Absorption Line Data Research Articles

A COMPILATION OF INTERSTELLAR COLUMN DENSITIES

We have collated absorption line data toward 3008 stars in order to create a unified database of interstellar column densities. These data have been taken from a number of different published sources and include many different species and ionizations. The preliminary results from our analysis show a tight relation [N(H)/E(B - V) = 6.12 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 21}] between N(H) and E(B - V). Similar plots have been obtained with many different species, and their correlations along with the correlation coefficients are presented.

Joint quasar-cosmic microwave background constraints on reionization history

Based on the work by Mitra, Choudhury & Ferrara (2010), we obtain model-independent constraints on reionization from cosmic microwave background (CMB) and QSO absorption line data by decomposing the function N_{ion}(z) (the number of photons entering the IGM per baryon in collapsed objects) into its principal components. The main addition in this work is that for the CMB data set, we explicitly include the angular power spectra C_l for TT, TE and EE modes in our analysis which seem to contain somewhat more information than taking the electron scattering optical depth tau_{el} as a single data point. Using Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, we find that all the quantities related to reionization can be severely constrained at z < 6 whereas a broad range of reionization histories at z > 6 are still permitted by the current data sets. With currently available data from WMAP7, we constrain 0.080 < tau_{el} < 0.112 (95% CL) and also conclude that reionization is 50% complete between 9.0 < z(Q_{HII} = 0.5) < 11.8 (95% CL) and is 99% complete between 5.8 < z(Q_{HII} = 0.99) < 10.4 (95% CL). With the forthcoming PLANCK data on large-scale polarization (ignoring effect of foregrounds), the z > 6 constraints will be improved considerably, e.g., the 2-sigma error on tau_{el} will be reduced to 0.009 and the uncertainties on z(Q_{HII} = 0.5) and z(Q_{HII} = 0.99) would be \sim 1 and 3 (95% CL), respectively. For more stringent constraints on reionization at z > 6, one has to rely on data sets other than CMB. Our method will be useful in such case since it can be used for non-parametric reconstruction of reionization history with arbitrary data sets.

The Interstellar Medium Surrounding the Sun

The Solar System is embedded in a flow of low-density, warm, and partially ionized interstellar material that has been sampled directly by in situ measurements of interstellar neutral gas and dust in the heliosphere. Absorption line data reveal that this interstellar gas is part of a larger cluster of local interstellar clouds, which is spatially and kinematically divided into additional small-scale structures indicating ongoing interactions. An origin for the clouds that is related to star formation in the Scorpius-Centaurus OB association is suggested by the dynamic characteristics of the flow. Variable depletions observed within the local interstellar medium (ISM) suggest an inhomogeneous Galactic environment, with shocks that destroy grains in some regions. Although photoionization models of the circumheliospheric ISM do an excellent job of reproducing the observed properties of the surrounding ISM, the unknown characteristics of the very low-density hot plasma filling the Local Bubble introduces uncertainty about the source of ionization and nature of cloud boundaries. Recent observations of small cold clouds provide new insight into the processes affecting the local ISM. A fuller understanding of the local ISM can provide insights into the past and future Galactic environment of the Sun, and deeper knowledge of the astrospheres of nearby stars.

Interstellar Ti ii in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds

We discuss several sets of Ti II absorption-line data, which probe a variety of interstellar environments in our Galaxy and in the Magellanic Clouds. Comparisons of high-resolution (FWHM ~ 1.3-1.5 km/s) Ti II spectra of Galactic targets with corresponding high-resolution spectra of Na I, K I, and Ca II reveal both similarities and differences in the detailed structure of the absorption-line profiles -- reflecting component-to-component differences in the ionization and depletion behaviour of those species. Moderate-resolution (FWHM ~ 3.4-4.5 km/s) spectra of more heavily reddened Galactic stars provide more extensive information on the titanium depletion in colder, denser clouds -- where more than 99.9 per cent of the Ti may be in the dust phase. Moderate-resolution (FWHM ~ 4.5-8.7 km/s) spectra of stars in the Magellanic Clouds suggest that the titanium depletion is generally much less severe in the LMC and SMC than in our Galaxy [for a given N(H_tot), E(B-V), or molecular fraction f(H_2)] -- providing additional evidence for differences in depletion patterns in those two lower-metallicity galaxies. We briefly discuss possible implications of these results for the interpretation of gas-phase abundances in QSO absorption-line systems and of variations in the D/H ratio in the local Galactic ISM.

