College Radio Astronomy Observatory Research Articles

THE UPTAKE OF INTERSTELLAR GASEOUS CO INTO ICY GRAIN MANTLES IN A QUIESCENT DARK CLOUD

Data from the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory CO Mapping Survey of the Taurus molecular cloud are combined with extinction data for a sample of 292 background field stars to investigate the uptake of CO from the gas to icy grain mantles on dust within the cloud. On the assumption that the reservoir of CO in the ices is well represented by the combined abundances of solid CO and solid CO2 (which forms by oxidation of CO on the dust), we find that the total column density (gas + solid) correlates tightly with visual extinction (Av) over the range 5 < Av < 30 mag, i.e., up to the highest extinctions covered by our sample. The mean depletion of gas-phase CO increases monotonically from negligible levels for Av < 5 to approximately 30 percent at Av = 10 and 60 percent at Av = 30. As these results refer to line-of-sight averages, they must be considered lower limits to the actual depletion at loci deep within the cloud, which may approach 100 percent. We show that it is plausible for such high levels of depletion to be reached in dense cores on timescales of order 0.6 Myr, comparable with their expected lifetimes. Dispersal of cores during star formation may be effective in maintaining observable levels of gaseous CO on the longer timescales estimated for the age of the cloud.

Ionized gas, molecules and dust in Sh2-132

We analyze the various interstellar components of the HII region Sh2-132. The main stellar source is the double binary system that includes the Wolf-Rayet star WR153ab. We use radio continuum images at 408 and 1420 MHz, and HI 21cm line data taken from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey, molecular observations of the 12CO(1-0) line at 115 GHz from the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, and available mid and far IR observations obtained with the MSX and IRAS satellites, respectively. Sh2-132 is composed of two shells showing radio continuum counterparts at both frequencies. The emission is thermal in nature. The estimated rms electron density and ionized mass of the nebula are n_e = 20 cm^{-3} and M_HII = 1500 Mo. The distribution of the CO emission shows molecular gas bordering the ionized nebula and interacting with it. The velocities of the molecular gas is in the range --38 to --53 km/s, similar to the velocity of the ionized gas. The emission at 8.3 mic. reveals a ring like feature of about 15' that encircles the bright optical regions. This emission is due to the PAHs and marks the location of photodissociation regions. The gas distribution in the environs of Sh2-132 can be explained in a scenario where the massive stars in the region photodissociated, ionized, and swept-up the dense molecular material from the parental cloud through their strong stellar winds and intense UV photon flux.

THE REDSHIFT SEARCH RECEIVER OBSERVATIONS OF {sup 12}CO J = 1 {yields} 0 IN 29 ULTRALUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES

We present {sup 12} CO J = 1 {yields} 0 observations of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) obtained using the Redshift Search Receiver (RSR) on the 14 m telescope of the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. The RSR is a novel, dual-beam, dual-polarization receiver equipped with an ultra-wideband spectrometer backend that is being built as a facility receiver for the Large Millimeter Telescope. Our sample consists of 29 ULIRGs in the redshift range of 0.04-0.11, including 10 objects with no prior {sup 12} CO measurements. We have detected 27 systems (a detection rate of 93%), including 9 ULIRGs that are detected in CO for the first time. Our study has increased the number of local ULIRGs with CO measurements by {approx}15%. The CO line luminosity L'{sub CO}, correlates well with far-infrared luminosity L {sub FIR}, following the general trend of other local ULIRGs. However, compared to previous surveys we probe deeper into the low CO luminosity end of the ULIRG population as a single study by including a number of CO faint objects in the sample. As a result, we find (1) a smoother transition between the ULIRG population and local quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) in L {sub FIR}-L'{sub CO} ('star formationmore » efficiency') space, and (2) a broader range of L {sub FIR}/L'{sub CO} flux ratio ({approx} 60-10{sup 3} L {sub sun}/(K km s{sup -1} pc{sup 2})) than previously reported. In our new survey, we also have found a small number of ULIRGs with extreme L {sub FIR}/L'{sub CO}, which had been known to be rare. The mid-IR color and radio-excess of 56 local ULIRGs as a function of FIR-to-CO flux ratio is examined and compared with those of spirals/starburst galaxies and low-z QSOs. In this paper, using a large sample of local ULIRGs we explore the origin of their current power source and potential evolution to QSOs.« less

