Detection of CO J = 2 goes to 1 emission from the polar rings of NGC 2685 and NGC 4650A

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (24) References (15) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Detection of CO J = 2 1 Emission from the Polar Rings of NGC 2685 and NGC 4650A Watson, Dan M. ; Guptill, Matthew T. ; Buchholz, Leah M. Abstract We report the detection of the J = 2 - 1(230 GHz) line of carbon monoxide in the polar rings of the galaxies NGC 2685 and NGC 4650A, and we use the results in a simple analysis of the composition of the neutral interstellar medium therein. Only 17%-35% of the gas mass of the NGC 4650A ring is provided by molecular clouds, perhaps consistent with the conventional picture of the origin of polar rings in the capture of a dwarf galaxy or tidal mass transfer from a spiral galaxy. The polar ring of NGC 2685, however, is quite rich in molecular matter, with an H_2_ mass greater than the neutral atomic hydrogen mass. Such a composition may be difficult to explain with the picture that applies to NGC 4650A. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: January 1994 DOI: 10.1086/187153 Bibcode: 1994ApJ...420L..21W Keywords: Carbon Monoxide; Dwarf Galaxies; Hydrogen; Molecular Clouds; Radio Astronomy; Radio Spectra; Ring Galaxies; Spiral Galaxies; Transition; Infrared Astronomy Satellite; Interstellar Gas; Radio Telescopes; Spectrometers; Astronomy; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL NGC NUMBER: NGC 4650A; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL NGC NUMBER: NGC 2685; GALAXIES: ISM full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (2) NED (2)