Heterodyne spectroscopy of the J = 22-21 CO line in Orion

We have observed the J = 22-21 line of 12CO at 2528 GHz (118.8 micrometers) in the IRc2 region of Orion. The spectra at 0.6 km s-1 resolution show both plateau emission with FWHM approximately 35 km s-1 and a narrower component with FWHM approximately 8 km s-1. Comparison with heterodyne data of similar quality on the J = 17-16 line indicates that the broad and narrow components both originate in gas with an excitation temperature Tex approximately 600 K. The emission is consistent with the predictions of shock models in which the wide component arises from the heated outflow gas and postshock molecular material, while the narrow component comes from ambient material near the leading edge of the shock front where temperatures are high but significant acceleration has not yet occurred.     

Heterodyne spectroscopy of the 158 micron C II line in M42

We have obtained velocity-resolved spectra of the 12C II 157.8 microns 2P3/2-2P1/2 fine structure line in the M42 region of Orion. Observations at 0.8 km s-1 resolution with a laser heterodyne spectrometer show multiple velocity components in some locations, with typical linewidths of 3-5 km s-1. Spectra of theta 1C and BN-KL also show weak emission from the F = 2-1 hyperfine component of the equivalent 13C II line. From the observed 12C II/13C II line intensity ratios, we deduce that the 12C II emission is optically thick with tau approximately 5 at both positions. Excitation temperatures of 128 K and 90 K, together with column densities of approximately 1 x 10(19) cm-2 and approximately 4 x 10(18) cm-2, are derived for theta 1C and BN-KL, respectively.     

Reversed far-infrared line emission from OH in Orion

The fundamental OH rotational transition at 2514 GHz (119.2 micrometers) has been observed in the Orion IRc2 region at a spectral resolution of 0.6 km s-1. The emission is spatially compact (< 25" FWHM) and centered near IRc2. A comparison of the observed profile with spectra of other species known to exist in the region suggests that the entire blueshifted side of the OH profile has been "self-absorbed," leaving only a redshifted emission component. In addition, there is pronounced absorption near 5 km s-1 VLSR indicative of the "hot core" source. The presence of the 119 micrometers absorption provides a straightforward explanation for the high ratio of 163/119 micrometers integrated line intensities which was previously considered anomalous.     

部分遮蔽类星体SDSS J151653.22+190048.2的紫外波段中等宽度发射线起源

类星体SDSS J151653.22+190048.2 (简称J1516+1900)在紫外-光学-近红外波段展现出奇特的光谱性质:其光学Hα、Hβ和近红外的Paα、Paβ等发射线的半高全宽(full width at half maximum intensity, FWHM)均超过5000 km/s,等值宽度接近类星体平均值;而紫外波段光谱的常见发射线Lyβ、OVI、Lyα、NV、Si IV和CIV等,由FWHM1700 km/s的中等宽度成分主导.这种现象很可能是由于紫外发射线的宽线成分经尘埃消光,强度严重削弱,从而使得中等宽度成分凸显出来;在光学和近红外波段,尘埃消光减弱,发射线由宽线成分主导,潜在的中等宽度成分不容易被看到.根据中等宽度成分的线宽和J1516+1900中央超大质量黑洞的质量MBH5.75×108M⊙,在维里化假设下,估计中等宽度发射区到中央黑洞的距离约为1.6 pc.另一方面,利用J1516+1900丰富的观测谱线,结合光致电离模型计算,可以限定J1516+1900的中等宽度发射线区气体密度1012cm-3、电离参数10-0.65.据此估计该发射线区到中心黑洞距离0.016 pc,只有维里化距离的1%.这一矛盾结果预示着中等宽度发射区可能具有较为复杂的物理结构,未来需要观测更多类似J1516+1900的部分遮蔽类星体并进行系统的分类和研究.     

