COBE/DIRBE Survey of Molecular Gas at High Galactic Latitude

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

2

Scientific paper

We use observations by the COBE(1) Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) to determine the amount and distribution of molecular gas at high galactic latitude. Previous estimates based on surveys of H_2 absorption lines were limited by the number of hot stars; surveys of extinction of background starlight were limited by nonuniformity of the background and sensitivity. Infrared surface brightness can be used as a tracer of the total column density of interstellar material. This technique was previously employed with the IRAS 100 microns and Hat Creek 21-cm line surveys. Followup observations failed to reveal CO emission from the inferred molecular clouds, leading to the suspicion that the infrared excess was not accurately tracing molecular gas, tracing instead dust temperature variations. We used the DIRBE observations at 100, 140, and 240 microns to determine the dust temperature and column density throughout the sky with a 0.7(deg) beam. The column density was then compared to the Hat Creek, Bell Labs, and other 21-cm line surveys in order to determine the dust-to-atomic gas abundance ratio. The excess dust abundance with respect to a spatially averaged map of the dust-to-gas ratio was identified as molecular gas. We present maps of the inferred molecular gas distribution, and compare to recent surveys of the extent of molecular gas at high galactic latitude. (1) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC) is responsible for the design, development, and operation of the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE). Scientific guidance is provided by the COBE Science Working Group. The COBE program is supported by the Astrophysics Division of NASA's Office of Space Science.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

COBE/DIRBE Survey of Molecular Gas at High Galactic Latitude 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 COBE/DIRBE Survey of Molecular Gas at High Galactic Latitude, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and COBE/DIRBE Survey of Molecular Gas at High Galactic Latitude will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1321228

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.