measured at 37 positions across M8. A multiple shell model was then constructed to estimate the large-scale variations of this ratio within the nebula. The amplitude and scale of the microscopic fluctuations of the electron density were then estimated by comparing these corrected [Oii] measurements with previous radio observations of the r.m.s. electron density. It is concluded that the ionized matter in M8 is condensed to within approximately 0.025 of the volume occupied by the nebula.     

Monochromatic photographs of giantHii regions in the Magellanic Clouds

Narrow band-pass direct photographs have been secured of the central region of 30 Doradus and of several other nebulosities in the Magellanic Clouds. We have utilized an image tube camera attached to the Yale one-meter telescope at the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory. Interference filters whose band passes were selected to allow for the radial velocities of the Magellanic Clouds have been utilized to record monochromatic images of [Nii] 6584, H, Hei 5876, and [Oiii] 5007. In 30 Doradus the main filamentary structures appear to be very similar in H, Hei, [Nii], and [Oiii] at least in the inner regions where most spectroscopic measurements have been made. The features appear to be material bounded rather than radiation bounded and the excitation differences are very small. Likewise, in NGC 346 in the Small Magellanic Cloud the [Oiii] and H images are very similar, but in N44 in the Large Magellanic Cloud excitation differences do appear. The implications of these observations for chemical compositions of nebulosities in the Magellanic Clouds would appear to be that spectroscopic and scanner studies should be supplemented by monochromatic photographs. Some nebulosities can be handled by simple models while for others excitation differences must be taken into account.Guest investigators at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy under contract with the National Science Foundation     

Theoretical models of planetary nebulae

Sets of theoretical models of spherically symmetrical gaseous nebulae are calculated for a fixed chemical composition and with central star, energy distributions given by Cassinelli (1971) and by Kunasz, Mihalas and Hummer (1975). A central region of constant densityN _H=100 cm^–3 is surrounded by a broken shell consisting of zones of different density and optical thickness. It is found that for a fixed chemical composition and central star flux, a considerable range can be found in the emitted fluxes of certain lines such as 4686 which are often used to fix the level of excitation of a nebula. Although it is possible to produce models yielding a variety of nebular line ratios in this way, these truncated inhomogeneous shell models have not reproduced the integrated spectra of nebulae that simultaneously show extreme features of high and low excitation with great strength-e.g. [Nii], [Oii] and 4686 Heii.     

The temperature and internal kinematics of M8

A photoelectric Fabry-Pérot spectrometer is used to record the line profiles of H and [Nii] at 22 points in the nebula. The ratio of intensity H/[Nii] is used to derive an electron temperature distribution with values between 5700° and 9100° showing a peak at the centre of density. These temperatures are compared with the H Doppler temperatures to estimate excess velocities of mass motion. Together with the shifts of the H line centres, these lead to an evaluation of the velocity field in the nebula.It is suggested that the nebula consists of a core expanding at about ±10 km/sec^–1 surrounded by a thick peripheral shell in which large scale mass motions are small. Non-thermal broadening suggesting turbulent velocities at about the speed of sound is observed in this shell and is attributed to small scale dynamic effects in a non-smooth density distribution. The effect of such expanding cores on heliocentric velocities of galacticHii regions is discussed.     

A systematic radial velocity survey of the HII regions IC 1318a and HS 191

The results of a systematic radial velocity survey of two Hii regions in the Cygnus-X complex are presented. The [Nii] emission line components obtained at many positions over each object have been compared and correlated with other phenomena. It is suggested that they are probably connected objects and may be part of a giant shell or cylinder.     

Large-scale ionization fronts and the nature and distribution of light scattering particles in the orion nebula

Image-tube filter photographs calibrated against photoelectric filter photometry have been used to give maps of M42 in absolute flux units over the central 15 arc min of the nebula in Hα, [Nii] (λ 6584 Å), Hβ and continuum at λ 4700 Å. Maps of the ratios Hα/[Nii] and (for the first time) of continuum/Hβ have been produced with unprecedented spatial resolution. These show that the gas to dust ratio is high near the exciting stars and falls strongly in the vicinity of large scale ionization fronts marked by minima in the Hα/[Nii] ratio. These results are interpreted in terms of detailed shell models containing either ice or graphite or silicate scattering particles. In all models there must be a central hole in the distribution of scattering particles. The effect of neutral globules and intrusions is investigated. It is found that all types of grain are trapped inside neutral intrusions near the centre of the nebula by the pressure of the Lα light surrounding the globule, but in the early evolution of the nebula particles can escape into the ionized medium when fronts are R-type. Ice grains escaping at this time will be destroyed for distances to the exciting stars less than 1 pc. These results can explain both the central hole in dust and the underabundance of oxygen in the ionized gas observed earlier. Arguments depending on colour index of the scattered light indicate that mixtures of scattered light from ice in the globules and from ice in the ionized medium can explain the observations, but that the graphite and silicate particles fail. A schematic model of the Orion Nebula is presented to attempt to explain the large scale phenomena observed here. It demonstrates that simple shell models for this nebula are dubious.     

