Photon-dominated Region Models Research Articles

ALMA View of the ρ Ophiuchi A PDR with a 360 au Beam: The [C i] Emission Originates from the Plane-parallel PDR and Extended Gas

Abstract We present the results of data analysis of the [C i] (3 P 1–3 P 0) emission from the ρ Ophiuchi A photon-dominated region (PDR) obtained in the ALMA ACA standalone mode with a spatial resolution of 2.″6 (360 au). The [C i] emission shows filamentary structures with a width of ∼1000 au, which are adjacent to the shell structure seen in the 4.5 μm map. We found that the 4.5 μm emission, C0, and CO are distributed in this order from the excitation star (S1) in a complementary pattern. These results indicate that [C i] is emitted from a thin layer in the PDR generated by the excitation star, as predicted in the plane-parallel PDR model. In addition, extended [C i] emission was also detected, which shows nearly uniform integrated intensity over the entire field of view (1.′6 × 1.′6). The line profile of the extended component is different from that of the above shell component. The column density ratio of C0 to CO in the extended component was ∼2, which is significantly higher than those of Galactic massive star-forming regions (0.1–0.2). These results suggest that [C i] is emitted also from the extended gas with a density of cm−3, which is not greatly affected by the excitation star.

Stellar Feedback on the Earliest Stage of Massive Star Formation

Abstract We report SOFIA/GREAT observations of high-J CO lines and [C ii] observations of the super star cluster candidate H72.97-69.39 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), which is in its very early formation stage. We use our observations to determine if shocks are heating the gas or if photon-dominated regions (PDRs) are being heated by local far-UV radiation. We use a PDR model and a shock model to determine whether the CO and [C ii] lines arise from PDRs or shocks. We can reproduce the observed high-J CO and [C ii] emission with a clumpy PDR model with the following properties: a density of 104.7 cm−3, a mass of 104 M ⊙, and UV radiation of 103.5 in units of Draine field. Comparison with the ALMA beam-filling factor suggests a higher density within the uncertainty of the fit. We find the lower-limit [C ii]/total infrared (TIR) ratio (ϵ) traced by [C ii]/TIR to be 0.026%, lower than other known young star-forming regions in the LMC. Our shock models may explain the CO (16−15) and CO (11−10) emission lines with shock velocity of 8–11 km s−1, pre-shock density of 104–105 cm−3, and G UV = 0 in units of Draine field. However, the [C ii] line emission cannot be explained by a shock model, thus it is originating in a different gas component. Observations of [O i] 63 μm predicted to be 1.1 × 10−13 W m−2 by PDR models and 7.8 × 10−15 W m−2 by shock models will help distinguish between the PDR and shock scenarios.

First Detection of the [O i] 63 μm Emission from a Redshift 6 Dusty Galaxy

Abstract We report a ground-based detection of the [O i] 63 μm line in a z = 6.027 gravitationally lensed dusty star-forming galaxy (DSFG) G09.83808 using the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment SEPIA 660 receiver, the first unambiguous detection of the [O i]63 line beyond redshift 3, and the first obtained from the ground. The [O i]63 line is robustly detected at 22 ± 5 Jy km s−1, corresponding to an intrinsic (de-lensed) luminosity of (5.4 ± 1.3) × 109 L ⊙. With the [O i]63/[C ii] luminosity ratio of 4, the [O i]63 line is the main coolant of the neutral gas in this galaxy, in agreement with model predictions. The high [O i]63 luminosity compensates for the pronounced [C ii] deficit ([C ii]/FIR ≃ 4 × 10−4). Using photon-dominated region models, we derive a source-averaged gas density n = 104.0 cm−3, and FUV field strength G = 104 G 0, comparable to the z = 2–4 DSFG population. If G09.83808 represents a typical high-redshift DSFG, the [O i]63 line from z = 6 non-lensed DSFGs should be routinely detectable in the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Band 9 observations with ∼15 minutes on-source, opening a new window to study the properties of the earliest DSFGs.

