arXiv subjects

Daniel E. Welty

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel E. Welty.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The future of high-resolution UV spectroscopy: Science with a UV Échelle spectrograph on the Habitable Worlds Observatory, or a dedicated mission

High-resolution UV spectroscopy serves a diversity of science cases, from small bodies to planets, stars, and galaxies, but is currently limited to the Hubble Space Telescope and bright targets. Major advances require increasing sensitivity by at least one order of magnitude. Here we present the UV science cases for PEGASUS (Planets, Earths, Galaxies, And Stars UV Spectrograph), a UV Échelle high-resolution spectrograph concept, with $R = λ/δλ\sim 100\,000$ (full range 10 000-140 000) and covering 90--400 nm, with a foreseen extension to at least 800 nm. PEGASUS is ideally suited for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), enabling transformative science across the UV/optical wavelength ranges. PEGASUS will be unique in high sensitivity (effective area) and high spectral resolution -- an uncharted territory -- as well as robustness, thanks to the simplicity of its design. Its UV science cases include: I) Formation and evolution of planets and their habitability: properties of exoplanets and atmospheres, protoplanetary disks, Solar System bodies; II) Stellar lives and deaths at their extremes: the first stars and the origin of the elements, compact and massive stars, Supernovae; III) Gas and metals in the baryon cycle of galaxies: the interstellar, circumgalactic, and intergalactic medium and their roles in galaxy growth. These are essential for the Astro Decadal 2020 Survey, Voyage 2050, and HWO. While this paper focuses on high-impact science enabled by UV high-resolution spectroscopy, PEGASUS will extend into the optical regime and lower spectral resolution, making it a multi-purpose, widely used, workhorse spectrograph for HWO.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2026

A Definitive Determination of the Interstellar Carbon Abundance toward rho Ophiuchi A and B

We present the results of an effort to derive interstellar gas-phase C II abundances along the lines of sight toward rho Oph A and B. Our analysis is based on high-resolution NUV and FUV archival spectra acquired with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. Column densities of C II are derived both from fits to the weak C II] 2325 intersystem transition and from fits to the damping wings of the strong C II 1334 line. We find that the results from the weak-line and strong-line determinations agree with each other remarkably well for both sight lines, demonstrating the reliability of the f-values of the C II transitions. Furthermore, the gas-phase C abundance that we obtain for rho Oph A is in very good agreement with previous determinations of interstellar C abundances from measurements of the weak C II] 2325 line. By demonstrating the reliability of the damping wing fitting technique for the C II 1334 line, our analysis opens the door to future surveys of interstellar C abundances using the same methodology.

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arXiv2025

The UV Legacy Library of Young Stars as Essential Standards (ULLYSES) Large Director's Discretionary Program with Hubble. I. Goals, Design, and Initial Results

Specifically selected to leverage the unique ultraviolet capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope, the Hubble Ultraviolet Legacy Library of Young Stars as Essential Standards (ULLYSES) is a Director's Discretionary program of approximately 1000 orbits - the largest ever executed - that produced a UV spectroscopic library of O and B stars in nearby low metallicity galaxies and accreting low mass stars in the Milky Way. Observations from ULLYSES combined with archival spectra uniformly sample the fundamental astrophysical parameter space for each mass regime, including spectral type, luminosity class, and metallicity for massive stars, and the mass, age, and disk accretion rate for low-mass stars. The ULLYSES spectral library of massive stars will be critical to characterize how massive stars evolve at different metallicities; to advance our understanding of the production of ionizing photons, and thus of galaxy evolution and the re-ionization of the Universe; and to provide the templates necessary for the synthesis of integrated stellar populations. The massive star spectra are also transforming our understanding of the interstellar and circumgalactic media of low metallicity galaxies. On the low-mass end, UV spectra of T Tauri stars contain a plethora of diagnostics of accretion, winds, and the warm disk surface. These diagnostics are crucial for evaluating disk evolution and provide important input to assess atmospheric escape of planets and to interpret powerful probes of disk chemistry, as observed with ALMA and JWST. In this paper we motivate the design of the program, describe the observing strategy and target selection, and present initial results.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

The densities in diffuse and translucent molecular clouds: estimates from observations of C$_2$ and from 3-dimensional extinction maps