The forbidden line [Ca ii] λ7323 in the fraunhofer spectrum

New observations of the [Caii] 7323 Fraunhofer line are reported. The blending H₂O line was weak at the time of observation. Accurate estimates of the centre-limb variation of the equivalent width of the [Caii] transition are obtained and shown to be consistent with the calcium abundance log N(Ca) = 6.33.     

The structure of the dense cores of Hii regions

The latest observational and theoretical evidence which suggests the existence of a large number of partially ionized globules (PIG's) in the cores of Hii regions is presented. The consequences of this proposition to the structure of the Orion Nebula are then considered. It is suggested that the dense ionized core of M42 is caused by two major ionization fronts eating into a large mass of neutral material which contains many dense neutral globules. The ‘Hourglass’ in M8 is shown to be very similar.     

The spectrum of RR Telescopii in 1968

The nova-like variable RR Telescopii observed at Cerro Tololo Observatory in 1968 displayed an unusually rich emission line spectrum ranging in excitation from Mgi to [Feviii]. A list of lines with their suggested identifications and approximate intensities covers the range from 3100 to 6700. Only a semi-quantitative discussion is possible since photographic measurements of line intensities could not be calibrated photoelectrically.The spectrum can be interpreted as coming from a highly, inhomogeneous stratified shell illuminated by an extremely hot source. Radiation of Mgi [Oi], [Nii], and [Sii] arises from dense pockets shielded from ionizing radiation. The [Oiii] and [Neiv] radiation appears to originate in strata with densities of the order of 5×10⁶ ions/cm³ and a temperature of the order of 18000 K. The abundance of iron appears to be comparable with that of neon. The helium/hydrogen ratio may be about 0.24.     

A proposed correction to the solar abundances of carbon and oxygen utilizing new and accurate theoretical forbidden transition probabilities

Previously published solar abundances of oxygen and carbon can be corrected to be logN(O) = 8.93 and logN(C) = 8.60 on the hydrogen log-scale when new accurate forbidden electric quadrupole transition probabilities A _Q(s^–1) are used. Such A _Q's, based on the new atomic structure and electron correlation theory, developed recently by Sinanolu and coworkers, are reported for the (¹ S ₀-¹ D ₂) lines of [C i], [N ii, [O i] and [O iii] and the (² P-² D) lines of [N i] and [O ii]. The available experimental values are also given for comparison.Work supported by Grant No. GP-29471 from the U.S. National Science Foundation.     

Optical surface features and morphologic properties of the Orion Nebula

In the field partsH, K, L andM of the Orion Nebula, indicated in Figure 2, no obvious differences do appear in the monochromatic photographs obtained in H+[Nii], [Oii], the visual continuum and the range of the Balmer continuum. A different situation we meet in the rest of the field, where one observes two types of featuresA andB, distinguished in Figure 1 by solid and dashed bordering lines respectively. Relative to the conditions in the H+[Nii] pictures, the typeA areas gain in intensity in the photographs taken in the visual continuum. the emission in the forbidden [Oii] lines at 3727 Å is correlated with H+[Nii], the emission in the range of the Balmer continuum with the visual continuum. According to these properties theA-areas must have a particularly high percentage of scattered star light.Most of the areas with identical monochromatic features show a high deficiency of cluster stars correlated with a low surface brightnesss and a reduced gas density. This is explained by an opaqueness of the emission strata in the direction in the line of sight and a position of the same nearer to the observer than the extension of the cluster. There appear surface structures at large distances from the Trapezium which show a correlation between the intensity of scattered star light and the intensity of the emission of the higher ions ([Oiii], [Neiii]). This observation is considered as a proof that canals through the nebular cloud complex allow in some directions the exciting radiation to reach large distances from the star without having suffered an appreciable absorption or scattering.     

Spectroscopic evidence for mass loss from CH Cygni

Some high-dispersion spectrograms of CH Cygni taken in epochs at which only the M6 spectrum is visible and after the explosions of June 1967 and July 1968 have been studied. The strong negative radial velocities of the Caii chromospheric absorptions and the turbulent motions broadening the emission, lines ofHi, Hei, Feii, [Feii] prove that mass is lost from the star at a rate of the order of 10^–8 solar masses per year. Arguments are given in favour of the hypothesis that CH Cygni is a close binary composed of an M giant and a blue unstable subdwarf.Presented at the Trieste Colloquium on Mass Loss from Stars, September 12–16, 1968.     