ISOobservation of molecular hydrogen and fine-structure lines in the photodissociation region IC���63

We wish to constrain the main physical properties of the photodissociation region (PDR) IC 63. We present the results of a survey for the lowest pure-rotational lines of H_2 with the Short Wavelength Spectrometer and for the major fine-structure cooling lines of O i at 63 and 145 μm and C ii at 157.7 μm with the Long Wavelength Spectrometer on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) in the high-density PDR IC 63. The observations are compared with available photochemical models based on optical absorption and/or millimetre emission line data with and without enhanced H_2 formation rate on grain surfaces. The cloud density n_H is constrained by the fine-structure lines. The models include both collisional excitation and ultraviolet (UV) pumping of the H_2 ro-vibrational levels. Molecular pure-rotational lines up to S(5) are detected. The inferred column density of warm H_2 at 106 ± 11 K is (5.9 ± 1.8)^(+0.9)_(−0.7) × 10^(21) cm^(−2), while that of the hot component at 685 ± 68 K is (1.2 ± 0.4) × 10^(19) cm^(−2). Fine-structure lines are also detected in the far-infrared spectrum of IC 63. The fine-structure lines constrain the density of the PDR to be (1–5) × 10^3 cm^(−3). The impinging UV field on the PDR is enhanced by a factor of 10^3 compared to the mean interstellar field and is consistent with direct measurements in the UV. PDR models that include an enhanced H2 formation at high dust temperature give higher H_2 intensities than models without enhancement. However, the predicted intensities are still lower than the observed intensities.

STELLAR MASS-TO-LIGHT RATIOS FROM GALAXY SPECTRA: HOW ACCURATE CAN THEY BE?

Stellar masses play a crucial role in the exploration of galaxy properties and the evolution of the galaxy population. In this paper, we explore the minimum possible uncertainties in stellar mass-to-light (M/L) ratios from the assumed star formation history (SFH) and metallicity distribution, with the goals of providing a minimum set of requirements for observational studies. We use a large Monte Carlo library of SFHs to study as a function of galaxy spectral type and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) the statistical uncertainties of M/L values using either absorption-line data or broad band colors. The accuracy of M/L estimates can be significantly improved by using metal-sensitive indices in combination with age-sensitive indices, in particular for galaxies with intermediate-age or young stellar populations. While M/L accuracy clearly depends on the spectral S/N ratio, there is no significant gain in improving the S/N much above 50/pix and limiting uncertainties of 0.03 dex are reached. Assuming that dust is accurately corrected or absent and that the redshift is known, color-based M/L estimates are only slightly more uncertain than spectroscopic estimates (at comparable spectroscopic and photometric quality), but are more easily affected by systematic biases. This is the case in particular for galaxies with bursty SFHs (high Hdelta at fixed D4000), the M/L of which cannot be constrained any better than 0.15 dex with any indicators explored here. Finally, we explore the effects of the assumed prior distribution in SFHs and metallicity, finding them to be higher for color-based estimates.

X-RAY AND ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPY OF GALACTIC DIFFUSE HOT GAS ALONG THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD X-3 SIGHT LINE

We present Suzaku spectra of X-ray emission in the fields just off the LMC X-3 sight line. O VII, O VIII, and Ne IX emission lines are clearly detected, suggesting the presence of an optically thin thermal plasma with an average temperature of 2.4 ? 106 K. This temperature is significantly higher than that inferred from existing X-ray absorption line data obtained with Chandra grating observations of LMC X-3, strongly suggesting that the gas is not isothermal. We then jointly analyze these data to characterize the spatial and temperature distributions of the gas. Assuming a vertical exponential Galactic disk model, we estimate the gas temperature and density at the Galactic plane and their scale heights as 3.6(2.9, 4.7) ? 106 K and 1.4(0.3, 3.4) ? 10?3 cm?3 and 1.4(0.2, 5.2) kpc and 2.8(1.0, 6.4) kpc, respectively. This characterization can account for all the O VI line absorption, as observed in a Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopy Explorer spectrum of LMC X-3, but only predicts less than one-tenth of the O VI line emission intensity typically detected at high Galactic latitudes. The bulk of the O VI emission most likely arises at interfaces between cool and hot gases.

