Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007aas...21113920j&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #211, #139.20; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 39, p.988
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
The Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) has allowed precise determinations of the column densities of molecular hydrogen (H2) in Galactic lines of sight with a wide range of pathlengths and extinction properties. However, these studies have been mostly restricted to the low-J states where most molecular hydrogen is found. This paper presents column densities for the molecular hydrogen in states of greater rotational excitation (J >= 2). Most of the lines of sight in this study are part of "translucent cloud" surveys with FUSE and do not show clear evidence of states that are more excited than J=5; however, we detect up to J=9 in a few lines of sight that are not considered to be translucent. We compare the apparent b-values and velocity offsets of the higher-J states relative to the dominant low-J states. We also derive temperatures based on the column densities of the different states. However, populating the higher-J states is a complex process that is determined not only by the temperature but also the local density and radiation field. We briefly discuss interpretations of the column densities and the future work that will be required for improved understanding.
Jensen Adam G.
Snow Theodore P.
Sonneborn George
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