| 1. |
- Gerin, M., et al.
(författare)
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Interstellar CH absorption in the diffuse interstellar medium along the sight-lines to G10.6-0.4 (W31C), W49N, and W51
- 2010
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 521:1, s. Article Number: L16-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the detection of the ground state N, J = 1, 3/2 -> 1, 1/2 doublet of the methylidyne radical CH at similar to 532 GHz and similar to 536 GHz with the Herschel/ HIFI instrument along the sight-line to the massive star-forming regions G10.6-0.4 (W31C), W49N, and W51. While the molecular cores associated with these massive star-forming regions show emission lines, clouds in the diffuse interstellar medium are detected in absorption against the strong submillimeter background. The combination of hyperfine structure with emission and absorption results in complex profiles, with overlap of the different hyperfine components. The opacities of most of the CH absorption features are linearly correlated with those of CCH, CN, and HCO+ in the same velocity intervals. In specific narrow velocity intervals, the opacities of CN and HCO+ deviate from the mean trends, giving rise to more opaque absorption features. We propose that CCH can be used as another tracer of the molecular gas in the absence of better tracers, with [CCH]/[H2] similar to 3.2 +/- 1.1 x 10-8. The observed [CN]/[CH], [CCH]/[CH] abundance ratios suggest that the bulk of the diffuse matter along the lines of sight has gas densities nH = n(H) + 2n(H2) ranging between 100 and 1000 cm-3).
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| 2. |
- Mookerjea, B., et al.
(författare)
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Chemistry of C-3 and carbon chain molecules in DR21(OH)
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 546, s. Article Number: A75 (pp. 1-11)
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. C-3 is the smallest pure carbon chain detected in the dense environment of star-forming regions, although diatomic C-2 is detected in diffuse clouds. Measurement of the abundance of C-3 and the chemistry of its formation in dense star-forming regions has remained relatively unexplored. Aims. We aim to identify the primary C-3 formation routes in dense star-forming regions following a chemical network producing species like CCH and c-C3H2 in the star-forming cores associated with DR21(OH), a high-mass star-forming region. Methods. We observed velocity resolved spectra of four ro-vibrational far-infrared transitions of C-3 between the vibrational ground state and the low-energy nu(2) bending mode at frequencies between 1654-1897 GHz using HIFI on board Herschel, in DR21(OH). Several transitions of CCH and c-C3H2 were also observed with HIFI and the IRAM 30 m telescope. Rotational temperatures and column densities for all chemical species were estimated. A gas and grain warm-up model was used to obtain estimates of densities and temperatures of the envelope. The chemical network in the model was used to identify the primary C-3 forming reactions in DR21(OH). Results. We detected C-3 in absorption in four far-infrared transitions, P(4), P(10), Q(2), and Q(4). The continuum sources MM1 and MM2 in DR21(OH), though spatially unresolved, are sufficiently separated in velocity to be identified in the C-3 spectra. All C-3 transitions are detected from the embedded source MM2 and the surrounding envelope, whereas only Q(4) and P(4) are detected toward the hot core MM1. The abundance of C-3 in the envelope and MM2 is similar to 6 x 10(-10) and similar to 3 x 10(-9), respectively. For CCH and c-C3H2, we only detect emission from the envelope and MM1. The observed CCH, C-3 and c-C3H2 abundances are most consistent with a chemical model with n(H2) similar to 5 x 10(6) cm(-3), a post-warm-up dust temperature T-max = 30 K, and a time of similar to 0.7-3 Myr. Conclusions. Post-warm-up gas phase chemistry of CH4 released from the grain at t similar to 0.2 Myr and lasting for 1 Myr can explain the observed C-3 abundance in the envelope of DR21(OH), and no mechanism involving photodestruction of PAH molecules is required. The chemistry in the envelope is similar to the warm carbon chain chemistry found in lukewarm corinos. We interpret the observed lower C-3 abundance in MM1 as compared to MM2 and the envelope to be due to the destruction of C-3 in the more evolved MM1. The timescale for the chemistry derived for the envelope is consistent with the dynamical timescale of 2 Myr derived for DR21(OH) in other studies.
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| 3. |
- Mookerjea, B., et al.
