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arXiv · 1104.1124

Ammonia (J,K) = (1,1) to (4,4) and (6,6) inversion lines detected in the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068

Y. Ao·C. Henkel·J. A. Braatz·A. Weiss·K. M. Menten·S. Muehle
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Abstract

We present the detection of the ammonia (NH3) (J,K) = (1,1) to (4,4) and (6,6) inversion lines toward the prototypical Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068, made with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). This is the first detection of ammonia in a Seyfert galaxy. The ortho-to-para-NH3 abundance ratio suggests that the molecule was formed in a warm medium of at least 20 K. For the NH3 column density and fractional abundance, we find (1.09\pm0.23)\times10^14 cm^-2 and (2.9\pm0.6)\times10^-8, respectively, from the inner 1.2 kpc of NGC 1068. The kinetic temperature can be constrained to 80\pm20 K for the bulk of the molecular gas, while some fraction has an even higher temperature of 140\pm30 K.

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Y. Ao, C. Henkel, J. A. Braatz, A. Weiss, K. M. Menten, S. Muehle. 2011-04-06. Ammonia (J,K) = (1,1) to (4,4) and (6,6) inversion lines detected in the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201116595

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