Opening the Treasure Chest in Carina

Pillars and globules are the best examples of the impact of the radiation and wind from massive stars on the surrounding interstellar medium. We mapped the G287.84-0.82 cometary globule (with the Treasure Chest cluster embedded in it) in the South Pillars region of Carina (i) in [C II], 63 μm [O I], and CO(11–10) using the heterodyne receiver array upGREAT on SOFIA and (ii) in J = 2–1 transitions of CO, 13CO, C18O, and J = 3–2 transitions of H2CO using the APEX telescope in Chile. We used these data to probe the morphology, kinematics, and physical conditions of the molecular gas and the photon-dominated regions (PDRs) in G287.84-0.82. The velocity-resolved observations of [C II] and [O I] suggest that the overall structure of the pillar (with red-shifted photoevaporating tails) is consistent with the effect of FUV radiation and winds from η Car and O stars in Trumpler 16. The gas in the head of the pillar is strongly influenced by the embedded cluster, whose brightest member is an O9.5 V star, CPD −59°2661. The emission of the [C II] and [O I] lines peak at a position close to the embedded star, while all the other tracers peak at another position lying to the northeast consistent with gas being compressed by the expanding PDR created by the embedded cluster. The molecular gas inside the globule was probed with the J = 2–1 transitions of CO and isotopologs as well as H2CO, and analyzed using a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium model (escape-probability approach), while we used PDR models to derive the physical conditions of the PDR. We identify at least two PDR gas components; the diffuse part (~ 104 cm−3) is traced by [C II], while the dense (n ~ 2–8 × 105 cm−3) part is traced by [C II], [O I], and CO(11–10). Using the F = 2–1 transition of [13C II] detected at 50 positions in the region, we derived optical depths (0.9–5), excitation temperatures (80–255 K) of [C II], and N(C+) of 0.3–1 × 1019 cm−2. The total mass of the globule is ~1000 M⊙, about half of which is traced by [C II]. The dense PDR gas has a thermal pressure of 107–108 K cm−3, which is similar to the values observed in other regions.

Planck’s dusty GEMS

We present an extensive CO emission-line survey of the Planck’s dusty Gravitationally Enhanced subMillimetre Sources, a small set of 11 strongly lensed dusty star-forming galaxies at z = 2–4 discovered with Planck and Herschel satellites, using EMIR on the IRAM 30-m telescope. We detected a total of 45 CO rotational lines from Jup = 3 to Jup = 11, and up to eight transitions per source, allowing a detailed analysis of the gas excitation and interstellar medium conditions within these extremely bright (μLFIR = 0.5 − 3.0 × 1014L⊙), vigorous starbursts. The peak of the CO spectral-line energy distributions (SLEDs) fall between Jup = 4 and Jup = 7 for nine out of 11 sources, in the same range as other lensed and unlensed submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) and the inner regions of local starbursts. We applied radiative transfer models using the large velocity gradient approach to infer the spatially-averaged molecular gas densities, nH2 ≃ 102.6 − 104.1 cm−3, and kinetic temperatures, Tk ≃ 30–1000 K. In five sources, we find evidence of two distinct gas phases with different properties and model their CO SLED with two excitation components. The warm (70–320 K) and dense gas reservoirs in these galaxies are highly excited, while the cooler (15–60 K) and more extended low-excitation components cover a range of gas densities. In two sources, the latter is associated with diffuse Milky Way-like gas phases of density nH2 ≃ 102.4 − 102.8 cm−3, which provides evidence that a significant fraction of the total gas masses of dusty starburst galaxies can be embedded in cool, low-density reservoirs. The delensed masses of the warm star-forming molecular gas range from 0.6to12 × 1010 M⊙. Finally, we show that the CO line luminosity ratios are consistent with those predicted by models of photon-dominated regions (PDRs) and disfavor scenarios of gas clouds irradiated by intense X-ray fields from active galactic nuclei. By combining CO, [C I] and [C II] line diagnostics, we obtain average PDR gas densities significantly higher than in normal star-forming galaxies at low-redshift, as well as far-ultraviolet radiation fields 102–104 times more intense than in the Milky Way. These spatially-averaged conditions are consistent with those in high-redshift SMGs and in a range of low-redshift environments, from the central regions of ultra-luminous infrared galaxies and bluer starbursts to Galactic giant molecular clouds.