(författare)
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Detection of a dense clump in a filament interacting with W51e2
- 2014
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 566:June, s. A61, pp. 1-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the framework of the Herschel/PRISMAS guaranteed time key program, the line of sight to the distant ultracompact H ii region W51e2 has been observed using several selected molecular species. Most of the detected absorption features are not associated with the background high-mass star-forming region and probe the diffuse matter along the line of sight. We present here the detection of an additional narrow absorption feature at ~70 km s-1 in the observed spectra of HDO, NH3 and C3. The 70 km s-1 feature is not uniquely identifiable with the dynamic components (the main cloud and the large-scale foreground filament) so-far identified toward this region. The narrow absorption feature is similar to the one found toward low-mass protostars, which is characteristic of the presence of a cold external envelope. The far-infrared spectroscopic data were combined with existing ground-based observations of 12CO, 13CO, CCH, CN, and C3H2 to characterize the 70 km s-1 component. Using a non-LTE analysis of multiple transitions of NH3 and CN, we estimated the density (n(H2) ~ (1-5) × 105 cm-3) and temperature (10-30 K) for this narrow feature. We used a gas-grain warm-up based chemical model with physical parameters derived from the NH3 data to explain the observed abundances of the different chemical species. We propose that the 70 km s-1 narrow feature arises in a dense and cold clump that probably undergoes collapse to form a low-mass protostar, formed on the trailing side of the high-velocity filament, which is thought to be interacting with the W51 main cloud. While the fortuitous coincidence of the dense clump along the line of sight with the continuum-bright W51e2 compact H ii region has contributed to its nondetection in the continuum images, this same attribute makes it an appropriate source for absorption studies and in particular for ice studies of star-forming regions.Based on data acquired with Herschel and IRAM observatories. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.
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| 4. |
- Persson, Carina, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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First detection of [NII] 205 μm absorption in interstellar gas. Herschel-HIFI observations towards W31C, W49N, W51, and G34.3+0.1.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 568, s. 37-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present high resolution [N II] 205 μm (3^P_1 − 3^P_0) spectra obtained with Herschel-HIFI towards a small sample of far-infrared bright star forming regions in the Galactic plane: All sources display an emission line profile associated directly with the H II regions themselves. For the first time we also detect absorption of the [N II] 205 μm line by extended low-density foreground material towards W 31C and W 49N over a wide range of velocities. We attribute this absorption to the warm ionised medium (WIM) and find N(N+) ≈ 1.5×10^17 cm^-2 towards both sources. This is in agreement with recent Herschel-HIFI observations of [C II] 158 μm, also observed in absorption in the same sight-lines, if ≈7–10% of all C + ions exist in the WIM on average. Using an abundance ratio of [N]/[H] = 6.76×10^-5 in the gas phase we find that the mean electron and proton volume densities are ∼0.1–0.3 cm^-3 assuming a WIM volume filling fraction of 0.1–0.4 with a corresponding line-of-sight filling fraction of 0.46–0.74. A low density and a high WIM filling fraction are also supported by RADEX modelling of the [N II] 205 μm absorption and emission together with visible emission lines attributed mainly to the WIM. The detection of the 205 μm line in absorption emphasises the importance of a high spectral resolution, and also offers a new tool for investigation of the WIM.
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| 5. |
- Persson, Carina, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Nitrogen hydrides in interstellar gas Herschel/HIFI observations towards G10.6-0.4 (W31C)
- 2010
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 521:1, s. Article Number: L45 -
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The HIFI instrument on board the Herschel Space Observatory has been used to observe interstellar nitrogen hydrides along the sight-line towards G10.6-0.4 in order to improve our understanding of the interstellar chemistry of nitrogen. We report observations of absorption in NH N = 1
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| 6. |
- Persson, Carina, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Nitrogen hydrides in interstellar gas II. Analysis of Herschel/HIFI observations towards W49N and G10.6-0.4 (W31C)
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 543:Article Number: A145, s. 145-179