Newly-computed collisional rate coefficients for the excitation of C$_2$ in collisions with H$_2$, presented recently by Najar and Kalugina (2020), are significantly larger than the values adopted previously in models for the excitation of the C$_2$ molecule, a widely used probe of the interstellar gas density. With these new rate coefficients, we have modeled the C$_2$ rotational distributions inferred from visible and ultraviolet absorption observations of electronic transitions of C$_2$ towards a collection of 46 nearby background sources. The inferred gas densities in the foreground interstellar clouds responsible for the observed C$_2$ absorption are a factor 4 to 7 smaller than those inferred previously, a direct reflection of the larger collisional rate coefficients computed by Najar and Kalugina (2020). These lower density estimates are generally in good agreement with the peak densities inferred from 3D extinction maps for the relevant sightlines. In cases where H$_3^+$ absorption has also been observed and used to estimate the cosmic-ray ionization rate (CRIR), our estimates of the latter will also decrease accordingly because the H$_3^+$ abundance is a function of the ratio of the CRIR to the gas density.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

HD 62542: Probing the Bare, Dense Core of a Translucent Interstellar Cloud

We discuss the interstellar absorption from many atomic and molecular species seen in high-resolution $HST$/STIS UV and high-S/N optical spectra of the moderately reddened B3-5~V star HD~62542. This remarkable sight line exhibits both very steep far-UV extinction and a high fraction of hydrogen in molecular form -- with strong absorption from CH, C$_2$, CN, and CO, but weak absorption from CH$^+$ and most of the commonly observed diffuse interstellar bands. Most of the material resides in a single narrow velocity component -- offering a rare opportunity to probe the primarily molecular core of a single interstellar cloud with little associated diffuse atomic gas. Detailed analyses of the spectra indicate that: (1) the molecular fraction in the main cloud is high [$f$(H$_2$) $>$ 0.8]; (2) the gas is fairly cold ($T_{\rm k}$ = 40--43 K, from the rotational excitation of H$_2$ and C$_2$); (3) the local hydrogen density $n_{\rm H}$ $\sim$ 1500 cm$^{-3}$ (from the C$_2$ excitation, the fine-structure excitation of C$^0$, and simple chemical models); (4) the unusually high excitation temperatures for $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO may be largely due to radiative excitation; (5) $N$(C$^+$):$N$(CO):$N$(C) $\sim$ 100:10:1; (6) the depletions of many elements are more severe than those seen in any other sight line, and the detailed pattern of depletions differs from those derived from larger samples of Galactic sight lines; and (7) the various neutral/first ion ratios do not yield consistent estimates for the electron density, even when the effects of grain-assisted recombination and low-temperaure dielectronic recombination are considered.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

The Apache Point Observatory Catalog of Optical Diffuse Interstellar Bands

Aiming for a new and more comprehensive DIB catalog between 4,000 and 9,000Å, we revisited the Atlas Catalog based on the observations of HD 183143 and HD 204827 (Hobbs et al. 2008 and 2009). Twenty-five medium-to-highly reddened sight lines were selected, sampling a variety of spectral types of the background star and the interstellar environments. The median SNR of these spectra is ~ 1,300 around 6,400Å. Compared to the Atlas Catalog, 22 new DIBs were found, and the boundaries of 27 (sets) of DIBs were adjusted, resulting in an updated catalog containing 559 DIBs that we refer to as the Apache Point Observatory Catalog of Optical Diffuse Interstellar Bands. Measurements were then made based on this catalog. We found our survey most sensitive between 5,500 and 7,000Å due largely to the local SNR of the spectra, the relative absence of interfering stellar lines, and the weakness of telluric residuals. For our data sample, the number of DIBs detected in a given sight line is mostly dependent on EB-V and less on the spectral type of the background star. Some dependence on fH2 is observed, but less well-determined due to the limited size of the data sample. The variations of the wavelengths of each DIB in different sight lines are generally larger than those of the known interstellar lines CH+, CH, and K I. Those variations could be due to the inherent error in the measurement, or to differences in the velocity components among sight lines.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

The Behavior of Selected Diffuse Interstellar Bands with Molecular Fraction in Diffuse Atomic and Molecular Clouds

We study the behavior of eight diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) in different interstellar environments, as characterized by the fraction of hydrogen in molecular form [$f$(H$_2$)], with comparisons to the corresponding behavior of various known atomic and molecular species. The equivalent widths of the five "normal" DIBs ($λλ$5780.5, 5797.1, 6196.0, 6283.8, and 6613.6), normalized to $E(B-V)$, show a "Lambda-shaped" behavior: they increase at low $f$(H$_2$), peak at $f$(H$_2$) ~ 0.3, and then decrease. The similarly normalized column densities of Ca, Ca$^+$, Ti$^+$, and CH$^+$ also decline for $f$(H$_2$) > 0.3. In contrast, the normalized column densities of Na, K, CH, CN, and CO increase monotonically with $f$(H$_2$), and the trends exhibited by the three C$_2$ DIBs ($λλ$4726.8, 4963.9, and 4984.8) lie between those two general behaviors. These trends with $f$(H$_2$) are accompanied by cosmic scatter, the dispersion at any given $f$(H$_2$) being significantly larger than the individual errors of measurement. The Lambda-shaped trends suggest the balance between creation and destruction of the DIB carriers differs dramatically between diffuse atomic and diffuse molecular clouds; additional processes besides ionization and shielding are needed to explain those observed trends. Except for several special cases, the highest $W$(5780)/$W$(5797) ratios, characterizing the so-called "sigma-zeta effect", occur only at $f$(H$_2$) < 0.2. We propose a sequence of DIBs based on trends in their pair-wise strength ratios with increasing $f$(H$_2$). In order of increasing environmental density, we find the $λ$6283.8 and $λ$5780.5 DIBs, the $λ$6196.0 DIB, the $λ$6613.6 DIB, the $λ$5797.1 DIB, and the C$_2$ DIBs.