The nature of molecular cloud boundary layers from SOFIA [O I] observations

Context. Dense highly ionized boundary layers (IBLs) outside of the neutral Photon Dominated Regions (PDRs) have recently been detected via the 122 and 205 μm transitions of ionized nitrogen. These layers have higher densities than in the Warm Ionized Medium (WIM) but less than typically found in H II regions. Observations of [C II] emission, which is produced in both the PDR and IBL, do not fully define the characteristics of these sources. Observations of additional probes which just trace the PDRs, such as the fine structure lines of atomic oxygen, are needed derive their properties and distinguish among different models for [C II] and [N II] emissison. Aims. We derive the properties of the PDRs adjacent to dense highly ionized boundary layers of molecular clouds. Methods. We combine high-spectral resolution observations of the 63 μm [O I] fine structure line taken with the upGREAT HFA-band instrument on SOFIA with [C II] observations to constrain the physical conditions in the PDRs. The observations consist of samples along four lines of sight (LOS) towards the inner Galaxy containing several dense molecular clouds. We interpret the conditions in the PDRs using radiative transfer models for [C II] and [O I]. Results. We have a 3.5-σ detection of [O I] toward one source but only upper limits towards the others. We use the [O I] to [C II] ratio, or their upper limits, and the column density of C+ to estimate the thermal pressure, Pth, in these PDRs. In two LOS the thermal pressure is likely in the range 2–5 × 105 in units of K cm−3, with kinetic temperatures of order 75–100 K and H2 densities, n(H2) ~ 2–4 × 103 cm−3. For the other two sources, where the upper limits on [O I] to [C II] are larger, Pth ≲105 (K cm−3). We have also used PDR models that predict the [O I] to [C II] ratio, along with our observations of this ratio, to limit the intensity of the Far UV radiation field. Conclusions. The [C II] and [N II] emission with either weak, or without any, evidence of [O I] indicates that the source of dense highly ionized gas traced by [N II] most likely arises from the ionized boundary layers of clouds rather than from H II regions.

C+ distribution around S 1 in ρ Ophiuchi

We analyze a [C II] 158 μm map obtained with the L2 GREAT receiver on SOFIA of the reflection nebula illuminated by the early B star S 1 in the ρ Oph A cloud core. This data set has been complemented with maps of CO(3–2), 13CO(3–2), and C18O(3–2), observed as a part of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) Gould Belt Survey, with archival HCO+(4–3) JCMT data, as well as with [O I] 63 and 145 μm imaging with Herschel/PACS. The [C II] emission is completely dominated by the strong emission from the photon dominated region (PDR) in the nebula surrounding S 1 expanding into the dense Oph A molecular cloud west and south of S 1. The [C II] emission is significantly blueshifted relative to the CO spectra and also relative to the systemic velocity, particularly in the northwestern part of the nebula. The [C II] lines are broader toward the center of the S 1 nebula and narrower toward the PDR shell. The [C II] lines are strongly self-absorbed over an extended region in the S 1 PDR. Based on the strength of the [13C II] F = 2–1 hyperfine component, [C II] is significantly optically thick over most of the nebula. CO and 13CO(3–2) spectra are strongly self-absorbed, while C18O(3–2) is single peaked and centered in the middle of the self-absorption. We have used a simple two-layer LTE model to characterize the background and foreground cloud contributing to the [C II] emission. From this analysis we estimated the extinction due to the foreground cloud to be ~9.9 mag, which is slightly less than the reddening estimated toward S 1. Since some of the hot gas in the PDR is not traced by low-J CO emission, this result appears quite plausible. Using a plane parallel PDR model with the observed [O I](145)/[C II] brightness ratio and an estimated FUV intensity of 3100–5000 G0 suggests that the density of the [C II] emitting gas is ~3–4 × 103 cm−3.