Forbidden high excitation lines and TiO bands in the symbiotic system QW Sge = MHα80-5

The suspected symbiotic nature of MH80-5=AS 360 was confirmed for the first time by spectra taken in 1967 at Asiago Observatory (Marini, 1969) showing the [Oiii] and [Neiii] forbidden lines, together with strong Heii lines and TiO bands. According to Allen (1984) nebular lines were absent in 1978, while we recorded them again in 1985. Further excitation strengthening up to [Fevii] andOvi, in 1990 were noted by Munari and Buson (1991). The evolution implies density variability in the thick nebula surrounding this new variable system.     

Physical conditions in NGC 6164-5

From spectroscopic observations of the emission lines H, 4959 and 5007[Oiii], H, 6584[Nii], 6717 and 6731[Sii] and some interferometric data in H and [Nii] it was established that NGC 6164 and NGC 6165 have characteristics of normal Hii regions for Ne and Te. They are embedded in a very tenuous medium nearly coincident with the Strömgren sphere of the central star HD 148937, corresponding to the outer peripheral structure described by Westerlund. Variations of the relative abundances of N, O, and S are discussed.     

The Evolution of HII Regions

Here we review some recent results on the observed properties of UCH IIregions, and on the new class of Super-ultra-compact H II regions, and describe the theoretical scheme for H II region expansion, from star-forming cloud cores to the more diffuse external medium. High-pressure cores can stop the expansion on relatively short time scales, of the order of 3× 10⁴ yr, and the resulting pressure equilibrium UCH II regions have small sizes and large ion densities. If the ionization front enters into the decreasing density gradient of the cloud core, the expansion is accelerated and the H II region“pops” out of the core and becomes a “blister”-like region. The properties of the outflows depend on the cloud density structure, and a variety of different shocks can be formed. Density inhomogeneities inside photoionized regions are smoothed out on short time scales, but new clumps are continuously created at the cool shell generated by the shock front. Instabilities in both the ionization and shock fronts cause the fragmentation of the shell, maintaining the presence of clumps during the whole evolution. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The structure of a typical double-ring planetary nebula NGC 2392

Monochromatic photographs in H, [Nii] 6584 and [Oiii] 5007 Å show many different details in the morphological structure of the Eskimo Nebula (NGC 2392). H and [Nii] images show, in a first approximation, similar structure (elliptical inner ring and broken outer ring) whereas both rings in [Oiii] are quite circular and regular in brightness. A photometric study using the method described by Louise (1974) gives various geometrical parameters of both rings which are practically the same for the observed lines. In other words, the classical stratification structure in planetary nebulae is not clearly observed in NGC 2392, in good agreement with previous observations (Wilson, 1950). This fact is probably a consequence of the peculiar structure in the geometry of the nebula. A model consisting of an inner toroid surrounded by a spherical shell is proposed to account for both photometric and spectroscopic observations.     

The solar abundance of nickel from photospheric [Niii] lines

The detailed study of the possible presence of four [Niii] lines in solar absorption leads to an abundanceA _ni = logN _ni = 6.30±0.30 (in the usual scale where logN _H = 12.00), in agreement with the coronal and meteoritic values.On leave from Institut d'Astrophysique, Université de Liège.     

Evolution du spectre de la Nova Delphini 1967 en 1971 et 1972

Continued spectroscopic observations of Nova Del 67 during 1971 and 1972 show a general decrease of the nebular and coronal emission with respect to the local continuum. The continuous spectrum exhibits a strong Balmer emission (figure 1). Equivalent widths of Hi, Hei, Heii, Oi, [Oi], Oii, [Oii], Oiii, [Oiii], Niii, [Sii], [Aiii], [Neiii], [Nev], [Fevi], [Fevii], [Fex], [Fexi], [Fexiv], [Nixvi], [Nixv] are listed in tables 1 and 2.Figures 5 to 10 show several line profiles, which can be interpreted in terms of a model proposed by Hutchings (1972). Kinematical properties of the nova envelope do not seem to have changed in the 1968–1972 time interval. However, a study of the [Oiii] (4959 Å) line indicates that the physical conditions in the polar blobs in 1972 (T _e=10 660 K,N _e=5,5×10⁵ cm^–3) are different from those prevailing in equatorial rings (T _e=9×100 K,N _e=7×10⁵ cm^–3).

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Le matérial d'observation utilisé pour cette étude a été obtenu à l'aide de téléscopes de 120 cm, 152 cm et 193 cm de l'Observatoire de Haute-Provence (CNRS).