Observed Emission Lines Research Articles

Single-Photon Emission from Point Defects in Aluminum Nitride Films.

Quantum technologies require robust and photostable single-photon emitters. Here, room temperature operated single-photon emissions from isolated defects in aluminum nitride (AlN) films are reported. AlN films were grown on nanopatterned sapphire substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. The observed emission lines range from visible to near-infrared, with highly linear polarization characteristics. The temperature-dependent line width increase shows T3 or single-exponential behavior. First-principle calculations based on density functional theory show that point defect species, such as antisite nitrogen vacancy complex (NAlVN) and divacancy (VAlVN) complexes, are considered to be an important physical origin of observed emission lines ranging from approximately 550 to 1000 nm. The results provide a new platform for on-chip quantum sources.

Spatially Resolved UV Diagnostics of AGN Feedback: Radiation Pressure Dominates in a Prototypical Quasar-driven Superwind

Abstract Galactic-scale winds driven by active galactic nuclei (AGN) are often invoked to suppress star formation in galaxy evolution models, but the mechanisms driving these outflows are hotly debated. Two key AGN feedback models are (1) radiation pressure accelerating cool gas and (2) a hot outflowing wind entraining the interstellar medium (ISM). Highly ionized emission-line diagnostics represent a powerful means of differentiating these scenarios because of their sensitivity to the expected compression of the ISM clouds by the hot wind. Here, we report the first spatially resolved UV emission spectroscopy of a prototypical (radio-quiet) quasar-driven superwind around the obscured quasar SDSS J1356+1026 at z = 0.123. We observe ratios of O vi/C iv, N v/C iv, and C iv/He ii that are remarkably similar for outflowing gas clouds ≲100 pc and ≈10 kpc from the nucleus. Such similarity is expected for clouds with AGN radiation-pressure-dominated dynamics. Comparing the observed line emission to models of clouds in balance with radiation pressure and/or a hot wind, we rule out the presence of a dynamically important hot wind and constrain the ratio of hot gas pressure to radiation pressure to P hot/P rad ≲ 0.25 both at ≲100 pc and ≈10 kpc from the nucleus. Moreover, the predictions of the radiation pressure confined cloud models that best fit observed UV line ratios are consistent with the observed diffuse X-ray spectrum. These results indicate that this AGN superwind is driven by radiation pressure or was driven by a hot wind that has since dissipated despite ongoing AGN activity.

The Circumstellar Environment around the Embedded Protostar EC 53

Abstract EC 53 is an embedded protostar with quasi-periodic emission in the near-IR and submillimeter. We use Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) high-resolution observations of continuum and molecular line emission to describe the circumstellar environment of EC 53. The continuum image reveals a disk with a flux that suggests a mass of 0.075 M ⊙, much less than the estimated mass in the envelope, and an in-band spectral index that indicates grain growth to centimeter sizes. Molecular lines trace the outflow cavity walls, infalling and rotating envelope, and/or the Keplerian disk. The rotation profile of the C17O 3–2 line emission cannot isolate the Keplerian motion clearly, although the lower limit of the protostellar mass can be calculated as 0.3 ± 0.1 M ⊙ if the Keplerian motion is adopted. The weak CH3OH emission, which is anticorrelated with the H13CO+ 4–3 line emission, indicates that the water snow line is more extended than what expected from the current luminosity, attesting to bygone outburst events. The extended snow line may persist for longer at the disk surface because the lower density increases the freeze-out timescale of methanol and water.

Investigation of chemical differentiation among the NGC 2264 cluster-forming clumps

