| 1. |
- Harada, Nanase, et al.
(författare)
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ALMA Astrochemical Observations of the Infrared-luminous Merger NGC 3256
- 2018
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 855:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In external galaxies, molecular composition may be influenced by extreme environments such as starbursts and galaxy mergers. To study such molecular chemistry, we observed the luminous infrared galaxy and merger NGC 3256 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We covered most of the 3 and 1.3 mm bands for a multispecies, multitransition analysis. We first analyzed intensity ratio maps of selected lines such as HCN/HCO+, which shows no enhancement at an active galactic nucleus. We then compared the chemical compositions within NGC 3256 at the two nuclei, tidal arms, and positions with influence from galactic outflows. We found the largest variation in SiO and CH3OH, species that are likely to be enhanced by shocks. Next, we compared the chemical compositions in the nuclei of NGC 3256, NGC 253, and Arp 220; these galactic nuclei have varying star formation efficiencies. Arp 220 shows higher abundances of SiO and HC3N than NGC 3256 and NGC 253. Abundances of most species do not show a strong correlation with star formation efficiencies, although the CH3CCH abundance seems to have a weak positive correlation with the star formation efficiency. Lastly, the chemistry of spiral arm positions in NGC 3256 is compared with that of W51, a Galactic molecular cloud complex in a spiral arm. We found higher fractional abundances of shock tracers, and possibly also a higher dense gas fraction in NGC 3256 compared with W51.
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| 2. |
- Harada, Nanase, et al.
(författare)
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Starburst Energy Feedback Seen through HCO+/HOC+ Emission in NGC 253 from ALCHEMI
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 923:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecular abundances are sensitive to the UV photon flux and cosmic-ray ionization rate. In starburst environments, the effects of high-energy photons and particles are expected to be stronger. We examine these astrochemical signatures through multiple transitions of HCO+ and its metastable isomer HOC+ in the center of the starburst galaxy NGC 253 using data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array large program ALMA Comprehensive High-resolution Extragalactic Molecular inventory. The distribution of the HOC+(1-0) integrated intensity shows its association with "superbubbles," cavities created either by supernovae or expanding H ii regions. The observed HCO+/HOC+ abundance ratios are similar to 10-150, and the fractional abundance of HOC+ relative to H-2 is similar to 1.5 x 10(-11)-6 x 10(-10), which implies that the HOC+ abundance in the center of NGC 253 is significantly higher than in quiescent spiral arm dark clouds in the Galaxy and the Galactic center clouds. Comparison with chemical models implies either an interstellar radiation field of G (0) greater than or similar to 10(3) if the maximum visual extinction is greater than or similar to 5, or a cosmic-ray ionization rate of zeta greater than or similar to 10(-14) s(-1) (3-4 orders of magnitude higher than that within clouds in the Galactic spiral arms) to reproduce the observed results. From the difference in formation routes of HOC+, we propose that a low-excitation line of HOC+ traces cosmic-ray dominated regions, while high-excitation lines trace photodissociation regions. Our results suggest that the interstellar medium in the center of NGC 253 is significantly affected by energy input from UV photons and cosmic rays, sources of energy feedback.
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| 3. |
- Holdship, Jonathan, et al.
(författare)
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Energizing Star Formation: The Cosmic-Ray Ionization Rate in NGC 253 Derived from ALCHEMI Measurements of H3O+ and SO
- 2022
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 931:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The cosmic-ray ionization rate (CRIR) is a key parameter in understanding the physical and chemical processes in the interstellar medium. Cosmic rays are a significant source of energy in star formation regions, impacting the physical and chemical processes that drive the formation of stars. Previous studies of the circum-molecular zone of the starburst galaxy NGC 253 have found evidence for a high CRIR value: 10(3)-10(6) times the average CRIR within the Milky Way. This is a broad constraint, and one goal of this study is to determine this value with much higher precision. We exploit ALMA observations toward the central molecular zone of NGC 253 to measure the CRIR. We first demonstrate that the abundance ratio of H3O+ and SO is strongly sensitive to the CRIR. We then combine chemical and radiative transfer models with nested sampling to infer the gas properties and CRIR of several star-forming regions in NGC 253 from emission from their transitions. We find that each of the four regions modeled has a CRIR in the range (1-80) x 10(-14) s(-1) and that this result adequately fits the abundances of other species that are believed to be sensitive to cosmic rays, including C2H, HCO+, HOC+, and CO. From shock and photon-dominated/X-ray dominated region models, we further find that neither UV-/X-ray-driven nor shock-dominated chemistry is a viable single alternative as none of these processes can adequately fit the abundances of all of these species.
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| 4. |
- Izumi, Takuma, et al.
