The FUSE Survey of Molecular Hydrogen in Translucent Interstellar Clouds

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We present preliminary results from the first survey of molecular hydrogen in translucent clouds undertaken with FUSE. Sixteen lines of sight toward early-type stars have been observed, covering a wide range of extinction properties (AV ~ 1--5; RV ~ 2--4). Through profile fitting of the heavily damped low-J lines, and curve-of-growth analysis of the high-J lines, we have determined rotational populations for J = 0 through J = 5, and sometimes as high as J = 7. The total H2 column densities, dominated by J = 0 and J = 1, lie within the range ~3--15 x 1020 cm-2. The amount of high-J excitation varies considerably from one line of sight to another, reflecting the wide range of UV radiation fields and cloud densities. The ratio N(J=1)/N(J=0) gives kinetic temperatures generally in the range T kin = 50--70 K, similar to the smallest values found for diffuse clouds. We derive hydrogen molecular fractions of ~0.1--0.7, again similar to those found for diffuse clouds with N(H2) ≳ 1020 cm-2. This work is based on data obtained for the Guaranteed Time Team by the NASA-CNES-CSA FUSE mission operated by the Johns Hopkins University. Financial support to U.S. participants has been provided by NASA contract NAS5-32985.

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