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- Aalto, Susanne, 1964, et al.
(author)
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High-resolution HNC 3-2 SMA observations of Arp 220
- 2009
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 493:2, s. 481-487
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims. We study the properties of the nuclear molecular gas of the ultra luminous merger Arp 220 and effects of the nuclear source on gas excitation and chemistry. Specifically, our aim is to investigate the spatial location of the luminous HNC 3-2 line emission and address the underlying cause of its unusual brightness.Methods. We present high resolution observations of HNC J=3-2 with the submillimeter array (SMA).Results. We find luminous HNC 3-2 line emission in the western part of Arp 220, centred on the western nucleus, while the eastern side of the merger shows relatively faint emission. A bright (36 K at $0\hbox{$.\!\!^{\prime\prime}$ }4$ resolution), narrow (60 ${\rm km~s}^$) emission feature emerges from the western nucleus, superposed on a broader spectral component. A possible explanation is weak maser emission through line-of-sight amplification of the background continuum source. There is also a more extended HNC 3-2 emission feature north and south of the nucleus. This feature resembles the bipolar OH maser morphology around the western nucleus. Substantial HNC abundances are required to explain the bright line emission from this warm environment - even when the high gas column density towards the western nucleus is taken into account. We discuss this briefly in the context of an X-ray affected chemistry and radiative excitation.Conclusions. The luminous and possibly amplified HNC emission of the western nucleus of the Arp 220 merger reflects the unusual, and perhaps transient environment of the starburst/AGN activity there. The faint HNC line emission towards Arp 220-east reveals a real difference in physical conditions between the two merger nuclei.
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- Sakamoto, K., et al.
(author)
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P Cygni Profiles of Molecular Lines Toward Arp 220 Nuclei
- 2009
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 700:2, s. L104-L108
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report ~100 pc (0farcs3) resolution observations of (sub)millimeter HCO+ and CO lines in the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220. The lines peak at two merger nuclei, with HCO+ being more spatially concentrated than CO. Asymmetric line profiles with blueshifted absorption and redshifted emission are discovered in HCO+(3-2) and (4-3) toward the two nuclei and in CO(3-2) toward one nucleus. We suggest that these P Cygni profiles are due to ~100 km s–1 outward motion of molecular gas from the nuclei. This gas is most likely outflowing from the inner regions of the two nuclear disks rotating around individual nuclei, clearing the shroud around the luminosity sources there.
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