A CO J = 1–0 survey of common optical/uv absorption sightlines

Context. Comparison of optical/uv absorption line data with high-resolution profiles of mm-wave CO emission provides complementary information on the absorbing gas, as toward ζOph. Over the past thirty years a wealth of observations of CO and other molecules in optical/uv absorption in diffuse clouds has accumulated for which no comparable CO emission line data exist. Aims. To acquire mm-wave J = 1-0 CO emission line profiles toward a substantial sample of commonly-studied optical/uv absorption line targets and to compare with the properties of the absorbing gas, especially the predicted emission line strengths. Methods. Using the ARO 12 m telescope, we observed mm-wavelength J = 1-0 CO emission with spectral resolution R ≈ 3 x 10 6 and spatial resolution 1' toward a sample of 110 lines of sight previously studied in optical/uv absorption lines of CO, H 2 , CH, etc. Results. Interstellar CO emission was detected along 65 of the 110 lines of sight surveyed and there is a general superabundance of CO emission given the distribution of galactic latitudes in the survey sample. Much of the emission is optically thick or very intense and must emanate from dark clouds or warm dense gas near HII regions. Conclusions. Judging from the statistical superabundance of CO emission, seen also in the total line of sight reddening, the OB star optical/uv absorption line targets must be physically associated with the large quantities of neutral gas whose CO emission was detected, in which case they are probably influencing the absorbing gas by heating and/or photoionizing it. This explains why CO/H 2 and 12 CO/ 13 CO ratios differ somewhat between uv and mm-wave absorption line studies. Because the lines of sight have been preselected to have Av ≤ 1 mag, relatively little of the associated material actually occults the targets, making it difficult for CO emission line observations to isolate the foreground gas contribution.

What Physical Processes Drive the Interstellar Medium in the Local Bubble?

Recent 3D high-resolution simulations of the interstellar medium in a star forming galaxy like the Milky Way show that supernova explosions are the main driver of the structure and evolution of the gas. Its physical state is largely controlled by turbulence due to the high Reynolds numbers of the average flows. For a constant supernova rate a dynamical equilibrium is established within 200 Myr of simulation as a consequence of the setup of a galactic fountain. The resulting interstellar medium reveals a typical density/pressure pattern, i.e. distribution of so-called gas phases, on scales of 500–700 pc, with interstellar bubbles being a common phenomenon just like the Local Bubble and the Loop I superbubble, which are assumed to be interacting. However, modeling the Local Bubble is special, because it is driven by a moving group, passing through its volume, as it is inferred from the analysis of Hipparcos data. A detailed analysis reveals that between 14 and 19 supernovae have exploded during the last 15 Myr. The age of the Local Bubble is derived from comparison with Hi and UV absorption line data to be 14.5± 0.4 0.7 Myr. We further predict the merging of the two bubbles in about 3 Myr from now, when the interaction shell starts to fragment. The Local Cloud and its companion Hi clouds are the consequence of a dynamical instability in the interaction shell between the Local and the Loop I bubble.

The Origins and Physical Properties of the Complex of Local Interstellar Clouds

The Complex of Local Interstellar Clouds (CLIC) is a relatively tight grouping of low density, warm, partially ionized clouds within about 30 pc of the Solar System. The Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC) is the cloud observed on most lines of sight and may be the cloud that immediately surrounds our Solar System, the properties of which set the outer boundary conditions of the heliosphere. Using absorption line data toward nearby stars, in situ observations of inflowing interstellar gas from spacecraft in the Solar System, and theoretical modeling of the interstellar radiation field and radiative transfer, we can deduce many characteristics of the LIC. We find that the LIC is partially ionized with modest electron density, n e ≈0.07 cm−3. The combination of its temperature and ionization favor photoionization/thermal equilibrium over a non-equilibrium cooling cloud picture. The abundances in the LIC suggest moderate dust destruction for silicate dust but complete destruction of carbonaceous grains. An origin for the LIC as a density enhancement in the ambient medium that has been overrun by a shock seems likely, while its velocity away from the Sco-Cen association points to a possible connection to that region and the Loop I bubble.

