Measurements were carried out on the CO J = 3-2 emission line at 345 GHz from a number of translucent and high-latitude molecular clouds, as well as on the J = 2-1 and J = 1-0 lines of both the (C... Show moreMeasurements were carried out on the CO J = 3-2 emission line at 345 GHz from a number of translucent and high-latitude molecular clouds, as well as on the J = 2-1 and J = 1-0 lines of both the (C-12)O and (C-13)O. It is shown that the physical conditions in the high-latitude clouds are very similar to those in the translucent clouds. The densities derived from measured (C-12)O 1-0/3-2 ratios were often found to be higher than those based on the C2 excitation, while densities derived from measured 3-2/(C-13)O 1-0 ratios were similar to those based on C2. Show less
Interstellar absorption-line spectroscopy of NGC 2264 is reported which shows that the CO molecule has a column density of 5 x 10 to the 18th/sq cm and a rotational excitation temperature of 28 K.... Show moreInterstellar absorption-line spectroscopy of NGC 2264 is reported which shows that the CO molecule has a column density of 5 x 10 to the 18th/sq cm and a rotational excitation temperature of 28 K. A direct upper limit on the H2 column density implies that at least 6 percent of a solar carbon abundance is in the form of CO. The upper limit on the H3(+) abundance implies that the cosmic-ray ionization rate is of the order of 10 to the -16th/s or less. The H3(+) upper limit, together with a previous radio detection of H2D(+) emission, implies either an enormous overabundance of the deuterated molecule or else that most of the radio emission comes from clouds not located directly between use and the infrared source. Observations of the sources AFGL 2591 and NGC 2024 IRS2 indicate that upper limits on H3(+) imply cosmic ray ionization rates of less than 3 and 60 x 10 to the -17th/s, respectively. Show less
Emission and absorption lines of H2 and CO in nuclei of several galaxies with strong NIR emission, including Centaurus A (NGC 5128), were studied at the La Silla observatory to obtain constraints... Show moreEmission and absorption lines of H2 and CO in nuclei of several galaxies with strong NIR emission, including Centaurus A (NGC 5128), were studied at the La Silla observatory to obtain constraints on the physical parameters of molecular material close to the nucleus of the NGC 5128 galaxy. Results show that, besides the (C-12)O, and (C-13)O emission and absorption lines toward the nucleus of NGC 5128, an unresolved source of excited H2 emission (of a size smaller than 95 pc) exists that appears to be collisionally excited. The new observations, combined with literature data, suggest that the nucleus of Cen A is surrounded by a disk of mass 2 x 10 to the 7th solar masses. It is shown that a circumnuclear disk with the outer edge at r - 160 pc, a thickness of 80 pc, a cavity with a radius of 40 pc, and a density distribution of about 1/sq r is consistent with all existing observations. Show less
The CS J = 2-1 emission line at 98 GHz has been searched for in 10 diffuse molecular clouds. CS column densities are derived by performing statistical equilibrium calculations for the rotational... Show moreThe CS J = 2-1 emission line at 98 GHz has been searched for in 10 diffuse molecular clouds. CS column densities are derived by performing statistical equilibrium calculations for the rotational population distribution which includes collisional excitation by electrons as well as by neutral species. Because CS has a large dipole moment, the electron collisions completely dominate the CS excitation in diffuse clouds, where the electron fraction is high. This result suggests that, in general, molecules with large dipole moments may be relatively more detectable by millimeter emission in diffuse clouds than in dense clouds. A detailed model of the gas-phase sulfur chemistry in diffuse clouds is developed to interpret the observations. Show less
Optical absorption-line techniques have been applied to the study of a number of translucent molecular clouds in which the total column densities are large enough that substantial molecular... Show moreOptical absorption-line techniques have been applied to the study of a number of translucent molecular clouds in which the total column densities are large enough that substantial molecular abundances can be maintained. Results are presented for a survey of absorption lines of interstellar C2, CH, and CN. Detections of CN through the A 2Pi-X 2Sigma(+) (1,O) and (2,O) bands of the red system are reported and compared with observations of the violet system for one line of sight. The population distributions in C2 provide diagnostic information on temperature and density. The measured column densities of the three species can be used to test details of the theory of molecule formation in clouds where photoprocesses still play a significant role. The C2 and CH column densities are strongly correlated with each other and probably also with the H2 column density. In contrast, the CN column densities are found to vary greatly from cloud to cloud. The observations are discussed with reference to detailed theoretical models. Show less
