Extended Far-Infrared CO Emission in the OMC-1 Core of Orion

We report the discovery of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) at roughly 187 and 150 Hz in the X-ray intensity of X-ray nova XTE J1859+226. The source was observed during a recent outburst with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer. Besides these high-frequency QPOs, we have also detected QPOs (and sometimes their harmonics) at 6-7 Hz and significant broadband variability at low frequencies. These properties, as well as the observed hard X-ray spectrum, make XTE J1859+226 a black hole candidate (BHC). The detection of QPOs at two distinct frequencies greater, similar100 Hz in two observations separated by about 4 hr provide additional insights into the high-frequency QPO phenomenon in BHCs. The importance lies in the proposed interpretations, which invariably involve the effects of strong gravity near a black hole. We compare our results to those of other BHCs and discuss the impact of the observational data on the models in a global context.     

A Study of the Molecular Cloud S64 with Multiple Lines of CO Isotopes

We report on a study of the molecular cloud S64 with observations at millimeter wavelengths of multiple molecular lines of CO isotopes.A weak outflow is found,and its physical parameters are estimated.The departure of the core of S64 from the S64 HII region indicates that there are still other star formation activities in that region.     

Large-Scale Mapping Observations of the C i (3P1-3P0) and CO (J = 3-2) Lines toward the Orion A Molecular Cloud

Large-scale mapping observations of the 3P1-3P0 fine-structure transition of atomic carbon (C i, 492 GHz) and the J=3-2 transition of CO (346 GHz) toward the Orion A molecular cloud have been carried out with the Mount Fuji submillimeter-wave telescope. The observations cover 9 deg2 and include the Orion Nebula M42 and the L1641 dark cloud complex. The C i emission extends over almost the entire region of the Orion A cloud and is surprisingly similar to that of 13CO (J=1-0). The CO (J=3-2) emission shows a more featureless and extended distribution than C i. The C i/CO (J=3-2) integrated intensity ratio shows a spatial gradient running from the north (0.10) to the south (1.2) of the Orion A cloud, which we interpret as a consequence of the temperature gradient. On the other hand, the C i/13CO (J=1-0) intensity ratio shows no systematic gradient. We have found a good correlation between the C i and 13CO (J=1-0) intensities over the Orion A cloud. This result is discussed on the basis of photodissociation region models.     

猎户座分子云团中弥散电离介质的视向速度及线强度比分布

恒星形成区是研究恒星形成物理过程最重要的天体物理实验室. 猎户座分子云团是研究各种质量恒星形成和相关年轻恒星性质的一个著名天区. 通过对恒星形成区的光学光谱分析, 可以获取其内部热电离气体的运动学和化学性质. 基于国家大科学装置郭守敬望远镜(LAMOST)的光谱观测数据, 从LAMOST I期光谱巡天数据中筛选出8个指向猎户座分子云团的观测面板, 获取了1300多条针对猎户座分子云团内弥散电离介质的有效光谱. 选取不受星际介质污染的背景天光光谱构建超级天光, 对这些光谱数据做减天光处理, 并进一步测量其发射线性质,包括Ha、N Ⅱ] λ 6584、[S Ⅱ]λλ 6717和6731等发射线的中心波长和积分流量等.最后给出猎户座分子云团内弥散电离介质的视向速度和线强度比分布情况.     

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．     

W51M分子云中H和He复合线的观测研究

W51M (W51 Main)是一个和HⅡ区成协的大质量恒星形成区,在其中可以探测到众多的分子谱线和H、He射电复合线.中国科学院上海天文台基于天马65 m望远镜对W51M的观测数据,证认了主量子数在74–117之间的H、He复合发射线,其中主量子数在74–78之间的H和He的α复合线均被探测到.结合H和He复合线的多普勒致宽,算出该HⅡ区的电子温度约为7400 K, He+/H+的离子丰度比约为0.09,这与已有的研究基本吻合.考虑高信噪比的复合线,即H(n)α(74n78),计算得出W51M的平均湍动速度是13.767 km·s-1.通过确定W51M或其他HⅡ区中的复合线,获取电子温度、湍动速度以及其他物理参量,在电子数密度、元素丰度、恒星形成率等方面进行了探讨,对分子谱线以及其他波段的复合线研究具有借鉴意义.     

Heterodyne spectroscopy of the J = 17-16 CO line in Orion

We have obtained high-resolution spectra of the 153 micrometers J = 17-16 CO line in the BN-KL region of Orion using a laser heterodyne spectrometer. The line shows broad wings (30 km s-1 FWHM at BN) characteristic of the plateau emission as well as a narrower component probably associated with the quiescent gas in the molecular ridge. From an analysis of the plateau emission together with that observed in lower J CO transitions, we derive an excitation temperature of 180 +/- 50 K and minimum column density of 1 x 10(18) cm-2 for CO in this component, which constitutes 80% of the total integrated intensity of the J = 17-16 line near BN. The peak intensity of the narrower component observed at 0.8 km s-1 resolution increases relative to that of the plateau component toward theta 1C and away from BN, while the width decreases from 10 to 4 km s-1 (FWHM).     

