First observations of the CO J = 6-5 transition in starburst galaxies

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (66) References (35) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS First Observations of the CO J = 6--5 Transition in Starburst Galaxies Harris, A. I. ; Hills, R. E. ; Stutzki, J. ; Graf, U. U. ; Russell, A. P. G. ; Genzel, R. Abstract We report the detection of carbon monoxide (CO) J = 6-5 emission from the starburst nuclei of the galaxies NGC 253, M82, and IC 342. We have used the 6-5 transition as a thermometer of warm molecular gas in starburst nuclei, unambiguously finding that the nuclear molecular gas in starburst galaxies is substantially warmer than in typical disk clouds. Nuclear-as heating could be either large scale, for example, turbulent motions or cloud-cloud collisions in noncircular bar orbits; more local effects of radiation from high-mass star formation and supernovae; or some combination. High CO excitation temperatures can affect galactic nuclear mass estimates and consequently star formation efficiencies deduced from lower J CO lines. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: December 1991 DOI: 10.1086/186216 Bibcode: 1991ApJ...382L..75H Keywords: Carbon Monoxide; Galactic Nuclei; Interstellar Gas; Molecular Spectra; Starburst Galaxies; Submillimeter Waves; Molecular Clouds; Rotational Spectra; Star Formation Rate; Astrophysics; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: IC 342; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL MESSIER NUMBER: M82; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL NGC NUMBER: NGC 253; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL NGC NUMBER: NGC 6946; GALAXIES: INTERSTELLAR MATTER; STARS: FORMATION full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (4) NED (4)