Recent high-resolution observations of interstellar absorption lines of CH and CN toward Zeta Oph obtained by Crane et al. (1986), and Palazzi et al. (1988), exhibit line widths that suggest... Show moreRecent high-resolution observations of interstellar absorption lines of CH and CN toward Zeta Oph obtained by Crane et al. (1986), and Palazzi et al. (1988), exhibit line widths that suggest thermal line broadening at high temperature, T about 1200 K. Observations of CO line emission at 2.6 mm toward Zeta Oph (Langer et al.,1987) indicate that the molecular gas resides in four distinct velocity components that span less than 3 km/s in Doppler velocity. Simulated CH and CN absorption line profiles are compared for high-temperature (T = 1200 K) thermal broadening and for a combination of low-temperature (T = 50 K) thermal plus turbulent broadening. It is shown that the two broadening models reproduce existing observations comparably well and are virtually indistinguishable at a lambda/Delta-lambda ratio of about 100,000. The observed differences in the CH and CN line widths may reflect slightly different distributions of those molecules along the line of sight. The simulations use very recent, improved laboratory spectroscopic data on CH (Bernath). Some related consequences of such unresolved velocity structure on the ultraviolet absorption lines of CO are examined. Indirect diagnostics of temperature in the Zeta Oph cloud favor low-temperature thermal plus turbulent broadening, and the implied rate of dissipation of turbulence is in harmony with estimates of the global input of mechanical energy into to interstellar medium. Show less
The effects of the presence of a substantial component of large molecules on the chemistry of diffuse molecular clouds are explored, and detailed models of the zeta Persei and zeta Ophiuchi clouds... Show moreThe effects of the presence of a substantial component of large molecules on the chemistry of diffuse molecular clouds are explored, and detailed models of the zeta Persei and zeta Ophiuchi clouds are constructed. The major consequence is a reduction in the abundances of singly charged atomic species. The long-standing discrepancy between cloud densities inferred from rotational and fine-structure level populations and from the ionization balance can be resolved by postulating a fractional abundance of large molecules of 1 x 10 to the -7th for zeta Persei and 6 x 10 to the -7th for zeta Ophiuchi. If the large molecules are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) containing about 50 carbon atoms, they contain 1 percent of the carbon in zeta Persei and 7 percent in zeta Ophiuchi. Other consequences of the possible presence of PAH molecules are discussed. Show less
The limitations of steady state models of interstellar clouds are explored by means of comparison with observational data corresponding to clouds in front of Zeta Per, Zeta Oph, Chi Oph, and... Show moreThe limitations of steady state models of interstellar clouds are explored by means of comparison with observational data corresponding to clouds in front of Zeta Per, Zeta Oph, Chi Oph, and Omicron Per. The improved cloud models were constructed to reproduce the observed H and H2(J) column densities for several lines of sight. The main difference from previous models is the treatment of self-shielding in the H2 lines. Other improvements over previous models are discussed as well. Show less
Observations of C2 in the (3,O) band around 7720 A toward Zeta Ophiuchi are presented and used to provide additional support for the suggestion of a low temperature in the center of the principal... Show moreObservations of C2 in the (3,O) band around 7720 A toward Zeta Ophiuchi are presented and used to provide additional support for the suggestion of a low temperature in the center of the principal cloud toward that star. Twelve absorption features belonging to the P, Q, and R branches and originating from levels up to J-double prime = 10 can be identified. Measured equivalent widths and the column densities obtained from them by assuming a linear relationship are presented. The column densities in the various rotational levels generally agree well with those found from observations of C2 in the (2,0) Phillips band around 8750 A. The observed C2 rotational distribution implies a low kinetic temperature of roughly 30 K and a relatively low but uncertain density of roughly 200/cm in the center of the cloud. Show less
Interstellar absorption lines of the C2 (2-0) Phillips band at 8750 A have been searched for in the spectra of southern stars. Seventeen lines originating from the lowest eight rotational levels... Show moreInterstellar absorption lines of the C2 (2-0) Phillips band at 8750 A have been searched for in the spectra of southern stars. Seventeen lines originating from the lowest eight rotational levels have been detected toward Chi Oph, and eleven lines originating from the lowest five rotational levels toward HD 154368 and 147889. No C2 lines were seen toward HD 149404. A recently developed theory has been used to extract information about the density, temperature or strength of the radiation field in the line-forming interstellar regions from the observed rotational populations. The results are compared with those obtained from other molecular observations. Toward Chi Oph, the interstellar radiation field appears enhanced in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum relative to the infrared part. The C2 data suggest a higher kinetic temperature for the material in front of HD 147889 than is inferred from radio observations. Show less
