Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 2000
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000apj...542..359b&link_type=abstract
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 542, Issue 1, pp. 359-366.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
37
Infrared: General, Infrared: Ism: Lines And Bands, Ism: Molecules, Ism: Structure, Stars: Formation, Telescopes
Scientific paper
We have used the SPIREX telescope to conduct a wide-field thermal infrared imaging study of the star formation complex NGC 6334 in the southern Galactic plane. We imaged a 30' region along the main star-forming ridge of NGC 6334 with 0.6" pixel scale through broadband filters for L (3.5 μm) and M (4.8 μm) and through narrowband filters for the H2 v=1-0 Q-branch (2.42 μm), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) (3.3 μm), and Brα (4.05 μm) lines. The images reveal the spectacular, complex structure of the photodissociation regions (PDRs) that pervade the region, with enhanced line emission around each of the seven sites of massive star formation along the ridge. Bubbles and loops of PAH emission, typically 1-1.5 pc across, have been carved out of the parent molecular cloud by the intense UV radiation from the massive stars and surround H II regions (seen in Brα) typically 0.2-0.3 pc across. The PAH emission regions coincide with both [C II] 158 μm line emission, indicating that the PAHs are excited in PDR gas, and extensive H2 emission, which therefore must be fluorescent. However, the textures of the emission regions in PAH and H2 are different. This is attributable to variations in the physical environment in which the gas is excited. Several compact reddened objects are observed; these are likely to be massive protostars. Rodney Marks tragically died of natural causes while working at the South Pole on 2000 May 12. He was spending his second winter there, operating the AST/RO submillimeter telescope. Rodney spent the winter of 1998 at the Pole operating the SPIREX telescope. His perseverance and dedication, overcoming considerable difficulties through the Antarctic winter, were crucial to obtaining the results presented in this paper. Rodney's pioneering efforts have shown that infrared astronomy in Antarctica can be a reality, not just a dream. We dedicate this paper to Rodney's memory.
Ashley Michael C. B.
Burton Michael G.
Fowler AB
Gatley Ian
Harper Doyal A.
No associations
LandOfFree
High-Resolution Imaging of Photodissociation Regions in NGC 6334 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 High-Resolution Imaging of Photodissociation Regions in NGC 6334, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High-Resolution Imaging of Photodissociation Regions in NGC 6334 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1768812