Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Galaxy Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2009-06-12
Astrophys.J.701:677-685,2009
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Galaxy Astrophysics
Accepted for publication in ApJ (34 pages, including 16 figures)
Scientific paper
10.1088/0004-637X/701/1/677
The Orion Bar is one of the nearest and best-studied photodissociation or photon-dominated regions (PDRs). Observations reveal the presence of H2 lines from vibrationally or rotationally excited upper levels that suggest warm gas temperatures (400 to 700 K). However, standard models of PDRs are unable to reproduce such warm rotational temperatures. In this paper we attempt to explain these observations with new comprehensive models which extend from the H+ region through the Bar and include the magnetic field in the equation of state. We adopt the model parameters from our previous paper which successfully reproduced a wide variety of spectral observations across the Bar. In this model the local cosmic-ray density is enhanced above the galactic background, as is the magnetic field, and which increases the cosmic-ray heating elevating the temperature in the molecular region. The pressure is further enhanced above the gas pressure in the H+ region by the momentum transferred from the absorbed starlight. Here we investigate whether the observed H2 lines can be reproduced with standard assumptions concerning the grain photoelectric emission. We also explore the effects due to the inclusion of recently computed H2 + H2, H2 + H and H2 + He collisional rate coefficients.
Abel Nicholas Paul
Baldwin John A.
Ferland Gary J.
Henney William J.
Pellegrini Eric W.
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