12 CO( J = 1 – 0) ON-THE-FLY MAPPING SURVEY OF THE VIRGO CLUSTER SPIRALS. I. DATA AND ATLAS

We have performed an On-The-Fly (OTF) mapping survey of ${\rm ^{12}{CO(J=1-0)}}$ emission in 28 Virgo cluster spiral galaxies using the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO) 14-m telescope. This survey aims to characterize the CO distribution, kinematics, and luminosity of a large sample of galaxies covering the full extents of stellar disks, rather than sampling only the inner disks or the major axis as was done by many previous single dish and interferometric CO surveys. CO emission is detected in 20 galaxies among the 28 Virgo spirals observed. An atlas consisting of global measures, radial measures, and maps, is presented for each detected galaxy. A note summarizing the CO data is also presented along with relevant information from the literature. The CO properties derived from our OTF observations are presented and compared with the results from the FCRAO Extragalactic CO Survey by Young et al. (1995) which utilized position-switching observations along the major axis and a model fitting method. We find that our OTF derived CO properties agree well with the Young et al. results in many cases, but the Young et al. measurements are larger by a factor of 1.4 - 2.4 for seven (out of 18) cases. We will explore further the possible causes for the discrepancy in the analysis paper currently under preparation.

THESPITZERc2d SURVEY OF NEARBY DENSE CORES. VI. THE PROTOSTARS OF LYNDS DARK NEBULA 1221

Observations of Lynds Dark Nebula 1221 from the Spitzer Space Telescope are presented. These data show three candidate protostars towards L1221, only two of which were previously known. The infrared observations also show signatures of outflowing material, an interpretation which is also supported by radio observations with the Very Large Array. In addition, molecular line maps from the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory are shown. One-dimensional dust continuum modelling of two of these protostars, IRS1 and IRS3, is described. These models show two distinctly different protostars forming in very similar environments. IRS1 shows a higher luminosity and larger inner radius of the envelope than IRS3. The disparity could be caused by a difference in age or mass, orientation of outflow cavities, or the impact of a binary in the IRS1 core.

THE REDSHIFT SEARCH RECEIVER OBSERVATIONS OF12COJ= 1 → 0 IN 29 ULTRALUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES

We present 12CO J=1-->0 observations of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) obtained using the Redshift Search Receiver (RSR) on the 14-m telescope of the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. The RSR is a novel, dual-beam, dual-polarization receiver equipped with an ultra-wideband spectrometer backend that is being built as a facility receiver for the Large Millimeter Telescope. Our sample consists of 29 ULIRGs in the redshift range of 0.04-0.11, including 10 objects with no prior 12CO measurements. We have detected 27 systems (a detection rate of 93%), including 9 ULIRGs that are detected in CO for the first time. Our study has increased the number of local ULIRGs with CO measurements by ~15%. The CO line luminosity L'_CO, correlates well with far-infrared luminosity L_FIR, following the general trend of other local ULIRGs. However, compared to previous surveys we probe deeper into the low CO luminosity end of ULIRG population as a single study by including a number of CO faint objects in the sample. As a result, we find 1) a smoother transition between the ULIRG population and local QSOs in L_FIR-L'_CO ("star formation efficiency") space, and 2) a broader range of L_FIR/L'_CO flux ratio (~60--1000 L_sun/[K km/s/pc^2]) than previously reported. In our new survey, we also have found a small number of ULIRGs with extreme L_FIR/L'_CO which had been known to be rare. The mid-IR color and radio-excess of 56 local ULIRGs as a function of FIR-to-CO flux ratio is examined and compared with those of spirals/starburst galaxies and low-z QSOs. In this paper, using a large sample of local ULIRGs we explore the origin of their current power source and potential evolution to QSOs.

KINEMATIC DISTANCES TO MOLECULAR CLOUDS IDENTIFIED IN THE GALACTIC RING SURVEY

Kinematic distances to 750 molecular clouds identified in the 13CO J = 1 → 0 Boston University–Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory Galactic Ring Survey (GRS) are derived assuming the Clemens rotation curve of the Galaxy. The kinematic distance ambiguity is resolved by examining the presence of H i self-absorption toward the 13CO emission peak of each cloud using the Very Large Array Galactic Plane Survey. We also identify 21 cm continuum sources embedded in the GRS clouds in order to use absorption features in the H i 21 cm continuum to distinguish between near and far kinematic distances. The Galactic distribution of GRS clouds is consistent with a four-arm model of the Milky Way. The locations of the Scutum-Crux and Perseus arms traced by GRS clouds match star-count data from the Galactic Legacy Infrared Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire star-count data. We conclude that molecular clouds must form in spiral arms and be short-lived (lifetimes < 107 yr) in order to explain the absence of massive, 13CO bright molecular clouds in the interarm space.