Ages and metallicities of faint red galaxies in the Shapley Supercluster

AbstractWe present results on the stellar populations of 232 quiescent galaxies in the Shapley Supercluster, based on spectroscopy from the AAOmega spectrograph at the AAT. The key characteristic of this survey is its coverage of many low-luminosity objects (σ ~ 50 kms−1), with high signal-to-noise (~45 Å−1). Balmer-line age estimates are recovered with ~25% precision even for the faintest sample members. We summarize the observations and absorption line data, and present correlations of derived ages and metallicities with mass and luminosity. We highlight the strong correlation between age and α-element abundance ratio, and the anti-correlation of age and metallicity at fixed mass, which is shown to extend into the low-luminosity regime.

The Chemical Composition of Interstellar Matter at the Solar Location

The Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC) surrounds the Solar System and sets the boundary conditions for the heliosphere. Using both in situ and absorption line data towards e CMa we are able to constrain both the ionization and the gas phase abundances of the LIC gas at the Solar Location. We find that the abundances are consistent with all of the carbonaceous dust grains having been destroyed, and in fact with a supersolar abundance of C. The constituents of silicate grains, Si, Mg, and Fe, appear to be sub-solar, indicating that silicate dust is present in the LIC. N, O and S are close to the solar values.

The PN.S Elliptical Galaxy Survey: Data Reduction, Planetary Nebula Catalog, and Basic Dynamics for NGC 3379

We present results from Planetary Nebula Spectrograph (PN.S) observations of the elliptical galaxy NGC 3379 and a description of the data reduction pipeline. We detected 214 planetary nebulae, of which 191 are ascribed to NGC 3379 and 23 to the companion galaxy NGC 3384. Comparison with data from the literature shows that the PN.S velocities have an internal error of ≲20 km s-1 and a possible offset of similar magnitude. We present the results of kinematic modeling and show that the PN kinematics is consistent with absorption-line data in the region where they overlap. The resulting combined kinematic data set, running from the center of NGC 3379 out to more than 7 effective radii (Reff), reveals a mean rotation velocity that is small compared to the random velocities and a dispersion profile that declines rapidly with radius. From a series of Jeans dynamical models we find the B-band mass-to-light ratio inside 5Reff to be 8-12 in solar units, and the dark matter fraction inside this radius to be less than 40%. We compare these and other results of dynamical analysis with those of dark matter-dominated merger simulations, finding that significant discrepancies remain, reiterating the question of whether NGC 3379 has the kind of dark matter halo that the current ΛCDM paradigm requires.

Abundances in High-Velocity Clouds

In this article I briefly review recent abundance measurements in intermediate- and high-velocity clouds (IVCs and HVCs, respectively) in the halo of the Milky Way. FUSE and STIS absorption line data indicate that these clouds span a metallicity range between ~0.1−1.0 solar, suggesting that they cannot have a single origin. Most likely, the infall of gas from the intergalactic medium and from satellite galaxies is responsible for the population of low-metallicity HVCs like Complex C, while the more metal-rich clouds (in particular the IVCs) represent Galactic material as part of a galactic fountain. The detailed analysis of particularly interesting ions and molecules ( e.g. , O i, D i, N i, O vi, and H 2 ) gives a detailed insight into the chemical composition of individual clouds and further provides important information on the physical conditions in these objects.

Evidence of a High Carbon Abundance in the Local Interstellar Cloud

The nature of the Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC) is highly constrained by the combination of in situ heliospheric and line-of-sight data towards nearby stars. We present a new interpretation of the LIC components of the absorption line data towards epsilon CMa, based on recent atomic data that include new rates for the Mg+ to Mg0 dielectronic recombination rate, and using in situ measurements of the temperature and density of neutral helium inside of the heliosphere. With these data we are able to place interesting limits on the gas phase abundance of carbon in the LIC. If the C/S abundance ratio is solar, ~20, then no simultaneous solution exists for the N(Mg I), N(Mg II), N(C II) and N(C II*) data. The combined column density and in situ data favor an abundance ratio A(C)/A(S) = 47 +22 -26. We find that the most probable gas phase C abundance is in the range 400 to 800 ppm with a lower limit of ~330. We speculate that such a supersolar abundance could have come to be present in the LIC via destruction of decoupled dust grains. Similar enhanced C/H ratios are seen in very low column density material, N(H) < 10^19 cm^-2, towards several nearby stars.

