Radiative and mechanical feedback into the molecular gas of NGC 253
| Autor: | A. Weiß, Rolf Güsten, M. A. Requena-Torres, M. J. F. Rosenberg, P. van der Werf, Frank P. Israel, Rowin Meijerink, M. V. Kazandjian |
|---|---|
| Přispěvatelé: | Kapteyn Astronomical Institute |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2014 |
| Předmět: |
Physics
infrared: ISM Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO) Star formation galaxies: groups: individual: NGC 253 turbulence FOS: Physical sciences Astronomy and Astrophysics Cosmic ray galaxies: starburst Astrophysics Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies Galaxy ISM: molecules Space and Planetary Science Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA) Phase (matter) Excited state Radiative transfer Emission spectrum Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics galaxies: ISM Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics Line (formation) |
| Zdroj: | Astronomy and astrophysics, 564:A126. EDP Sciences |
| ISSN: | 0004-6361 |
| Popis: | Starburst galaxies are galaxies or regions of galaxies undergoing intense periods of star formation. Understanding the heating and cooling mechanisms in these galaxies can give us insight to the driving mechanisms that fuel the starburst. Molecular emission lines play a crucial role in the cooling of the excited gas. With Herschel Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver we have been able to observe the rich molecular spectrum towards the central region of NGC 253. Carbon monoxide (CO, J = 4 - 3 to 13-12) is the brightest molecule in the Herschel wavelength range and together with ground-based low-J observations, the line fluxes trace the excitation of CO. By studying the CO excitation ladder and comparing the intensities to models, we investigate whether the gas is excited by UV radiation, X-rays, cosmic rays, or turbulent heating. Comparing the 12CO and 13CO observations to large velocity gradient models and photon-dominated region (PDR) models we find three main interstellar medium (ISM) phases. We estimate the density, temperature, and masses of these ISM phases. By adding 13CO, HCN, and HNC line intensities, we are able to constrain these degeneracies and determine the heating sources. The first ISM phase responsible for the low-J CO lines is excited by PDRs, but the second and third phases, responsible for the mid to high-J CO transitions, require an additional heating source. We find three possible combinations of models that can reproduce our observed molecular emission. Although we cannot determine which of these is preferable, we can conclude that mechanical heating is necessary to reproduce the observed molecular emission and cosmic ray heating is a negligible heating source. We then estimate the mass of each ISM phase; 6 × 107M⊙ for phase 1 (low-J CO lines), 3 × 107M⊙ for phase 2 (mid-J CO lines), and 9 × 106M⊙ for phase 3 (high-J CO lines) for a total system mass of 1 × 108M⊙. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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