(författare)
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ALMA OBSERVATIONS OF THE SUBMILLIMETER DENSE MOLECULAR GAS TRACERS IN THE LUMINOUS TYPE-1 ACTIVE NUCLEUS OF NGC 7469
- 2015
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 811:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Cycle 1 observations of the central kiloparsec region of the luminous type. 1 Seyfert galaxy NGC 7469 with unprecedented high resolution (0.'' 5x0.'' 4 = 165 x 132 pc) at submillimeter wavelengths. Utilizing the wide. bandwidth of ALMA, we simultaneously obtained HCN(4-3), HCO+(4-3), CS(7-6), and partially CO(3-2) line maps, as well as the 860 mu m continuum. The region consists of the central similar to 1 '' component and the surrounding starburst ring with a radius of similar to 1.'' 5-2.'' 5. Several structures connect these components. Except for CO(3-2), these dense gas tracers are significantly concentrated toward the central similar to 1 '', suggesting their suitability to probe the nuclear regions of galaxies. Their spatial distribution resembles well those of centimeter and mid-infrared continuum emissions, but it is anticorrelated with the optical one, indicating the existence of dust-obscured star formation. The integrated intensity ratios of HCN(4-3)/HCO+(4-3) and HCN(4-3)/CS(7-6) are higher at the active galactic nucleus (AGN) position than at the starburst ring, which is consistent with our previous findings (submillimeter-HCN enhancement). However, the HCN(4-3)/HCO+(4-3) ratio at the AGN position of NGC 7469 (1.11 +/- 0.06) is almost half of the corresponding value of the low-luminosity type. 1 Seyfert galaxy NGC 1097 (2.0 +/- 0.2), despite the more than two orders of magnitude higher X-ray luminosity of NGC 7469. But the ratio is comparable to that of the close vicinity of the AGN of NGC 1068 (similar to 1.5). Based on these results, we speculate that some heating mechanisms other than X-ray (e.g., mechanical heating due to an AGN jet) can contribute significantly for shaping the chemical composition in NGC 1097.
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| 5. |
- Izumi, Takuma, et al.
(författare)
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Submillimeter ALMA Observations of the Dense Gas in the Low-Luminosity Type-1 Active Nucleus of NGC 1097
- 2013
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Ingår i: Publications of the Astronomical society of Japan. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0004-6264 .- 2053-051X. ; 65:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the first 100 pc scale view of the dense molecular gas in the central similar to 1.3 kpc of the type-1 Seyfert NGC 1097, traced by HCN (J = 4-3) and HCO+ (J = 4-3) lines afforded with ALMA band 7. This galaxy shows significant HCN enhancement with respect to HCO+ and CO in the low-J transitions, which seems to be a common characteristic in AGN environments. Using the ALMA data, we consider the characteristics of the dense gas around this AGN, and search for the mechanism of HCN enhancement. We find a high HCN (J = 4-3) to HCO+ (J = 4-3) line ratio in the nucleus. The upper limit of the brightness temperature ratio of HCN (nu(2) = 1(1f), J = 4-3) to HCN (J = 4-3) is 0.08, which indicates that IR pumping does not significantly affect the pure rotational population in this nucleus. We also find a higher HCN (J = 4-3) to CS (J = 7-6) line ratio in NGC 1097 than in starburst galaxies, which is more than 12.7 on the brightness temperature scale. Combined with similar observations from other galaxies, we tentatively suggest that this ratio appears to be higher in AGN-host galaxies than in pure starburst ones, similar to the widely used HCN to HCO+ ratio. LTE and non-LTE modeling of the observed HCN and HCO+ lines using J = 4-3 and 1-0 data from ALMA, and J = 3-2 data from SMA, reveals a high HCN to HCO+ abundance ratio (5 <= [HCN]/[HCO+] <= 20: non-LTE analysis) in the nucleus, and that the high-J lines (J = 4-3 and 3-2) are emitted from dense (10(4.5) cm(-3) <= n(H2) <= 10(6) cm(-3)), hot (70 K <= T-kin <= 550 K) regions. Finally we propose that high-temperature chemistry is more plausible to explain the observed enhanced HCN emission in NGC 1097 than pure gas-phase PDR/XDR chemistry.
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| 6. |
- Izumi, Takuma, et al.