ABSTRACT We have carried out mapping observations of molecular emission lines of HC3N and CH3OH toward two massive cluster-forming clumps, NGC 2264-C and NGC 2264-D, using the Nobeyama 45-m radio telescope. We derive an I(HC3N)/I(CH3OH) integrated intensity ratio map, showing a higher value at clumps including 2MASS (Two Micron All Sky Survey) point sources at the northern part of NGC 2264-D. Possible interpretations of the I(HC3N)/I(CH3OH) ratio are discussed. We have also observed molecular emission lines from CCS and N2H+ toward five positions in each clump. We investigate the N(N2H+)/N(CCS) and N(N2H+)/N(HC3N) column density ratios among the ten positions in order to test whether they can be used as chemical evolutionary indicators in these clumps. The N(N2H+)/N(CCS) ratio shows a very high value toward a bright embedded IR source (IRS1), whereas the N(N2H+)/N(HC3N) ratio at IRS1 is comparable with those at the other positions. These results suggest that ultraviolet radiation affects the chemistry around IRS1. We find that there are positive correlations between these column density ratios and the excitation temperatures of N2H+, which implies the chemical evolution of clumps. These chemical evolutionary indicators likely reflect the combination of evolution along the filamentary structure and evolution of each clump.

Comparison of the photoionisation modelling results for planetary nebulae with the observed data

The grid of new photoionisation models for planetary nebulae (PNe) along the evolutionary tracks of their nuclei was calculated, taking into account the dust presence with abundances that correspond to the averaged ones for Milky Way and Large Magellanic Cloud. The calculations were performed by the last version of G. Ferland's code Cloudy v17.01 using the semi-empirical law derived by Golovatyy-Mal'kov to describe the radial density distribution of matter in the nebular envelope of PN. Resulting modelling spectra were compared with the corresponding observed emission line spectra of PNe in optical range, obtained previously by other authors. Also the database of observations by the Infrared Space Observatory and Spitzer have been used to compare the results of synthetic photometry with the observed photometric data. It was shown that the intensities of strong emission lines in optical range as well as the observed color-color diagrams obtained using total fluxes in the 3.6 μm, 4.5μm, 8.0μm and 24.0 μm bands are reproduced very well by our models, while the results of synthetic IR-photometry based on total fluxes in the band 5.8 μm show discrepancies with corresponding observed data.

Observation of electric octupole emission lines strongly enhanced by the anomalous behavior of a cascading contribution

We present extreme ultraviolet spectra of Ag-like W$^{27+}$ observed with an electron beam ion trap. In the spectra, the $4f_{7/2, 5/2}$ -- $5s$ transitions are identified as the first observation of spontaneous electric octupole emission. Our theoretical investigation shows that the emission line intensity is strongly and specifically enhanced at the atomic number 74 by an anomalous behavior of cascading contribution to $5s$ via $5p\leftarrow5d$.

Blue galaxies: modelling nebular He ii emission in high redshift galaxies

ABSTRACT Using cosmological simulations to make useful, scientifically relevant emission line predictions is a relatively new and rapidly evolving field. However, nebular emission lines have been particularly challenging to model because they are extremely sensitive to the local photoionization balance, which can be driven by a spatially dispersed distribution of stars amidst an inhomogeneous absorbing medium of dust and gas. As such, several unmodelled mysteries in observed emission line patterns exist in the literature. For example, there is some question as to why He ii λ4686/H β ratios in observations of lower metallicity dwarf galaxies tend to be higher than model predictions. Since hydrodynamic cosmological simulations are best suited to this mass and metallicity regime, this question presents a good test case for the development of a robust emission line modelling pipeline. The pipeline described in this work can model a process that produces high He ii λ4686/H β ratios and eliminate some of the modelling discrepancy for ratios below 3 per cent without including AGNs, X-ray binaries, high mass binaries, or a top-heavy stellar initial mass function. These ratios are found to be more sensitive to the presence of 15 Myr or longer gaps in the star formation histories than to extraordinary ionization parameters or specific star formation rates. They also closely correspond to the WR phase of massive stars. In addition to the investigation into He ii λ4686/H β ratios, this work charts a general path forward for the next generation of nebular emission line modelling studies.