Modelling clumpy photon-dominated regions in 3D

Context. Models of photon-dominated regions (PDRs) still fail to fully reproduce some of the observed properties. In particular they do not reproduce the combination of the intensities of different PDR cooling lines together with the chemical stratification, as observed for example for the Orion Bar PDR.

C+/H2gas in star-forming clouds and galaxies

We present analytic theory for the total column density of singly ionized carbon (C+) in the optically thick photon dominated regions (PDRs) of far-UV irradiated (star-forming) molecular clouds. We derive a simple formula for the C+ column as a function of the cloud (hydrogen) density, the far-UV field intensity, and metallicity, encompassing the wide range of galaxy conditions. When assuming the typical relation between UV and density in the cold neutral medium, the C+ column becomes a function of the metallicity alone. We verify our analysis with detailed numerical PDR models. For optically thick gas, most of the C+ column is mixed with hydrogen that is primarily molecular (H2), and this "C+/H2" gas layer accounts for almost all of the `CO-dark' molecular gas in PDRs. The C+/H2 column density is limited by dust shielding and is inversely proportional to the metallicity down to ~0.1 solar. At lower metallicities, H2 line blocking dominates and the C+/H2 column saturates. Applying our theory to CO surveys in low redshift spirals we estimate the fraction of C+/H2 gas out of the total molecular gas to be typically ~0.4. At redshifts 1<z<3 in massive disc galaxies the C+/H2 gas represents a very small fraction of the total molecular gas (<0.16). This small fraction at high redshifts is due to the high gas surface densities when compared to local galaxies.

UV Photolysis of Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbons of Astrophysical Interest

ABSTRACTIn the gas phase, most of the ionized or neutral molecules detected in the interstellar and circumstellar media contain at least one carbon atom. Carbon chemistry plays thus a dominant role in the understanding of the structure and evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM). One particular zone of interest to observe small carbonaceous radicals and molecules, are the sharp molecular clouds edges exposed to energetic photons. These photon-dominated regions are rich in these hydrocarbons (like CCH, c-C3H2, C4H), and provide tests for the chemistry models in the diffuse to molecular transition. The pure gas phase models generally fail in reproducing the abundance of many of the observed species, and several authors suggest such abundances may arise from the products of the VUV photodissociation of carbonaceous grains or PAHs. Hydrogenated amorphous carbons (a-C:H or HAC), abundantly observed in the ISM, could also be at the origin of many of these small carbonaceous radicals. Experimentally, this work investigates the production and release of hydrocarbons from the VUV photolysis of a-C:H interstellar analogues under ultra-high vacuum. The experimental results are applied to a Photon Dominated Region model to constrain the impact of this release on the observed gas phase species.

A PHOTON-DOMINATED REGION MODEL FOR THE FIR MID- J CO LADDER WITH UNIVERSAL ROTATIONAL TEMPERATURE IN STAR FORMING REGIONS

A photon dominated region (PDR) is one of the leading candidate mechanisms for the origin of the warm CO gas with near universal $\sim$300~K rotational temperature inferred from the CO emission detected towards embedded protostars by Herschel/PACS. We have developed a PDR model in general coordinates, where we can use the most adequate coordinate system for an embedded protostar having outflow cavity walls, to solve chemistry and gas energetics self-consistently for given UV radiation fields with different spectral shapes. Simple 1D tests and applications show that FIR mid-$J$ ($14\leq J\leq 24$) CO lines are emitted from near the surface of a dense region exposed to high UV fluxes. We apply our model to HH46 and find the UV-heated outflow cavity wall can reproduce the mid-$J$, CO transitions observed by Herschel/PACS. A model with UV radiation corresponding to a blackbody of 10,000~K results in the rotational temperature lower than 300~K, while models with the Draine interstellar radiation field and the 15,000 K blackbody radiation field predict the rotational temperature similar to the observed one.

REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE DENSE GAS HEATING AND COOLING IN M51 FROMHERSCHELFAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

We present Herschel PACS and SPIRE spectroscopy of the most important far-infrared cooling lines in M51, [CII](158 \mu m), [NII](122 & 205 \mu m), [OI](63 and 145 \mu m) and [OIII](88 \mu m). We compare the observed flux of these lines with the predicted flux from a photon dominated region model to determine characteristics of the cold gas such as density, temperature and the far-ultraviolet radiation field, G_0, resolving details on physical scales of roughly 600 pc. We find an average [CII]/F_TIR of 4 x 10^{-3}, in agreement with previous studies of other galaxies. A pixel-by-pixel analysis of four distinct regions of M51 shows a radially decreasing trend in both the far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation field, G_0 and the hydrogen density, n, peaking in the nucleus of the galaxy, then falling off out to the arm and interarm regions. We see for the first time that the FUV flux and gas density are similar in the differing environments of the arm and interarm regions, suggesting that the inherent physical properties of the molecular clouds in both regions are essentially the same.

Gas and dust cooling along the major axis of M 33 (HerM33es)

We aim to better understand the heating of the gas by observing the prominent gas cooling line [CII] at 158um in the low-metallicity environment of the Local Group spiral galaxy M33 at scales of 280pc. In particular, we aim at describing the variation of the photoelectric heating efficiency with galactic environment. In this unbiased study, we used ISO/LWS [CII] observations along the major axis of M33, in combination with Herschel PACS and SPIRE continuum maps, IRAM 30m CO 2-1 and VLA HI data to study the variation of velocity integrated intensities. The ratio of [CII] emission over the far-infrared continuum is used as a proxy for the heating efficiency, and models of photon-dominated regions are used to study the local physical densities, FUV radiation fields, and average column densities of the molecular clouds. The heating efficiency stays constant at 0.8% in the inner 4.5kpc radius of the galaxy where it starts to increase to reach values of ~3% in the outskirts at about 6kpc radial distance. The rise of efficiency is explained in the framework of PDR models by lowered volume densities and FUV fields, for optical extinctions of only a few magnitudes at constant metallicity. In view of the significant fraction of HI emission stemming from PDRs, and for typical pressures found in the Galactic cold neutral medium (CNM) traced by HI emission, the CNM contributes ~15% to the observed [CII] emission in the inner 2kpc radius of M33. The CNM contribution remains largely undetermined in the south, while positions between 2 and 7.3kpc radial distance in the north of M33 show a contribution of ~40%+-20%.

The chemistry of ions in the Orion Bar I. – CH+, SH+, and CF+

The abundances of interstellar CH+ and SH+ are not well understood as their most likely formation channels are highly endothermic. Using data from Herschel, we study the formation of CH+ and SH+ in a typical high UV-illumination photon-dominated region (PDR), the Orion Bar. Herschel/HIFI provides velocity-resolved data of CH+ 1-0 and 2-1 and three hyperfine transitions of SH+. Herschel/PACS provides information on the excitation and spatial distribution of CH+ (up to J=6-5). The widths of the CH+ 2-1 and 1-0 transitions are of ~5 km/s, significantly broader than the typical width of dense gas tracers in the Orion Bar (2-3 km/s) and are comparable to the width of tracers of the interclump medium such as C+ and HF. The detected SH+ transitions are narrower compared to CH+ and have line widths of 3 km/s, indicating that SH+ emission mainly originates in denser condensations. Non-LTE radiative transfer models show that electron collisions affect the excitation of CH+ and SH+, and that reactive collisions need to be taken into account to calculate the excitation of CH+. Comparison to PDR models shows that CH+ and SH+ are tracers of the warm surface region (AV<1.5) of the PDR with temperatures between 500-1000 K. We have also detected the 5-4 transition of CF+ (FWHM=1.9 km/s) with an intensity that is consistent with previous observations of lower-J CF+ transitions toward the Orion Bar. A comparison to PDR models indicate that the internal vibrational energy of H2 can explain the formation of CH+ for typical physical conditions in the Orion Bar near the ionization front. H2 vibrational excitation is the most likely explanation of SH+ formation as well. The abundance ratios of CH+ and SH+ trace the destruction paths of these ions, and through that, indirectly, the ratios of H, H2 and electron abundances as a function of depth into the cloud.