(författare)
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SUBMILLIMETER-HCN DIAGRAM FOR ENERGY DIAGNOSTICS IN THE CENTERS OF GALAXIES
- 2016
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 818:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Compiling data from literature and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array archive, we show enhanced HCN(4-3)/HCO+(4-3) and/or HCN(4-3)/CS(7-6) integrated intensity ratios in circumnuclear molecular gas around active galactic nuclei (AGNs) compared to those in starburst (SB) galaxies (submillimeter HCN. enhancement). The number of sample galaxies is significantly increased from our previous work. We expect that this feature could potentially be an extinction-free energy diagnostic tool of nuclear regions of galaxies. Non-LTE radiative transfer modelings of the above molecular emission lines involving both collisional and radiative excitation, as well as a photon trapping effect, were conducted to investigate the cause of the high line ratios in AGNs. As a result, we found that enhanced abundance ratios of HCN to HCO+ and HCN to CS in AGNs as compared to SB galaxies by a factor of a few to even greater than or similar to 10 are a plausible explanation for the submillimeter HCN. enhancement. However, a counterargument of a systematically higher gas density in AGNs than in SB galaxies can also be a plausible scenario. Although we cannot fully distinguish. these two scenarios at this moment owing to an insufficient amount of multi-transition, multi-species data, the former scenario is indicative of abnormal chemical composition in AGNs. Regarding the actual mechanism to realize the composition, we suggest that it is difficult with conventional gas-phase X-ray-dominated region ionization models to reproduce the observed high line ratios. We might have to take into account other mechanisms such as neutral-neutral reactions that are efficiently activated in high-temperature environments and/or mechanically heated regions to further understand the high line ratios in AGNs.
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| 7. |
- Sakamoto, Kazushi, et al.
(författare)
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Deeply Buried Nuclei in the Infrared-luminous Galaxies NGC 4418 and Arp 220. I. ALMA Observations at lambda=1.4-0.4 mm and Continuum Analysis
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 923:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We observed with Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array three deeply buried nuclei in two galaxies, NGC 4418 and Arp 220, at similar to 0.'' 2 resolution over a total bandwidth of 67 GHz in f(rest) = 215-697 GHz. Here we (1) introduce our program, (2) describe our data reduction method for wide-band, high-resolution imaging spectroscopy, (3) analyze in visibilities the compact nuclei with line forests, (4) develop a continuum-based estimation method of dust opacity and gas column density in heavily obscured nuclei, which uses the buried galactic nuclei (BGN) model and is sensitive to log (NH2/cm(-2)) similar to 25-26 at lambda similar to 1 mm, and (5) present the continuum data and diagnosis of our targets. The three continuum nuclei have major-axis FWHMs of similar to 0.'' 1-0.'' 3 (20-140 pc) aligned to their rotating nuclear disks of molecular gas. However, each nucleus is described better with two or three concentric components than with a single Gaussian. The innermost cores have sizes of 0.'' 05-0.'' 10 (8-40 pc), peak brightness temperatures of similar to 100-500 K at 350 GHz, and more fractional flux at lower frequencies. The intermediate components correspond to the nuclear disks. They have axial ratios of approximate to 0.5 and hence inclinations greater than or similar to 60 degrees. The outermost elements include the bipolar outflow from Arp 220W. We estimate 1 mm dust opacity of tau(d, 1 mm )approximate to 2.2, 1.2, and less than or similar to 0.4, respectively, for NGC 4418, Arp 220W, and Arp 220E. The first two correspond to log(N-H/cm(2)) similar to 26 for conventional dust-opacity laws, and hence the nuclei are highly Compton thick.
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| 8. |
- Sakamoto, Kazushi, et al.
(författare)
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Deeply Buried Nuclei in the Infrared-luminous Galaxies NGC 4418 and Arp 220. II. Line Forests at lambda=1.4-0.4 mm and Circumnuclear Gas Observed with ALMA
- 2021
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 923:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the line observations in our Atacama Millimeter-Submillimeter Array imaging spectral scan toward three deeply buried nuclei in NGC 4418 and Arp 220. We cover 67 GHz in f (rest) = 215-697 GHz at about 0.'' 2 (30, 80 pc) resolution. All the nuclei show dense line forests; we report our initial line identification using 55 species. The line velocities generally indicate gas rotation around each nucleus, tracing nuclear disks of similar to 100 pc in size. We confirmed the counter-rotation of the nuclear disks in Arp 220 and that of the nuclear disk and the galactic disk in NGC 4418. While the brightest lines exceed 100 K, most of the major lines and many C-13 isotopologues show absorption against even brighter continuum cores of the nuclei. The lines with higher upper-level energies, including those from vibrationally excited molecules, tend to arise from smaller areas, indicating radially varying conditions in these nuclei. The outflows from the two Arp 220 nuclei cause blueshifted line absorption below the continuum level. The absorption mostly has small spatial offsets from the continuum peaks to indicate the outflow orientations. The bipolar outflow from the western nucleus is also imaged in multiple emission lines, showing the extent of similar to 1 '' (400 pc). Redshifted line absorption against the nucleus of NGC 4418 indicates either an inward gas motion or a small collimated outflow slanted to the nuclear disk. We also resolved some previous confusions due to line blending and misidentification.
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