Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Feb 1987
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987apj...313..859s&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 313, Feb. 15, 1987, p. 859-866.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
23
Astronomical Spectroscopy, Far Infrared Radiation, Hydrocarbons, Infrared Astronomy, Interstellar Matter, Abundance, Ground State, Line Spectra, Molecular Clouds
Scientific paper
The first astronomical detection of CH in the far-infrared has been made. A ground state of rotational transition was observed in absorption against the far-infrared continuum peak of Sgr B2. The lines are resolved at a velocity resolution of 62 km/s, have a line width of roughly 250 km/s, and a line center optical depth of about 0.29. The inferred total column density of CH in the ground state along the line of sight is roughly 1.6 x 10 to the 15th/sq cm. Comparison of the far-infrared profiles to the 3 GHz emission lines confirms that the ground-state Lambda-doublet levels are inverted and gives an accurate estimate of the excitation temperature. The excitation temperature of the 3264 MHz line varies from cloud to cloud along the line of sight, the levels being most inverted in the Sgr B2 molecular cloud. The large intensity of the 3264 MHz line in this cloud relative to other clouds along the line of sight may thus be primarily an excitation effect.
Genzel Reinhard
Lugten John B.
Stacey Gordon J.
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