Near-infrared line imaging of NGC 6240 - Collision shock and nuclear starburst

Details Near-infrared line imaging of NGC 6240 - Collision shock and nuclear starburst Near-infrared line imaging of NGC 6240 - Collision shock and nuclear starburst

Mar 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993apj...405..522v&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 405, no. 2, p. 522-537.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

114

Galactic Nuclei, Infrared Imagery, Interacting Galaxies, Near Infrared Radiation, Shock Wave Propagation, Star Formation, Starburst Galaxies, Hydrogen, Hydrogen Clouds, Iron, Line Spectra, Supernova Remnants, Supernovae

Scientific paper

High-resolution images of H2 v = 1 - 0 S(1) and forbidden Fe II 1.64 micron emission in the luminous IR galaxy NGC 6240 are presented together with velocity-resolved spectra of these lines. The luminous near-IR H2 emission observed near the nucleus is generated in a shock resulting from the merging or collision of two gas-rich disk galaxies. High-velocity wings of the H2 line profile show the presence of shocked H2 at high velocities. It is concluded that the high-velocity H2 emission originates in material entrained in and shocked by a 'superwind' created in a nuclear starburst. The forbidden Fe II emission closely follows the stellar light and radio continuum emission from the nuclei and originates in fast shocks produced by SNR resulting from a starburst in the nuclei of NGC 6240. The total SN rate in NGC 6240 is estimated to be about 2/yr based on the nonthermal radio continuum emission. The low Br-gamma flux from the galaxy indicates that the nuclei are deficient in stars more massive than about 25 solar masses.

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