Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997mnras.284l...1j&link_type=abstract
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 284, Issue 1, pp. L1-L5.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
52
Galaxies: Clusters: General, Cooling Flows, Galaxies: Ism
Scientific paper
We have carried out K-band spectroscopy both of central cluster galaxies in cooling flows and of radio galaxies with comparable radio powers and distances that are not in strong cooling flows. We detected H_2(1-0)S(1)-line emission from the inner few kpc of the cooling flow galaxies, but not in the galaxies outside of strong cooling flows. It is therefore very likely that the emission is related to the presence of the cooling flow. The strength of the emission requires that there be a source of reexcitation or reheating for the H_2 molecules; the emission does not simply arise from material cooling out of the flow and emitting H_2 photons as it passes through ~2000K. The relative strengths of Hα and H_2(1-0)S(1) emission rule out fast shocks or other bulk ionizing mechanisms as the source of excitation. Photoionization of cold clouds by the surrounding X-ray-emitting material plausibly explains the relative line strengths and total luminosity if excitation of H_2 by suprathermal secondary electrons is taken into account.
Bremer Malcolm N.
Jaffe Walter
No associations
LandOfFree
Molecular hydrogen emission in cooling flows does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Molecular hydrogen emission in cooling flows, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Molecular hydrogen emission in cooling flows will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1810296