Excitation of Far-Infrared Lines of OH and Maser Pumping Efficiency in Circumstellar Envelopes

We present the results obtained with a radiative transfer model to investigate the excitation of OH molecules. Maser pumping efficiencies are estimated from the model and compared to the value calculated using recent OH far-infrared (FIR) observations with ISO and OH maser data. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Molecular Cloud Collapse

Theoretical models of star formation from the collapse of molecular cloud cores have been evolving in complexity for many years. This work describes the evolution of models from the nonrotating, nonmagnetized singular isothermal sphere to rotating, magnetized singular isothermal toroids. Four members of the same family are studied–the four combinations of nonrotation/rotation and nonmagnetization/magnetization. It is found that although rotation alone can hinder collapse to a pointmass, addition of braking from a magnetic field can transport away much of the angular momentum upward in a low-velocity outflow during the collapse phase. For all magnetized cases, accretion proceeds at a constant rate similar to that of the isothermal sphere.     

Fireworks in Orion

The energetic outflow in Orion – which made headlines in the(northern-hemisphere) Summer of 1993 – is reinterpreted as a recent Supernova whose explosion went unnoticed, of age10^2.2±0.2 years. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Submillimeter CI and CO Lines in Galaxies

Together with C⁺ and CO, C is an important reservoir of carbon in the interstellar medium. We present recent results on the ground state transition of atomic carbon at 492 GHz, and on submillimeter CO lines in nearby galaxies. We show that atomic carbon is a good tracer of molecular gas in spiral galaxy disks. It has also a contribution to the molecular gas cooling: the cooling due to C and CO are of the same order of magnitude, and amounts typically to 4× 10^-5 of the FIR continuum. C and CO cooling becomes significant in ULIRG galaxies like Arp220.It is possible to use CI measurements to diagnose the physical conditions in galaxies. Together with CII/CI, the emissivity ratio CI/FIR can be used as a measure of the non-ionizing UV radiation field in galaxies.     

Observation and Study of the CO, CO, HCO and N2H Molecular Lines Towards IRAS 02232+6138

Using the 13.7 m millimeter-wave telescope at the Qinghai Station of Purple Mountain Observatory, we have made observations of ¹³CO, C¹⁸O, HCO⁺ and N₂H⁺ molecular lines towards IRAS 02232+6138. As the excitation density of the probe molecule increases from ¹³CO to HCO⁺, the size of the cloud core associated with IRAS 02232+6138 decreases from 2.40 pc to 0.54 pc, and the virial mass of the cloud core decreases from 2.2 × 10³M to 5.1 × 10²M. A bipolar molecular outflow is found towards IRAS 02232+6138. Using the power function n(r) ∝ r⁻ to fit the spatial density structure of the cloud core, we obtain the power-law index  = 2.3 − 1.2; and we find that, as the probed density increases, the power function becomes more flat. The abundance ratio of ¹³CO to C¹⁸O is 12.4 ± 6.9, comparable with the values 11.8 ± 5.9 for dark clouds and the values 9.0–15.6 for massive cores. The abundance of N₂H⁺ molecules is 3.5 ± 2.5 × 10⁻¹⁰, consistent with the value 1.0 − 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ for dark cloud cores and the value 1.2 − 12.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ for massive cores. The abundance of HCO⁺ molecules is 0.9 ± 0.5 × 10⁻⁹, close to the value 1.6 − 2.4 × 10⁻⁹ for massive cores. An increase of HCO⁺ abundance in the outflow region was not found. Combining with the IRAS data, the luminosity-mass ratio of the cloud core is obtained in the range 37–163(L/M). Based on the IRAS luminosity, it is estimated that a main-sequence O7.5 star is probably embedded in the IRAS 02232+6138 cloud core.     

Primordial substructure in the Orion Nebula Cluster

We use numerical N -body simulations of the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC) to investigate the possibility of substructure in its formation. There is no substructure apparent in the ONC today. However, unless there was a remarkable degree of homogeneity in the molecular cloud from which it formed, it seems unlikely that this would have been true of the cluster in its earliest phase. More plausibly, the early structure of the cluster would have consisted of groups or clumps of subclusters, following the structure of the cloud itself. We have explored the extent to which such subclusters could subsequently have merged, and find that the age of the cluster is a critical factor. The most inhomogeneous initial conditions, comprising a small number of subclusters with many members, are ruled out by an age of 2 Myr or less. There is a considerable amount of freedom in the other direction, however, which suggests that fragmentation in the original cloud is more likely to have been on the scale of small clumps, each producing fewer than 100 stars. These initial subclusters could have been very dense – perhaps two or three orders of magnitude more dense than the core of the ONC today.     

Dynamics of the Orion Nebula

The collision of supersonic gas streams within anHII region is studied. A system of stationary shock waves is set up. Theoretical line profiles through these shocked regions are compared with those obtained in the bright central regions of the Orion Nebula. There is good agreement between the predicted and observed magnitude of line splitting in the forbidden lines of O⁺ and O⁺⁺.