Dense gas in M 33 (HerM33es)

We aim to better understand the emission of molecular tracers of the diffuse and dense gas in giant molecular clouds and the influence that metallicity, optical extinction, density, far-UV field, and star formation rate have on these tracers. Using the IRAM 30m telescope, we detected HCN, HCO+, 12CO, and 13CO in six GMCs along the major axis of M33 at a resolution of ~ 114pc and out to a radial distance of 3.4kpc. Optical, far-infrared, and submillimeter data from Herschel and other observatories complement these observations. To interpret the observed molecular line emission, we created two grids of models of photon-dominated regions, one for solar and one for M33-type subsolar metallicity. The observed HCO+/HCN line ratios range between 1.1 and 2.5. Similarly high ratios have been observed in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The HCN/CO ratio varies between 0.4% and 2.9% in the disk of M33. The 12CO/13CO line ratio varies between 9 and 15 similar to variations found in the diffuse gas and the centers of GMCs of the Milky Way. Stacking of all spectra allowed HNC and C2H to be detected. The resulting HCO+/HNC and HCN/HNC ratios of ~ 8 and 6, respectively, lie at the high end of ratios observed in a large set of (ultra-)luminous infrared galaxies. HCN abundances are lower in the subsolar metallicity PDR models, while HCO+ abundances are enhanced. For HCN this effect is more pronounced at low optical extinctions. The observed HCO+/HCN and HCN/CO line ratios are naturally explained by subsolar PDR models of low optical extinctions between 4 and 10 mag and of moderate densities of n = 3x10^3 - 3x10^4 cm^-3, while the FUV field strength only has a small effect on the modeled line ratios. The line ratios are almost equally well reproduced by the solar-metallicity models, indicating that variations in metallicity only play a minor role in influencing these line ratios.

The chemical effects of mutual shielding in photon-dominated regions

We investigate the importance of the shielding of chemical photorates by molecular hydrogen photodissociation lines and the carbon photoionization continuum deep within models of photon-dominated regions (PDRs). In particular, the photodissociation of N2 and CN is significantly shielded by the H2 photodissociation line spectrum. We model this by switching off the photodissociation channels for these species behind the H i→H2 transition. We also model the shielding effect of the carbon photoionization continuum as an attenuation of the incident radiation field shortwards of 1102 Å. Using recent line and continuum cross-section data, we present calculations of the direct and cosmic-ray-induced photorates for a range of species, as well as optically thick shielding factors for the carbon continuum. Applying these to a time-dependent PDR model we see enrichments in the abundances of N2, N2H+, NH3 and CN by factors of ∼3–100 in the extinction band Av = 2.0–4.0 for a range of environments. While the precise quantitative results of this study are limited by the simplicity of our model, they highlight the importance of these mutual shielding effects, neither of which has been discussed in recent models.

The cool and warm molecular gas in M82 with Herschel-SPIRE

AbstractWe present Herschel-SPIRE imaging spectroscopy (194-671 μm) of the bright starburst galaxy M82. We use RADEX and a Bayesian Likelihood Analysis to simultaneously model the temperature, density, column density, and filling factor of both the cool and warm components of molecular gas traced by the entire CO ladder up to J=13-12. The high-J lines observed by SPIRE trace much warmer gas (~500 K) than those observable from the ground. The addition of 13CO (and [C I]) is new and indicates that [C I] may be tracing different gas than 12CO. At such a high temperature, cooling is dominated by molecular hydrogen; we conclude with a discussion on the possible excitation processes in this warm component. Photon-dominated region (PDR) models require significantly higher densities than those indicated by our Bayesian likelihood analysis in order to explain the high-J CO line ratios, though cosmic-ray enhanced PDR models can do a better job reproducing the emission at lower densities. Shocks and turbulent heating are likely required to explain the bright high-J emission.

