Photon-Dominated Chemistry in the Nucleus of M82: Widespread HOC+ emission in the inner 650 pc disk

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

4 pages, 2 figs

Scientific paper

10.1086/427990

The nucleus of M82 has been mapped in several 3mm and 1mm lines of CN, HCN, C2H, c-C3H2, CH3C2H, HC3N and HOC+ using the IRAM 30m telescope. These species have been purposely selected as good tracers of photon-dominated chemistry. We have measured [CN]/[HCN] ~ 5 in the inner 650 pc galaxy disk. Furthermore, we have detected the HOC+ 1--0 line with an intensity similar to that of the H13CO+ 1--0 line. This implies a [HCO+]/[HOC+] ratio of ~40. These results corroborate the existence of a giant photo-dissociation region (PDR) in the nucleus of M82. In fact, the low [HCO+]/[HOC+] ratio can only be explained if the nucleus of M82 is formed by small (r<0.02-0.2 pc) and dense (n ~ a few 10^4--10^5 cm^{-3}) clouds immersed in an intense UV field (G_0 ~ 10^4 in units of the Habing field). The detection of the hydrocarbons c-C3H2 and CH3C2H in the nucleus of M82 suggests that a complex carbon chemistry is developing in this giant PDR.

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

Photon-Dominated Chemistry in the Nucleus of M82: Widespread HOC+ emission in the inner 650 pc disk 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 Photon-Dominated Chemistry in the Nucleus of M82: Widespread HOC+ emission in the inner 650 pc disk, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photon-Dominated Chemistry in the Nucleus of M82: Widespread HOC+ emission in the inner 650 pc disk will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-91972

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