SiS in Orion-KL: evidence for "outflow" chemistry

SiS has been conclusively detected toward Orion-KL via its J = 6-5 and J = 5-4 rotational transitions at 91 and 109 GHz. Line profiles indicate that the species is present at an LSR velocity of 7.5 km s-1 with a half-width at zero power of 36 km s-1. Such characteristics associate SiS with the moderate velocity outflow (V approximately 18 km s-1) centered on IRc2 and observed in thermal SiO, the NH3 "plateau," and OH, H2O, and SiO masers. The column density estimated for SiS in this region is Ntot = 4 x 10(15) cm-2, corresponding to a fractional abundance of f approximately 4 x 10(-9). Such an abundance implies an SiO/SiS ratio of approximately 60 in the outflow material, remarkably close to the cosmic O/S ratio of approximately 40 and contrasting with the SiO/SiS value of > approximately 10(3) predicted by ion-molecule models. This difference is probably a result of the high temperatures and densities present in the outflow, which favor thermal equilibrium abundances similar to those observed in the circumstellar shells of late-type stars rather than "ion-molecule"-type concentrations. In addition to SiS, some twenty new unidentified lines near 91 and 109 GHz were detected toward KL, as well as transitions arising from HC5N, HC13CCN, HCC13CN, O13CS, and, possibly, CH3CH2OH, CH3CHO, and CH3OD.     

Shock-heated NH3 in a Molecular Jet Associated with a High-Mass Young Star

We present the discovery of shock-excited NH3 in a well-collimated jet associated with the extremely young high-mass star IRAS 20126+4104. The NH3 (3, 3) and (4, 4) emission is dominated by three clumps along the SiO jet. At the end of the jet, there exists strong and broad (+/-10 km s-1) NH3 (3, 3) emission. With typical brightness temperatures greater than 500 K, the overall emission indicates a weakly inverted population and appears in an arc, consistent with the excitation by bow shocks. There are two bright spots in the NH3 (3, 3) emission with brightness temperatures of approximately 2000 K. The narrow line width (1.5 km s-1 FWHM), the small sizes (<0&farcs;3), and the unusually high brightness temperature of the features are indicative of maser emission. Our observations provide clear evidence that NH3 (3, 3) masers are excited in shock regions in molecular outflows.     

富碳拱星IRC＋10216和CIT6的CO J=1—0转动谱的观测

使用中国科学院紫金山天文台青海站13.7米射电望远镜于1996年12月至1997年1月对富碳拱星IRC 10216和CIT6的CO J=1-0跃迁(115GHz)进行了观测。在观测谱线的基础上得到了IRC 10216的视向速度和膨胀速度分别为一26.1km s~(-1)和14.8km s~(-1),CIT6的视向速度和膨胀速度分别为0.6km s~(-1)和13.8kms~(-1)。并对望远镜的射束及指向精度进行了研究。     

The high-latitude cloud MBM 7. I. H I and CO observations

The high-latitude cloud (HLC) MBM 7 has been observed in the 21 cm H I line and the 12CO(1-0) and 13CO(1-0) lines with similar spatial resolutions. The data reveal a total mass approximately 30 M solar for MBM 7 and a complex morphology. The cloud consists of a cold dense core of 5 M solar surrounded by atomic and molecular gas with about 25 M solar, which is embedded in hotter and more diffuse H I gas. We derive a total column density N(H I + 2H2) of 1 x 10(21) cm-2 toward the center and 1 x 10(20) cm-3 toward the envelope of MBM 7. The CO line indicates the existence of dense cores [n(H2) > or = 2000 cm-3] of size (FWHM) approximately 0.5 pc. The morphology suggests shock compression from the southwest direction, which can form molecular cores along the direction perpendicular to the H I distribution. The H I cloud extends to the northeast, and the velocity gradient appears to be about 2.8 km s-1 pc-1 in this direction, which indicates a systematic outward motion which will disrupt the cloud in approximately 10(6) yr. The observed large line widths of approximately 2 km s-1 for CO suggest that turbulent motions exist in the cloud, and hydrodynamical turbulence may dominate the line broadening. Considering the energy and pressure of MBM 7, the dense cores appear not to be bound by gravity, and the whole cloud including the dense cores seem to be expanding. The distance to HLCs suggest that they belong to the galactic plane, since the scale height of the cloud is < or approximately equal to 100 pc. Compared to the more familiar dense dark clouds, HLCs may differ only in their small mass and low density, with their proximity reducing the filling factor and enhancing the contrast of the core and envelope structure.     