HERSCHEL-SPIRE IMAGING SPECTROSCOPY OF MOLECULAR GAS IN M82

We present new Herschel-SPIRE imaging spectroscopy (194-671 microns) of the bright starburst galaxy M82. Covering the CO ladder from J=4-3 to J=13-12, spectra were obtained at multiple positions for a fully sampled ~ 3 x 3 arcminute map, including a longer exposure at the central position. We present measurements of 12CO, 13CO, [CI], [NII], HCN, and HCO+ in emission, along with OH+, H2O+ and HF in absorption and H2O in both emission and absorption, with discussion. We use a radiative transfer code and Bayesian likelihood analysis to model the temperature, density, column density, and filling factor of multiple components of molecular gas traced by 12CO and 13CO, adding further evidence to the high-J lines tracing a much warmer (~ 500 K), less massive component than the low-J lines. The addition of 13CO (and [CI]) is new and indicates that [CI] may be tracing different gas than 12CO. No temperature/density gradients can be inferred from the map, indicating that the single-pointing spectrum is descriptive of the bulk properties of the galaxy. At such a high temperature, cooling is dominated by molecular hydrogen. Photon-dominated region (PDR) models require higher densities than those indicated by our Bayesian likelihood analysis in order to explain the high-J CO line ratios, though cosmic-ray enhanced PDR models can do a better job reproducing the emission at lower densities. Shocks and turbulent heating are likely required to explain the bright high-J emission.

The ionized and hot gas in M17 SW

With new THz maps that cover an area of ~3.3x2.1 pc^2 we probe the spatial distribution and association of the ionized, neutral and molecular gas components in the M17 SW nebula. We used the dual band receiver GREAT on board the SOFIA airborne telescope to obtain a 5'.7x3'.7 map of the 12CO J=13-12 transition and the [C II] 158 um fine-structure line in M17 SW and compare the spectroscopically resolved maps with corresponding ground-based data for low- and mid-J CO and [C I] emission. For the first time SOFIA/GREAT allow us to compare velocity-resolved [C II] emission maps with molecular tracers. We see a large part of the [C II] emission, both spatially and in velocity, that is completely non-associated with the other tracers of photon-dominated regions (PDR). Only particular narrow channel maps of the velocity-resolved [C II] spectra show a correlation between the different gas components, which is not seen at all in the integrated intensity maps. These show different morphology in all lines but give hardly any information on the origin of the emission. The [C II] 158 um emission extends for more than 2 pc into the M17 SW molecular cloud and its line profile covers a broader velocity range than the 12CO J=13-12 and [C I] emissions, which we interpret as several clumps and layers of ionized carbon gas within the telescope beam. The high-J CO emission emerges from a dense region between the ionized and neutral carbon emissions, indicating the presence of high-density clumps that allow the fast formation of hot CO in the irradiated complex structure of M17 SW. The [C II] observations in the southern PDR cannot be explained with stratified nor clumpy PDR models.

THE DENSE MOLECULAR GAS IN THE CIRCUMNUCLEAR DISK OF NGC 1068

We present a 190-307 GHz broadband spectrum obtained with Z-Spec of NGC 1068 with new measurements of molecular rotational transitions. After combining our measurements with those previously published and considering the specific geometry of this Seyfert 2 galaxy, we conduct a multi-species Bayesian likelihood analysis of the density, temperature, and relative molecular abundances of HCN, HNC, CS, and HCO+. We find that these molecules trace warm (T > 100 K) gas of H2 number densities 10^4.2 - 10^4.9 cm^-3. Our models also place strong constraints on the column densities and relative abundances of these molecules, as well as on the total mass in the circumnuclear disk. Using the uniform calibration afforded by the broad Z-Spec bandpass, we compare our line ratios to X-ray dominated region (XDR) and photon-dominated region models. The majority of our line ratios are consistent with the XDR models at the densities indicated by the likelihood analysis, lending substantial support to the emerging interpretation that the energetics in the circumnuclear disk of NGC 1068 are dominated by accretion onto an active galactic nucleus.