Using [C ii] 158 μm Emission from Isolated ISM Phases as a Star Formation Rate Indicator

Abstract The brightest observed emission line in many star-forming galaxies is the 158 μm line, making it detectable up to z ∼ 7. In order to better understand and quantify the emission as a tracer of star formation, the theoretical ratio between the 205 μm emission and the 158 μm emission has been employed to empirically determine the fraction of emission that originates from the ionized and neutral phases of the interstellar medium (ISM). Sub-kiloparsec measurements of the 158 μm and 205 μm lines in nearby galaxies have recently become available as part of the Key Insights in Nearby Galaxies: a Far Infrared Survey with Herschel (KINGFISH) and Beyond the Peak programs. With the information from these two far-infrared lines along with the multi-wavelength suite of KINGFISH data, a calibration of the emission line as a star formation rate (SFR) indicator and a better understanding of the deficit are pursued. emission is also compared to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission in these regions to compare photoelectric heating from PAH molecules to cooling by in the neutral and ionized phases of the ISM. We find that the emission originating in the neutral phase of the ISM does not exhibit a deficit with respect to the infrared luminosity and is therefore preferred over the emission originating in the ionized phase of the ISM as an SFR indicator for the normal star-forming galaxies included in this sample.

A spectral stacking analysis to search for faint outflow signatures inz∼ 6 quasars

Aims.Outflows in quasars during the early epochs of galaxy evolution are an important part of the feedback mechanisms that potentially affect the evolution of the host galaxy. However, systematic millimetre (mm) observations of outflows are only now becoming possible with the advent of sensitive mm telescopes. In this study we used spectral stacking methods to search for a faint high-velocity outflow signal in a sample of [C II] detected,z ∼ 6 quasars.Methods.We searched for broad emission line signatures from high-velocity outflows for a sample of 26z ∼ 6 quasars observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), with a detection of the [C II] line. The observed emission lines of the sources are dominated by the host galaxy, and outflow emission is not detected for the individual sources. We used a spectral line stacking analysis developed for interferometric data to search for outflow emission. We stacked both extracted spectra and the full spectral cubes. We also investigated the possibility that only a sub-set of our sample contributes to the stacked outflow emission.Results.We find only a tentative detection of a broad emission line component in the stacked spectra. When taking a region of about 2″ around the central position of the stacked cubes, the stacked line shows an excess emission due to a broad component of 1.1–1.5σ, but the significance drops to 0.4–0.7σwhen stacking the extracted spectra from a smaller region. The broad component can be characterised by a line width of full width at half-maximumFWHM > 700 km s−1. Furthermore, we find a sub-sample of 12 sources, the stack of which maximises the broad component emission. The stack of this sub-sample shows an excess emission due to a broad component of 1.2–2.5σ. The stacked line of these sources has a broad component ofFWHM > 775 km s−1.Conclusions.We find evidence suggesting the presence of outflows in a sub-sample of 12 out of 26 sources, which demonstrates the importance of spectral stacking techniques in tracing faint signal in galaxy samples. However, deeper ALMA observations are necessary to confirm the presence of a broad component in the individual spectra.

Feasibility study for an edge main ion charge exchange recombination spectroscopy system at ASDEX Upgrade

A feasibility study for a new edge main ion charge exchange recombination spectroscopy (CXRS) system at the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak has been carried out. This diagnostic uses the new edge fast-ion Dα (FIDA) spectrometers and the optical heads of the existing edge CXRS systems. Standard CXRS resolved temperature and rotation profiles rely on the observation of impurity emission lines. The complexity of the photoemission processes and the fact that the measured ions represent the majority bulk plasma ions (here deuterium) make the interpretation of the main ion spectra in comparison more challenging. At the plasma edge, the diagnostic capabilities in terms of temporal and spatial resolution are extremely demanding. The difficulties in the interpretation of the main ion spectra are overcome by comprehensive fitting and forward modelling of the beam halo (which introduces a major challenge) using a collisional radiative model, as described in [1]. In this work, the diagnostic set up and the sensitivity of the main ion spectra to changes in plasma parameters have been characterized. The tools and techniques necessary for a correct interpretation of the spectra are also discussed. In addition to the halo effect, corrections due to atomic physics effects which could affect the splitting and broadening of the spectral Dα line and lead to misinterpretation of the spectra are evaluated. The first measurements of the edge main ion diagnostic are also presented.