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As a part of the Herschel key programme PRISMAS, we have used the Herschel-HIFI instrument to observe interstellar nitrogen hydrides along the sight-lines towards eight high-mass star-forming regions in order to elucidate the production pathways leading to nitrogen-bearing species in diffuse gas. Here, we report observations towards W49N of the NH N = 1 - 0, J = 2 - 1, and J = 1 - 0, ortho-NH2 N_(Ka, K_c) J = 1_(1,1) 3/2 - 0_(0,0) 1/2, ortho-NH3 J_K = 1_0 - 0_0 and 2_0 - 1_0, para-NH3 J_K = 2_1 - 1_1 transitions, and unsuccessful searches for NH+. All detections show absorption by foreground material over a wide range of velocities, as well as absorption associated directly with the hot-core source itself. As in the previously published observations towards G10.6-0.4, the NH, NH2 and NH3 spectra towards W49N show strikingly similar and non-saturated absorption features. We decompose the absorption of the foreground material towards W49N into different velocity components in order to investigate whether the relative abundances vary among the velocity components, and, in addition, we re-analyse the absorption lines towards G10.6-0.4 in the same manner. Abundances, with respect to molecular hydrogen, in each velocity component are estimated using CH, which is found to correlate with H2 in the solar neighbourhood diffuse gas. The analysis points to a co-existence of the nitrogen hydrides in diffuse or translucent interstellar gaswith a high molecular fraction. Towards both sources, we find that NH is always at least as abundant as both o-NH2 and o-NH3, in sharp contrast to previous results for dark clouds. We find relatively constant N(NH)/N(o-NH3) and N(o-NH2)/N(o-NH3) ratios with mean values of 3.2 and 1.9 towards W49N, and 5.4 and 2.2 towards G10.6-0.4, respectively. The mean abundance of o-NH4 is ~2x10^-9 towards both sources. The nitrogen hydrides also show linear correlations with CN and HNC towards both sources, and looser correlations with CH. The upper limits on the NH+ abundance indicate column densities
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| 7. |
- Persson, Carina, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Nitrogen hydrides in interstellar gas towards G10.6-0.4 (W31C) and W49N
- 2011
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Ingår i: IAU Symposium 280, Poster 76, Session 2, The Molecular Universe, Posters from the proceedings of the 280th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union held in Toledo, Spain, May 30-June 3, 2011, #296. ; 280:76
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The PRISMAS key programme has used the HIFI instrument on board Herschel to observe interstellar nitrogen hydrides along the sight-lines towards G10.6-0.4 (W31C) and W49N in order to elucidate the production pathways leading to nitrogen bearing species. We report observations of the NH N=1-0, J=2-1 and J=1-0, ortho-NH2 111-000, ortho-NH3 10-00 and 20-10, para-NH3 21-11 transitions, and unsuccessful searches for NH+ in both sources. All detections show emission and absorption associated directly with the hot-core source itself as well as absorption by foreground material over a wide range of velocities. The NH, NH2 and NH3 spectra show strikingly similar and non-saturated absorption features, which we attribute to diffuse molecular gas. The similarity of the profiles suggest fairly uniform abundances relative to hydrogen. The derived relative and absolute abundances are discussed with reference to models of gas-phase and surface chemistry.
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| 8. |
- Persson, Carina, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Ortho-to-para ratio of NH2. Herschel-HIFI observations of ortho- and para-NH2 rotational transitions towards W31C, W49N, W51 and G34.3+0.1
- 2016
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 586, s. Art Nr. A128-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have used the Herschel-HIFI instrument to observe both nuclear spin symmetries of amidogen (NH2) towards the high-mass star-forming regions W31C (G10.6-0.4), W49N (G43.2-0.1), W51 (G49.5-0.4) and G34.3+0.1. The aim is to investigate the ratio of nuclear spin types, the ortho-to-para ratio (OPR), of NH2. The excited NH2 transitions are used to construct radiative transfer models of the hot cores and surrounding envelopes in order to investigate the excitation and possible emission of the ground state rotational transitions of ortho-NH2 N_(K_a,K_c} J=1_(1,1) 3/2 - 0_(0,0) 1/2 and para-NH2 2_(1,2) 5/2 - 1_(0,1) 3/2$ used in the OPR calculations. Our best estimate of the average OPR in the envelopes lie above the high temperature limit of three for W49N, specifically 3.5 with formal errors of \pm0.1, but for W31C, W51, and G34.3+0.1 we find lower values of 2.5\pm0.1, 2.7\pm0.1, and 2.3\pm0.1, respectively. Such low values are strictly forbidden in thermodynamical equilibrium since the OPR is expected to increase above three at low temperatures. In the translucent interstellar gas towards W31C, where the excitation effects are low, we find similar values between 2.2\pm0.2 and 2.9\pm0.2. In contrast, we find an OPR of 3.4\pm0.1 in the dense and cold filament connected to W51, and also two lower limits of >4.2 and >5.0 in two other translucent gas components towards W31C and W49N. At low temperatures (T \lesssim 50 K) the OPR of H2 is 20-25 K, depending on time, and values above three at lower temperatures.
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| 9. |
- Persson, Carina, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Upper limits to interstellar NH+ and para-NH2- abundances. Herschel-HIFI observations towards Sgr B2 (M) and G10.6-0.4 (W31C)
- 2014
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 567, s. Art. no. A130-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The understanding of interstellar nitrogen chemistry has improved significantly with recent results from the Herschel Space Observatory. To set even better constraints, we report here on deep searches for the NH+ ground state rotational transition J=1.5-0.5 of the ^2Pi_1/2 lower spin ladder, with fine-structure transitions at 1013 and 1019 GHz, and the para-NH2- 1_1,1-0_0,0 rotational transition at 934 GHz towards Sgr B2(M) and G10.6-0.4 using Herschel-HIFI. No clear detections of NH+ are made and the derived upper limits are
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