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The Interstellar Media of the Luminous Infra-Red Galaxies,

IC860 and Zw049.057


Yamil Nieves
1,2
, Christopher J. Salter
2
, Robert F. Minchin
2
, Tapasi Ghosh
2

1
University of Puerto Rico in Humacao,
2
Arecibo Observatory (NAIC)
Abstract
Analyzing the Data
Results
Observations
To reduce the standing-wave pattern due to the
continuum emission from the target galaxy, we
perform an ON/OFF observation on this source,
yielding an (ON - OFF) spectrum. Then a further
ON/OFF observation is made on a strong, nearby
continuum (reference) source. Division of the (ON-
OFF) target spectrum by that of the reference
source cancels the residual standing wave.

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Acknowledgements: Rafael Muller, Arecibo Observatory, NASA Space Grant, UPR-Humacao
Double Position
Switching (DPS)
If this cloud is under the condition of local
thermodynamic equilibrium, we can show that the
ratio of the two lines intensities are related to the
energy levels as: =

ln


To convert energy levels in cm
-1 i
nto Kelvin, we can
use the equation: =


Therefore:
=

ln

= 58
From this, we derive a kinetic temperature of 58 K.
Results (continued)
Temperature of the Cloud
We have observed the two LIRG galaxies,
IC860 and Zw049.057.
These two stand out as being almost identical in
molecular content to Arp220 from a previous
4450 - 5300MHz spectral line survey of 20
Arp220-like galaxies.
From a recent 4450-5300 MHz survey of 20
"Arp220-like" galaxies, the molecular spectra of
two objects revealed remarkably similar
interstellar media to that of Arp 220 (both in
composition and physical state.) This is despite
both galaxies having much lower FIR
luminosities than Arp 220. Using the Double
Position Switching (DPS) technique, we have
now extended the spectral coverage for these
two objects, IC860 and Zw049.057, to include
the frequency ranges of 3.04.4 and 5.310
GHz. From the spectra of both galaxies, we
detect the "pre-biotic" molecules, methanimine
(CH
2
NH) in emission, and hydrogen cyanide
(HCN v
2
=1) in absorption. We also detect
formaldehyde (H
2
CO) in emission at 4.830 and
4.955 GHz, and hydroxyl (OH) in absorption at
4.7 and 6.0 GHz, as well as the 3.335-GHz
emission line of methylidyne (CH) in Zw049.057.
A number of other possible detections are being
further investigated. The detected pair of H
2
CO
lines allowed us to determine a kinetic
temperature of 58 K for the Luminous Infra-Red
Galaxy, IC860.
H
2
CO
Formaldehyde Emission Line at 4829 MHz
OH
Two OH Absorption Lines at
4750 and 4765 MHz
List of Detected Molecular Lines
IC860
Zw049.057
Species ID
Rest Frequency
(z=0.012909)
HCN v2=1 Hydrogen Cyanide 4489.13 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 4660.08 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 4750.18 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 4764.96 MHz
H
2
CO Formaldehyde 4829.23 MHz
H
2
CO Formaldehyde 4954.76 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 6030.75 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 6034.49 MHz
HCN v2=1 Hydrogen Cyanide 6731.60 MHz
Species ID
Rest Frequency
(z=0.012999)
CH
2

1/2
Methylidyne 3335.32 MHz
HCN v2=1 Hydrogen Cyanide 4488.48 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 4660.88 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 4750.85 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 4765.35 MHz
H
2
CO Formaldehyde 4829.14 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 6031.09 MHz
OH v=0 Hydroxyl 6035.43 MHz
Comparing Detected Molecular
Lines with Arp 220 Lines
Arp220 IC860 Zw049.057
HCN (v2=1) HCN (v2=1) HCN (v2=1)
OH OH OH
(Methanol)?
H
2
CO H
2
CO H
2
CO
CH CH
CH
2
NH (CH
2
NH) (CH
2
NH)
The ratio of the 4.7 GHz OH absorption lines in IC860
is 1:2:1, which tell us they are in thermal equilibrium.
0.0042
4660 MHz
0.0084 0.0042
4750 MHz 4765 MHz
If two observed lines of the same species are seen to
have the same radial velocities and velocity width, we
can assume that they are originating in the same
cloud. This is the case for H
2
CO in IC860.
Same
velocity
width
(61.3km/s)
Two
Formaldehyde
(H
2
CO)
transitions
towards IC860
Spectra of Raw Data (Orthogonal
Polarizations)
Spectra of Processed DPS Data (Orthogonal
Polarizations)
In order to build up integration time, and increase
the sensitivity of the observations we accumulate
the data by grading each board by the occurrence
of RFI, and co-adding those boards with similar, or
better, grades. We then average together the
orthogonal polarizations to return the total intensity
signal. Finally we boxcar smooth the data to a
velocity resolution of 30 km/s.
Molecules are detected as narrow, spectral features
showing emission and/or absorption.
References:
Salter, C. J., & Ghosh, T. (2002). Arecibo Spectral Baselines in the Presence of Continuum Emission. NAIC-NRAO
School on Single-dish Astronomy: Techniques and Applications, 278, 521.
Splatalogue. Database for Astronomical Spectroscopy. Retrieved July, 2012, from http://splatalogue.net/
Sun Kwok, 2007, "Physics and Chemistry of the Interstellar Medium", University Science Books, Sausalito, CA.
IC860
IC860
*White entries denote emission and red entries denote
absorption.
IC860
IC860

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