Investigating “Dark” Energy in the Solar Corona Using Forward Modeling of MHD Waves

Abstract It is now well established that Alfvénic waves are ubiquitous in the solar corona. However, the Alfvénic wave energy estimated from Doppler velocity measurements in the corona was found to be four orders of magnitude less than that estimated from nonthermal line widths. McIntosh & De Pontieu suggested that this discrepancy in energy might be due to the line-of-sight (LOS) superposition of several oscillating structures, which can lead to an underestimation of the Alfvénic wave amplitudes and energies. McIntosh & De Pontieu termed this coronal “dark” or “hidden” energy. However, their simulations required the use of an additional, unknown source of Alfvénic wave energy to obtain agreement with measurements of the coronal nonthermal line widths. In this study, we investigate the requirement of this unknown source of additional “dark” energy in the solar corona using gravitationally stratified 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of propagating waves. We excite the transverse MHD waves and generate synthetic observations of the Fe xiii emission line. We establish that LOS superposition greatly reduces the Doppler velocity amplitudes and increases the nonthermal line widths. Importantly, our model generates the observed wedge-shape correlation between Doppler velocities and nonthermal line widths. We find that the observed wave energy is only 0.2%–1% of the true wave energy, which explains the 2–3 order-of-magnitude energy discrepancy. We conclusively establish that true wave energies are hidden in nonthermal line widths. Hence, our results rule out the requirement for an additional “dark” energy in the solar corona.

GAUSSPY+: A fully automated Gaussian decomposition package for emission line spectra

Our understanding of the dynamics of the interstellar medium is informed by the study of the detailed velocity structure of emission line observations. One approach to study the velocity structure is to decompose the spectra into individual velocity components; this leads to a description of the data set that is significantly reduced in complexity. However, this decomposition requires full automation lest it become prohibitive for large data sets, such as Galactic plane surveys. We developed GAUSSPY+, a fully automated Gaussian decomposition package that can be applied to emission line data sets, especially large surveys of HI and isotopologues of CO. We built our package upon the existing GAUSSPY algorithm and significantly improved its performance for noisy data. New functionalities of GAUSSPY+ include: (i) automated preparatory steps, such as an accurate noise estimation, which can also be used as stand-alone applications; (ii) an improved fitting routine; (iii) an automated spatial refitting routine that can add spatial coherence to the decomposition results by refitting spectra based on neighbouring fit solutions. We thoroughly tested the performance of GAUSSPY+ on synthetic spectra and a test field from the Galactic Ring Survey. We found that GAUSSPY+ can deal with cases of complex emission and even low to moderate signal-to-noise values.

NH3 observations of the S235 star-forming region: Dense gas in inter-core bridges

Abstract Star formation is thought to be driven by two groups of mechanisms; spontaneous collapse and triggered collapse. Triggered star formation mechanisms further diverge into cloud–cloud collision (CCC), “collect and collapse” (C&C) and shock-induced collapse of pre-existing, gravitationally stable cores, or “radiation driven implosion” (RDI). To evaluate the contributions of these mechanisms and establish whether these processes can occur together within the same star-forming region, we performed mapping observations of radio-frequency ammonia and water maser emission lines in the S235 massive star-forming region. Via spectral analyses of main, hyperfine, and multi-transitional ammonia lines we explored the distribution of temperature and column density in the dense gas in the S235 and S235AB star-forming region. The most remarkable result of the mapping observations is the discovery of high-density gas in inter-core bridges which physically link dense molecular cores that house young proto-stellar clusters. The presence of dense gas implies the potential for future star formation within the system of cores and gas bridges. Cluster formation implies collapse, and the continuous physical links, also seen in re-imaged archival CS and 13CO maps, suggest a common origin to the molecular cores housing these clusters, i.e a structure condensed from a single, larger parent cloud, brought about by the influence of a local expanding H$\,$ ii region. An ammonia absorption feature co-locating with the center of the extended H$\,$ ii region may be attributed to an older gas component left over from the period prior to formation of the H$\,$ ii region. Our observations also detail known and new sites of water maser emission, highlighting regions of active ongoing star formation.