MOLECULAR CLOUDS AND CLUMPS IN THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY-FIVE COLLEGE RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY GALACTIC RING SURVEY

The Boston University-Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (BU-FCRAO) Galactic Ring Survey (GRS) of 13CO J = 1 → 0 emission covers Galactic longitudes 18° < l < 557 and Galactic latitudes |b| ≤ 1°. Using the SEQUOIA array on the FCRAO 14 m telescope, the GRS fully sampled the 13CO Galactic emission (46'' angular resolution on a 22'' grid) and achieved a spectral resolution of 0.21 km s–1. Because the GRS uses 13CO, an optically thin tracer, rather than 12CO, an optically thick tracer, the GRS allows a much better determination of column density and also a cleaner separation of velocity components along a line of sight. With this homogeneous, fully sampled survey of 13CO emission, we have identified 829 molecular clouds and 6124 clumps throughout the inner Galaxy using the CLUMPFIND algorithm. Here we present details of the catalog and a preliminary analysis of the properties of the molecular clouds and their clumps. Moreover, we compare clouds inside and outside of the 5 kpc ring and find that clouds within the ring typically have warmer temperatures, higher column densities, larger areas, and more clumps compared with clouds located outside the ring. This is expected if these clouds are actively forming stars. This catalog provides a useful tool for the study of molecular clouds and their embedded young stellar objects.

RESOLUTION OF THE DISTANCE AMBIGUITY FOR GALACTIC H II REGIONS

We resolve the kinematic distance ambiguity for 266 inner Galaxy H II regions out of a sample of 291 using existing H I and 13CO sky surveys. Our sample contains all H II regions with measured radio recombination line emission over the extent of the 13CO Boston University-Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory Galactic Ring Survey (18° < l < 55° and |b| < 1) and contains ultra compact (UC), compact, and diffuse H II regions. We use two methods for resolving the distance ambiguity for each H II region: H I emission/absorption (H I E/A) and H I self-absorption (H I SA). We find that the H I E/A and H I SA methods can resolve the distance ambiguity for 72% and 87% of our sample, respectively. When projected onto the Galactic plane, this large sample appears to reveal aspects of Galactic structure, with spiral arm-like features at Galactocentric radii of 4.5 and 6 kpc, and a lack of H II regions within 3.5 kpc of the Galactic center. Our H II regions are approximately in the ratio of 2 to 1 for far versus near distances. The ratio of far-to-near distances for UC H II regions is 2.2 to 1. Compact H II regions are preferentially at the near distance; their ratio of far-to-near distances is 1.6 to 1. Diffuse H II regions are preferentially at the far distance; their ratio of far-to-near distances is 3.8 to 1. This implies that the distinction between UC and compact H II regions is largely due to distance, and that the large angular size of diffuse H II regions is not solely due to proximity to the Sun.

The Molecular Environment of the Gamma-Ray Source TeV J2032+4130

The mysterious very high energy gamma-ray source, TeV J2032+4130, is coincident with the powerful Cygnus OB2 stellar association, although a physical association between the two remains uncertain. It is possible that the detected very high energy photons are produced via an overdensity of locally accelerated cosmic rays impinging on molecular clouds in the source region. In order to test this hypothesis, we used the Kitt Peak 12 m, the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope (HH-SMT), and the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO) to obtain observations in the J = 1 → 0 and J = 2 → 1 lines of both 12CO and 13CO. We report here on the detection of significant molecular material toward the TeV source region which could be acting as the target of locally accelerated CRs. We also find evidence of compact molecular clumps, showing large line widths in the CO spectra, possibly indicative of energetic processes in this region of Cygnus OB2.

Spectra of nearby galaxies measured with a new very broadband receiver

AbstractThree-millimeter-wavelength spectra of a number of nearby galaxies have been obtained at the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO) using a new, very broadband receiver. This instrument, which we call the Redshift Search Receiver, has an instantaneous bandwidth of 36 GHz and operates from 74 to 110.5 GHz. The receiver has been built at UMass/FCRAO to be part of the initial instrumentation for the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) and is intended primarily for determination of the redshift of distant, dust-obscured galaxies. It is being tested on the FCRAO 14 m by measuring the 3 mm spectra of a number of nearby galaxies. There are interesting differences in the chemistry of these galaxies.