Submillimeter/millimeter observations of the molecular clouds associated with Tycho's supernova remnant

We have carried out CO J = 2-1 and CO J = 3-2 observations toward Tycho's supernova remnant(SNR) using the KOSMA 3m-telescope.From these observations,we identified three molecular clouds(MCs) around the SNR.The small cloud in the southwest was discovered for the first time.In the north and east,two MCs(Cloud A and Cloud B) adjacent in space display a bow-shaped morphology,and have broad emission lines,which provide some direct evidences of the SNR-MCs interaction.The MCs are revealed at-69--59 km s-1,coinci...     

Laboratory Detection of a Molecular Band at lambda4429

This Letter presents infrared spectra taken with the newly commissioned near-infrared spectrometer (NIRSPEC) on the Keck II telescope of the high-redshift radio galaxy MRC 2025-218 (z=2.63). These observations represent the deepest infrared spectra of a radio galaxy to date and have allowed for the detection of Hbeta, [O iii] lambdalambda4959, 5007, [O i] lambda6300, Halpha, [N ii] lambdalambda6548, 6583, and [S ii] lambdalambda6716, 6713. The Halpha emission is very broad (FWHM=9300 km s-1) and luminous (2.6x1044 ergs s-1), and it is very comparable to the line widths and strengths of radio-loud quasars at the same redshift. This strongly supports active galactic nucleus unification models linking radio galaxies and quasars, although we discuss some of the outstanding differences. The line [O iii] lambda5007 is extremely strong and has extended emission with large relative velocities toward the nucleus. We also derive that if the extended emission is due to star formation, each knot has a star formation rate comparable to a Lyman-break galaxy at the same redshift.     

在CepheusE中C^18O（J=1—0）分子外流的不准直分布的研究

从在CepheusE中C18O（J＝1－0）的谱线频谱图发现,相对于峰速度的蓝移成分的积分流量密度明显大于相对于红移成分的积分流量密度．从在它的强度分布图也可以发现强度分布轮廓向西北和向东延伸．为此,研究了在CepheusE中C18O（J＝1－0）的速度分段积分等高图,发现相对于峰速度的蓝移速度分段积分等高图中的C18O（J＝1－0）的积分强度,要大于相对于红移速度分段积分等高图中的C18O（J＝1－0）的积分强度,同时强度分布图中的分子外流的不准直分布是由相对于峰速度的蓝移成分的分布的不准直性所引起的．     

High-Dispersion Spectroscopy of the Sodium (NA) Emission within the Inner Coma of C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp)

Very-high spectral resolution observations of the neutral Na emission have enabled measurements of the velocity dispersions of the Na atoms within ∼40,000 km of the opto center of Hale-Bopp. Asymmetric Na D line profiles imply both an in situ or core Na source and a secondary Na source at locations within the inner coma. The core velocity distribution had a FWHM of 2 km s^-1. The extended source FWHM increased with distance from the nucleus (up to ∼6 km s^-1, but appeared smaller in the more dusty regions (∼2.5–3.0 km s^-1) of the inner coma. The D₂/D₁ line strength ratio was consistent with an optically thin inner coma. Within 5,000 km of the opto center the continuum spatial intensity profiles decreased as ∼r^-1 while the Na D emission decreased at less than r^-1. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A search for massive young stellar objects with 98 CH_3OH maser sources

Using the 13.7m telescope of the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO),a survey of the J = 1 - 0 lines of CO and its isotopes was carried out on 98 methanol maser sources in January 2008.Eighty-five sources have infrared counterparts within one arcmin.In the survey,except for 43 sources showing complex or multiple-peak profiles,almost all the 13CO line profiles of the other 55 sources have large line widths of 4.5km s-1 on average and are usually asymmetric.Fifty corresponding Infrared Astronomical Satellite (I...     