Physical conditions in Centaurus A’s northern filaments

NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) is one of the best targets to study AGN-feedback in the local Universe. Optical filaments located at 16 kpc from the galaxy along the radio jet direction show recent star formation, likely triggered by the interaction of the jet with an H I shell. A large reservoir of molecular gas has been discovered outside the H I. In this reservoir, lies the Horseshoe complex: a filamentary structure seen in CO with ALMA and in Hα with MUSE. The ionised gas is mostly excited by shocks, with only a minor contribution of star formation. We used the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) to observe the 12CO(3-2) and 12CO(4-3) transitions, as well as dense gas tracers in the Horseshoe complex. 12CO(3-2) and 12CO(4-3) are detected for the first time in the northern filaments of Centaurus A, with integrated intensity line ratios R32 ∼ 0.2 and R43 ∼ 0.1, compared to the 12CO(1-0) emission. We also derived a line ratio R21 ∼ 0.6, based on previous 12CO(2-1) observations. We used the non-LTE radiative transfer code RADEX and determined that the molecular gas in this region has a temperature of 55−70 K and densities between 2−6 × 102 cm−3. Such densities are also in agreement with results from the Paris-Durham shock code that predicts a post-shock density of a few 100 cm−3. However, we need more observations of emission lines at a better angular resolution in order to place tighter constraints on our radiative models, whether they are used as a stand-alone tool (LVG codes) or combined with a shock model.

Probing cosmic dawn with emission lines: predicting infrared and nebular line emission for ALMA and JWST

ABSTRACT Infrared and nebular lines provide some of our best probes of the physics regulating the properties of the interstellar medium (ISM) at high redshift. However, interpreting the physical conditions of high-redshift galaxies directly from emission lines remains complicated due to inhomogeneities in temperature, density, metallicity, ionization parameter, and spectral hardness. We present a new suite of cosmological, radiation-hydrodynamics simulations, each centred on a massive Lyman-break galaxy that resolves such properties in an inhomogeneous ISM. Many of the simulated systems exhibit transient but well-defined gaseous discs that appear as velocity gradients in [C ii] 157.6 $\mu$m emission. Spatial and spectral offsets between [C ii] 157.6 $\mu$m and [O iii] 88.33 $\mu$m are common, but not ubiquitous, as each line probes a different phase of the ISM. These systems fall on the local [C ii]–SFR relation, consistent with newer observations that question previously observed [C ii] 157.6 $\mu$m deficits. Our galaxies are consistent with the nebular line properties of observed z ∼ 2–3 galaxies and reproduce offsets on the BPT and mass-excitation diagrams compared to local galaxies due to higher star formation rate (SFR), excitation, and specific-SFR, as well as harder spectra from young, metal-poor binaries. We predict that local calibrations between H α and [O ii] 3727$\, \mathring{\rm A}$ luminosity and galaxy SFR apply up to z > 10, as do the local relations between certain strong line diagnostics (R23 and [O iii] 5007$\, \mathring{\rm A}$/H β) and galaxy metallicity. Our new simulations are well suited to interpret the observations of line emission from current (ALMA and HST) and upcoming facilities (JWST and ngVLA).

A Giant Intragroup Nebula Hosting a Damped Absorber at z = 0.313

Abstract This Letter reports the discovery of spatially extended line-emitting nebula, reaching to ≈100 physical kpc (pkpc) from a damped absorber (DLA) at z DLA = 0.313 along the sightline toward quasi-stellar object (QSO) PKS 1127−145 (z QSO = 1.188). This DLA was known to be associated with a galaxy group of dynamical mass M group ∼ 3 × 1012 M ⊙, but its physical origin remained ambiguous. New wide-field integral field observations revealed a giant nebula detected in [O ii], Hβ, [O iii], Hα, and [N ii] emission, with the line-emitting gas following closely the motions of group galaxies. One of the denser streams passes directly in front of the QSO with kinematics that are consistent with the absorption profiles recorded in the QSO echelle spectra. The emission morphology, kinematics, and line ratios of the nebula suggest that shocks and turbulent mixing layers, produced as a result of stripped gaseous streams moving at supersonic speed across the ambient hot medium, contribute significantly to the ionization of the gas. While the DLA may not be associated with any specific detected member of the group, both the kinematic and dust properties are consistent with the DLA originating in streams of gas stripped from sub-L * group members at ≲25 pkpc from the QSO sightline. This study demonstrates that gas stripping in low-mass galaxy groups is effective in releasing metal-enriched gas from star-forming regions, producing absorption systems in QSO spectra, and that combining absorption and emission-line observations provides an exciting new opportunity for studying gas and galaxy co-evolution.