The distance to SS 433/W50 and its interaction with the interstellar medium

The distance to the relativistic jet source SS 433 and the related supernova remnant W50 is reexamined using new observations of H I in absorption from the Very Large Array, H I in emission from the Green Bank Telescope, and 12 CO emission from the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. The new measurements show HI in absorption against SS 433 to a velocity of 75 km s −1 but not to the velocity of the tangent point, which bounds the kinematic distance at 5.5 dk < 6.5 kpc. This is entirely consistent with a 5.5 ± 0.2 kpc distance determined from light traveltime arguments by Blundell & Bowler. The H I emission map shows evidence of interaction of the lobes of W50 with the interstellar medium near the adopted systemic velocity of VLSR = 75 km s −1 . The western lobe sits in a cavity in the H I emission near the Galactic plane, while the eastern lobe terminates at an expanding H I shell. The expanding shell has a

The Characterization and Galactic Distribution of Infrared Dark Clouds

Using 13CO J = 1 ? 0 molecular line emission from the Boston University-Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory Galactic Ring Survey (BU-FCRAO GRS), we have established kinematic distances to 313 infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) by matching the morphology of the molecular line emission in distinct velocity channels to their mid-infrared extinction. The Galactic distribution of IRDCs shows an enhancement toward the Galaxy's most massive and active star-forming structure, the so-called 5 kpc ring. IRDCs have typical sizes of ~5 pc, peak column densities of ~1022 cm-2, LTE masses of ~5 ? 103 M?, and volume-averaged H2 densities of ~2 ? 103 cm-3. The similarity of these properties to those of molecular clumps associated with active star formation suggests that IRDCs represent the densest clumps within giant molecular clouds where clusters may eventually form.

The Power Spectrum of Supersonic Turbulence in Perseus

We test a method of estimating the power spectrum of turbulence in molecular clouds based on the comparison of power spectra of integrated intensity maps and single-velocity-channel maps, suggested by A. Lazarian and D. Pogosyan. We use synthetic 13CO data from non-LTE radiative transfer calculations based on density and velocity fields of a simulation of supersonic hydrodynamic turbulence. We find that the method yields the correct power spectrum with good accuracy. We then apply the method to the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory 13CO map of the Perseus region, from the COMPLETE Web site. We find a power-law power spectrum with slope β = 1.81 ± 0.10. The values of β as a function of velocity resolution are also confirmed using the lower resolution map of the same region obtained with the AT&T Bell Laboratories antenna. Because of its small uncertainty, this result provides a useful constraint for numerical codes used to simulate molecular cloud turbulence.

Molecular Line Observations of Infrared Dark Clouds: Seeking the Precursors to Intermediate and Massive Star Formation

We have identified 41 infrared dark clouds from the 8 micron maps of the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX), selected to be found within one square degree areas centered on known ultracompact HII regions. We have mapped these infrared dark clouds in N2H+(1-0), CS(2-1) and C18O(1-0) emission using the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. The maps of the different species often show striking differences in morphologies, indicating differences in evolutionary state and/or the presence of undetected, deeply embedded protostars. We derive an average mass for these clouds using N2H+ column densities of ~2500 solar masses, a value comparable to that found in previous studies of high mass star forming cores using other mass tracers. The linewidths of these clouds are typically ~2.0 - 2.9 km/s. Based on the fact that they are dark at 8 micron, compact, massive, and have large velocity dispersions, we suggest that these clouds may be the precursor sites of intermediate and high mass star formation.

ALGORITHM OF REVISED-OTFTOOL

We revised the OTFTOOL which was developed in Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO) for the On-The-Fly (OTF) observation. Besides the improvement of data resampling function of conventional OTFTOOL, we added a new SELF referencing mode and data pre-reduction function. Since OTF observation data have a large redundancy, we can choose and use only good quality samples excluding bad samples. Sorting out the bad samples is based on the floating level, rms level, antenna trajectory, elevation, , and number of samples. And, spikes are also removed. Referencing method can be chosen between CLASSICAL mode in which the references are taken from the OFFs observation and ELLIPSOIDAL mode in which the references are taken from the inner source free region (this is named as SELF reference). Baseline is subtracted with the source free channel windows and the baseline order chosen by the user. Passing through these procedures, the raw OTF data will be an FITS datacube. The revised-OTFTOOL maximizes the advantages of OTF observation by sorting out the bad samples in the earliest stage. And the new self-referencing method, the ELLIPSOIDAL mode, is very powerful to reduce the data. Moreover since it is possible to see the datacube at once without moving them into other data reduction programs, it is very useful and convenient to check whether the data resampling works well or not. We expect that the revised-OTFTOOL can be applied to the facilities of the OTF observation like SRAO, NRAO, and FCRAO.