大质量分子云核的CO同位素搜寻

使用紫金山天文台 １３．７ ｍ望远镜上新安装的 ＳＩＳ系统,对 ６４个高色指数 ＩＲＡＳ源和水脉泽源进行了 ＣＯ同位素１３ＣＯ和 Ｃ１８Ｏ Ｊ＝ １－０的搜寻,并对部分源作了成图观测．结果在 ６４个源中全部测到了这一谱线对,而１３ＣＯ的辐射一般较强,说明与稠密分子区成协,其中约６０个源为首次作ＣＯ同位素谱线对巡测．用高斯拟会导出了天线温度、线心速度和谱线全半宽．对辐射强度、话线特征进行了初步分析．     

Maps of hco+ Emission in c/1995 o1 (Hale–Bopp)

On-the-Fly maps of emission from the HCO⁺ J = 3-2 transition at 267.6 GHz were obtained of C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) on 1997 Mar 15.6 UT using the NRAO 12-m telescope with high spatial resolution. Unlike the relatively symmetric and centralized maps of the neutral species CO, HCN and H₂CO, the spatial extent of HCO⁺ emission is very diffuse with a complex structure characterized by at least two physically different regions. The bulk of the HCO⁺ emission peaks in intensity ∼175,000 km anti-sunward from the nuclear position. This peak emission does not fall directly along the anti-sunward direction, but is rotated by ∼10 degrees toward the east from the anti-sunward direction. A substantial void, or decrease, of HCO⁺ emission is observed within ∼ 55,000 km of the nucleus. The HCO⁺ emission in this void is roughly half the intensity of the emission observed 100,000 km away. This decrease of HCO⁺ emission near the nucleus may indicate that production or excitation of HCO⁺ is inhibited, or perhaps that HCO⁺ is easily destroyed in the inner coma, especially within ∼50,000 km of the nucleus. This void roughly coincides with the approximate location and size of the so-called “diamagnetic cavity” in the coma and may mark a significant transition region in the inner coma of Hale-Bopp This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

CO abundances in a protostellar cloud: freeze-out and desorption in the envelope and outflow of L483

CO isotopes are able to probe the different components in protostellar clouds. These components, core, envelope and outflow have distinct physical conditions, and sometimes more than one component contributes to the observed line profile. In this study, we determine how CO isotope abundances are altered by the physical conditions in the different components. We use a 3D molecular line transport code to simulate the emission of four CO isotopomers, ¹²CO   J = 2 → 1, ¹³CO J = 2 → 1  , C¹⁸O   J = 2 → 1  and C¹⁷O   J = 2 → 1  from the Class 0/1 object L483, which contains a cold quiescent core, an infalling envelope and a clear outflow. Our models replicate James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) line observations with the inclusion of freeze-out, a density profile and infall. Our model profiles of ¹²CO and ¹³CO have a large linewidth due to a high-velocity jet. These profiles replicate the process of more abundant material being susceptible to a jet. C¹⁸O and C¹⁷O do not display such a large linewidth as they trace denser quiescent material deep in the cloud.     