New insight on the far-UV SED and He ii emission from low metallicity galaxies

AbstractUnderstanding the ionizing spectrum of low-metallicity galaxies is of great importance for modeling and interpreting emission line observations of early/distant galaxies.Although a wide suite of stellar evolution, atmosphere, population synthesis, and photoionization models, taking many physical processes into account now exist, all models face a common problem: the inability to explain the presence of nebular Heii emission, which is observed in many low metallicity galaxies, both in UV and optical spectra. Several possible explanations have been proposed in the literature, including Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, binaries, very massive stars, X-ray sources, or shocks. However, none has so far been able to explain the major observations.We briefly discuss the He ii problem, available empirical data, and observed trends combining X-ray, optical and other studies. We present a simple and consistent physical model showing that X-ray binaries could explain the long-standing nebular Heii problem. Our model, described in Schaerer et al. (2019), successfully explains the observed trends and strength of nebular He ii emission in large samples of low metallicity galaxies and in individual galaxies, which have been studied in detail and with multi-wavelength observations. Our results have in particular important implications for the interpretation of galaxy spectra in the early Universe, which will be obtained with upcoming and future facilities.

Observation of sharp emission lines from Zn-doped GaN

We report the observation and characterization of sharp emission lines from Zn-related emission centers in GaN. Initial studies on the emission lines show that they appear only at low temperatures (T < 50 K), are energetically stable, and exhibit linewidths of a few meV. A brief discussion on their possible origins is given.

Addressing the [O III]/Hβ offset of dwarf galaxies in the RESOLVE survey

Metal poor dwarf galaxies in the local universe, such as those found in the RESOLVE galaxy survey, often produce high [O III]/H\b{eta} ratios close to the star forming demarcation lines of the diagnostic BPT diagram. Modeling the emission from these galaxies at lower metallicities generally underpredicts this line ratio, which is typically attributed to a deficit of photons >35 eV. We show that applying a model that includes empirical abundances scaled with metallicity strongly influences the thermal balance in HII regions and preserves the [O III]/H\b{eta} offset even in the presence of a harder radiation field generated by interacting binaries. Additional heating mechanisms are more successful in addressing the offset. In accordance with the high sSFR typical of dwarf galaxies in the sample, we demonstrate that cosmic ray heating serves as one mechanism capable of aligning spectral synthesis predictions with observations. We also show that incorporating a range of physical conditions in our modeling can create even better agreement between model calculations and observed emission line ratios. Together these results emphasize that both the hardness of the incident continuum and the variety of physical conditions present in nebular gas clouds must be accurately accounted for prior to drawing conclusions from emission line diagnostic diagrams.

A Computationally Assisted Ar I Emission Line Ratio Technique to Infer Electron Energy Distribution and Determine Other Plasma Parameters in Pulsed Low-Temperature Plasma

In the post-transient stage of a 1-Torr pulsed argon discharge, a computationally assisted diagnostic technique is demonstrated for either inferring the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) if the metastable-atom density is known (i.e., measured) or quantitatively determining the metastable-atom density if the EEDF is known. This technique, which can be extended to be applicable to the initial and transient stages of the discharge, is based on the sensitivity of both emission line ratio values to metastable-atom density, on the EEDF, and on correlating the measurements of metastable-atom density, electron density, reduced electric field, and the ratio of emission line pairs (420.1–419.8 nm or 420.1–425.9 nm) for a given expression of the EEDF, as evidenced by the quantitative agreement between the observed emission line ratio and the predicted emission line ratio. Temporal measurement of electron density, metastable-atom density, and reduced electric field are then used to infer the transient behavior of the excitation rates describing electron-atom collision-induced excitation in the pulsed positive column. The changing nature of the EEDF, as it starts off being Druyvesteyn and becomes more Maxwellian later with the increasing electron density, is key to interpreting the correlation and explaining the temporal behavior of the emission line ratio in all stages of the discharge. Similar inferences of electron density and reduced electric field based on readily available diagnostic signatures may also be afforded by this model.