Evidence for Shocked Molecular Gas in the Galactic Supernova Remnant CTB 109 (G109.1-1.0)

We report the detection of molecular clouds around the X-ray-bright interior feature in the Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) CTB 109 (G109.1-1.0). This feature, called the lobe, has been previously suggested to be the result of an interaction of the SNR shock wave with a molecular cloud complex. We present new high-resolution X-ray data from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and new high-resolution CO data from the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory that show the region of interaction with the cloud complex in greater detail. The CO data reveal three clouds around the lobe in the velocity interval -57 km s-1 < v < -52 km s-1. The velocity profiles of 12CO in various parts of the east cloud are well fit with a Gaussian; however, at the position at which the CO cloud and the lobe overlap, the velocity profile has an additional component toward higher negative velocities. The molecular hydrogen density in this part of the cloud is relatively high (N ≈ 1.9 × 1020 cm-2), whereas the foreground absorption in X-rays (NH ≈ 4.5 × 1021 cm-2), obtained from Chandra data, is lower than in other parts of the cloud and in the north and south clouds. These results indicate that the east cloud has been hit by the SNR blast wave on the western side, forming the bright X-ray lobe.

The Boston University–Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory Galactic Ring Survey

The Boston University-Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory Galactic Ring Survey is a new survey of Galactic 13CO J = 1 → 0 emission. The survey used the SEQUOIA multipixel array on the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory 14 m telescope to cover a longitude range of l = 18°-557 and a latitude range of |b| < 1°, a total of 75.4 deg2. Using both position-switching and On-The-Fly mapping modes, we achieved an angular sampling of 22'', better than half of the telescope's 46'' angular resolution. The survey's velocity coverage is -5 to 135 km s-1 for Galactic longitudes l ≤ 40° and -5 to 85 km s-1 for Galactic longitudes l > 40°. At the velocity resolution of 0.21 km s-1, the typical rms sensitivity is σ(T) ~ 0.13 K. The survey comprises a total of 1,993,522 spectra. We show integrated intensity images (zeroth moment maps), channel maps, position-velocity diagrams, and an average spectrum of the completed survey data set. We also discuss the telescope and instrumental parameters, the observing modes, the data reduction processes, and the emission and noise characteristics of the data set. The Galactic Ring Survey data are available to the community online or in DVD form by request.

A study of CO and FIR dust emission of lynds 694/695 dark clouds

We present the results of the high resolution observations in the transition of J=1–0 of 12CO and 13CO towards Lynds 694 and 695 dark cloud region, using the fifteen beam array receiver at Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO) and the 3 mm SIS receiver on the 14-m telescope at Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory (TRAO). This region is prominently opaque on the POSS plates, and shows a remarkable morphology of an alphabet C. We investigate the gas and dust properties in Lynds 694/695 dark clouds, and find that there are a few sign of dense core formation, but it has no evidence for any star forming activities. We estimate several physical parameters, and describe the dynamics of the gas component. Lynds 694/695 cloud is found to be rotating along the Right Ascension axis at α(1950)=10h50m. Mass estimate using the conversion factor (MCO) is found to be 170 M⊙, and dust mass is 1.34 M⊙. The average temperature of the dust based on the extended emission at 60 and 100 μm is 26 K. The low dust temperature and low ratio of far-infrared emission to hydrogen column density are probably due to lack of the internal heating source. The weaker ISRF can explain the exceptionally low dust temperatures found in this region. Overall, the gas and dust properties of the mapped region are similar to those of normal dark clouds.

The structure and dynamics of the dense cores in the Perseus molecular cloud complex

We have produced wide-field (≳ 0.1 deg^2) images of the molecular gas around the dense cores observed by Ladd et al. (1994) in the Perseus cloud complex in various CO (CO(1-0), ^(13)CO(1-0), C^(18)O(1-0)) and CS (CS(2-1), C^(34)S(2-1)) isotopomers, and N_2H^+(1-0), using the 16-element focal plane array operating at a wavelength of 3 mm at the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. We also performed mosaic observations in the N_2H^+(1-0) line and in the adjacent 3 mm continuum with the OVRO interferometer. Only within one of the observed cores we unambiguously detected a 3 mm continuum compact source with the interferometer. The single-dish large-scale maps of the densest gas, which in Perseus is concentrated within two large filamentary structures roughly aligned along a NE-SW axis, allowed us to analyse the spatial and kinematical properties of the cores and of the surrounding ambient gas. In the PER4/PER5 and PER7 regions we find that the large-scale and core velocity gradients have the same sign and similar magnitudes. In at least three cases we then find pairs of nearby cores with differences in the CS and N_2H^+ emission and in the line profile, which may have been caused by evolutionary effects. The small fraction of cores with compact continuum sources, the chemical differentiation and the inward motions observed suggest that we are observing objects in a phase preceeding the collapse and the formation of stars.