Discrete subresolution structures in the solar transition zone

During operations on the Spacelab-2 Shuttle mission, the NRL High Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph (HRTS) recorded spectra of a variety of solar features in the 1200–1700 Å wavelength region which contains spectral lines and continua well suited for investigating the temperature minimum, the chromosphere and transition zone. These data show that, at the highest spatial resolution, the transition zone spectra are broken up from a continuous intensity distribution along the slit into discrete emission elements. The average dimensions of these discrete transition zone structures is 2400 km along the slit, but an analysis of their emission measures and densities shows that the dimensions of the actual emitting volume is conciderably less. If these structures are modelled as an ensemble of subresolution filaments, we find that these filaments have typical radii of from 3 to 30 km and that the cross-sectional fill factor is in the range from 10^–5 to 10^–2. The transport of mass and energy through these transition zone structures is reduced by this same factor of 10^–5 to 10^–2 which has significant consequences for our understanding of the dynamics of the solar atmosphere. Because the HRTS transition zone line profiles are not broadened by resolved large-spatial-scale solar velocity fields, the line widths of the Civ lines have been analyzed. The average line width is 0.195 Å (FWHM) and requires an average nonthermal velocity of 16 km s^–1 (most-probable) or 19 km s^–1 (root-mean-square) which is lower than previously observed values.     

New interstellar masers in nonmetastable ammonia

We report the astronomical detections of several ammonia inversion transitions involving nonmetastable levels with energies as high s 1090 K above the ground state. The (J, K) = (9, 6) inversion transition shows maser-like emission in the directions of W51, NGC 7538, W49, and DR 21(OH). The NH3 (6, 3) line exhibits similar characteristics in W51 but is seen in absorption in NGC 7538. These are the first definite detections of ammonia masers in space. The intensities and narrow line widths (0.5-1.5 km s-1) for the emission features are in contrast to the previously detected broad, weak, nonmetastable lines attributed to thermal emission in these sources. Temporal variability appears to be evident in the (9, 6) emission in W49 over a 4 month period. The highly excited (J, K) = (9, 6) and (6, 3) ammonia lines are found in regions containing compact H II regions and strong infrared sources with associated H2O and OH masers; i.e., in regions of active star formation.     

Polarimetry and spectroscopy of RX J1141.3−6410: a single‐pole AM Her system

We present polarimetric and spectroscopic observations of the ROSAT source RX J1141.3−6410, recently identified as a polar. The detection of circular polarization variations, with an amplitude of 10 per cent, over a 3.16-h period confirms that the system is a polar (AM Herculis star). Supporting evidence comes from the nature of the emission lines and their radial velocity variability. In addition, we observe continuum slope changes in the far-red spectral region (∼6000–8200 Å), indicative of phase dependent cyclotron emission. Polarimetric modelling at two wavelengths establishes RX J1141.3−6410 as a single-pole system, with i ∼ β ∼70°. The accretion region is extended in magnetic longitude, and is totally self-occulted for ∼25 per cent of the orbit. The radial velocity curves derived from the emission lines show a phasing with maximum blueshift occurring with Δ φ ∼0.05 of maximum intensity and circular polarisation. In addition, the broader component of the lines exhibit a substantial radial velocity phase shift with respect to the narrower component, in the sense that the broad component preceeds the narrow. This can be readily understood if the narrower component is principally a result of orbital motion of the stream material and the broad component mainly a result of streaming motion near the coupling region. The phasing of the Ca  ii near-infrared line radial velocities also supports this general picture.     

ISO SWS Spectroscopy of WR 146 (WC6+O)

We have obtained ISO SWS spectroscopy of WR 146 (WC6+O) covering the wavelength range 2.6-20 μm. WC6 wind emission is observed in numerous lines of He II and C IV, as well as in the [Ne III] 15.5 μm line, but not in [Ne II] 12.81 or [Ne V] 14.32 μm. An analysis of these spectra (and complementary radio and optical data) yields for the WC6 star: v∞ = 2700 km s-1; M=2.6×10-5M⊙yr-1; C/He = 0.15; and a neon abundance bound of 3.4×10-3≤Ne/He≤6.8×10-3. The neon abundance is close to that predicted in stellar evolution models of WC stars. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.