Development of Calculation Method for Radiative Heat Transfer in an Infrared-active Gas with Narrow-Band Nonuniformity and Its Examination Based on an Absorption Line Data Base (In Case of a Mixed Gases Field Including H2O and CO2)

It is necessary to consider the interrelation of absorption coefficients of emitting side and absorbing side when we carry out numerical predictions of radiative heat transfer through infrared-active gases. If we utilize the combination of a wide-band model and a narrow-band model for dealing with radiative heat transfer through a infrared-active gas that has remarkable narrow band nonumiformity, we have to consider the interrelation of absorption coefficient not only about the representative value within a narrow band but also about the fine structure in a narrow band. Calculation method for radiative transfer in nonisothermal field is constructed considering narrow band nonuniformity. It is compared with line-by-line calculation based on absorption line database HITEMP, and its validity is confirmed.

Development of Calculation Method for Radiative Heat Transfer in an Infrared-active Gas with Narrow-Band Nonuniformity and Its Examination Based on an Absorption Line Data Base (In Case of a Nonisothermal Field Including a Single Infrared-Active Gas)

This paper proposes a rational, explicit and practicable approach for incorporating the spectral non-uniformity of absorption coefficient within a narrow band into a nongray analysis of radiative heat transfer in a nonisothermal field including a single infrared-active species. In the development of this new approach, attention is paid to securing rationality and explicitness even when the approach is applied to nonisothermal fields. This aim is achieved based on the fact that the line center of each absorption line does not move even if the gas temperature varies. Validity of the proposed approach is examined in detail trough comparison of the results obtained by the proposed approach with the results of line-by-line analysis base on a high-resolution database of absorption lines. It was confirmed in a typical nonisothermal field that the proposed approach can properly incorporate the influence of narrow band non-uniformity into a nongray analysis of radiative heat transfer in a nonisothermal field including a single infrared-active species.

The Millennium Arecibo 21 Centimeter Absorption‐Line Survey. III. Techniques for Spectral Polarization and Results for Stokes V

We outline the theory and practice of measuring the four Stokes parameters of spectral lines in emission/absorption observations. We apply these concepts to our Arecibo H I absorption line data and present the results. We include a detailed discussion of instrumental effects arising from polarized beam structure and its interaction with the spatially extended emission line structure. At Arecibo, linear polarization [Stokes (Q, U)] has much larger instrumental effects than circular (Stokes V). We show how to reduce the instrumental contributions to V and to evaluate upper limits to its remaining instrumental errors by using the (Q, U) results. These efforts work well for opacity spectra but not for emission spectra. Arecibo's large central blockage exacerbates these effects, particularly for emission profiles, and other telescopes with weaker sidelobes are not as susceptible. We present graphical results for 41 sources; we analyze these absorption spectra in terms of Gaussian components, which number 136, and present physical parameters including magnetic field for each.

VLA Observations of the Eye of the Tornado, the High-Velocity H [CSC]ii[/CSC] Region G357.63−0.06

The unusual supernova remnant candidate G357.7-0.1 and the compact source G357.63-0.06 have been observed with the Very Large Array at 1.4 and 8.3 GHz. The H92α line (8.3 GHz) was detected from the compact source with a surprising velocity of about -210 km s-1, indicating that this source is an H II region, is most likely located at the Galactic center, and is unrelated to the supernova remnant. The H I absorption line (1.4 GHz) data toward these sources support this picture and suggest that G357.7-0.1 lies farther away than the Galactic center.

The Velocity Distribution of the Nearest Interstellar Gas

The bulk flow velocity for the cluster of interstellar cloudlets within about 30 pc of the Sun is determined from optical and ultraviolet absorption line data, after omitting from the sample stars with circumstellar disks or variable emission lines and the active variable HR 1099. Ninety-six velocity components towards the remaining 60 stars yield a streaming velocity through the local standard of rest of -17.0+/-4.6 km/s, with an upstream direction of l=2.3 deg, b=-5.2 deg (using Hipparcos values for the solar apex motion). The velocity dispersion of the interstellar matter (ISM) within 30 pc is consistent with that of nearby diffuse clouds, but present statistics are inadequate to distinguish between a Gaussian or exponential distribution about the bulk flow velocity. The upstream direction of the bulk flow vector suggests an origin associated with the Loop I supernova remnant. Groupings of component velocities by region are seen, indicating regional departures from the bulk flow velocity or possibly separate clouds. The absorption components from the cloudlet feeding ISM into the solar system form one of the regional features. The nominal gradient between the velocities of upstream and downstream gas may be an artifact of the Sun's location near the edge of the local cloud complex. The Sun may emerge from the surrounding gas-patch within several thousand years.