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arXiv2016

Probing the Interstellar Dust in Galaxies over > 10 Gyr of Cosmic History

This article is based on an invited talk given by V. P. Kulkarni at the 8th Cosmic Dust meeting. Dust has a profound effect on the physics and chemistry of the interstellar gas in galaxies and on the appearance of galaxies. Understanding the cosmic evolution of dust with time is therefore crucial for understanding the evolution of galaxies. Despite the importance of interstellar dust, very little is known about its nature and composition in distant galaxies. We summarize the results of our ongoing programs using observations of distant quasars to obtain better constraints on dust grains in foreground galaxies that happen to lie along the quasar sightlines. These observations consist of a combination of mid-infrared data obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope and optical/UV data obtained with ground-based telescopes and/or the Hubble Space Telescope. The mid-IR data target the 10 $μ$m and 18 $μ$m silicate absorption features, while the optical/UV data allow determinations of element depletions, extinction curves, 2175 Å bumps, etc. Measurements of such properties in absorption-selected galaxies with redshifts ranging from $z\sim0$ to $z>2$ provide constraints on the evolution of interstellar dust over the past $> 10$ Gyr. The optical depth of the 10 $μ$m silicate absorption feature ($τ_{10}$) in these galaxies is correlated with the amount of reddening along the sightline. But there are indications [e.g., based on the $τ_{10}$ /$E(B-V)$ ratio and possible grain crystallinity] that the dust in these distant galaxies differs in structure and composition from the dust in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. We briefly discuss the implications of these results for the evolution of galaxies and their star formation history.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

Thermal Pressures in the Interstellar Medium of the Magellanic Clouds

We discuss the thermal pressures ($n_H T$) in predominantly cold, neutral interstellar gas in the Magellanic Clouds, derived from analyses of the fine-structure excitation of neutral carbon, as seen in high-resolution HST/STIS spectra of seven diverse sight lines in the LMC and SMC. Detailed fits to the line profiles of the absorption from C I, C I*, and C I** yield consistent column densities for the 3--6 C I multiplets detected in each sight line. In the LMC and SMC, $N$(C I$_{\rm tot}$) is consistent with Galactic trends versus $N$(Na I) and $N$(CH), but is slightly lower versus $N$(K I) and $N$(H$_2$). As for $N$(Na I) and $N$(K I), $N$(C I$_{\rm tot}$) is generally significantly lower, for a given $N$(H$_{\rm tot}$), in the LMC and (especially) in the SMC, compared to the local Galactic relationship. For the LMC and SMC components with well determined column densities for C I, C I*, and C I**, the derived thermal pressures are typically factors of a few higher than the values found for most cold, neutral clouds in the Galactic ISM. Such differences are consistent with the predictions of models for clouds in systems (like the LMC and SMC) that are characterized by lower metallicities, lower dust-to-gas ratios, and enhanced radiation fields -- where higher pressures are required for stable cold, neutral clouds. The pressures may be further enhanced by energetic activity (e.g., due to stellar winds, star formation, and/or supernova remnants) in several of the regions probed by these sight lines. Comparisons are made with the C I observed in some quasar absorption-line systems.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2015

Early-type stars observed in the ESO UVES Paranal Observatory Project - V. Time-variable interstellar absorption

The structure and properties of the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) on small scales, sub-au to 1 pc, are poorly understood. We compare interstellar absorption-lines, observed towards a selection of O- and B-type stars at two or more epochs, to search for variations over time caused by the transverse motion of each star combined with changes in the structure in the foreground ISM. Two sets of data were used: 83 VLT- UVES spectra with approximately 6 yr between epochs and 21 McDonald observatory 2.7m telescope echelle spectra with 6 - 20 yr between epochs, over a range of scales from 0 - 360 au. The interstellar absorption-lines observed at the two epochs were subtracted and searched for any residuals due to changes in the foreground ISM. Of the 104 sightlines investigated with typically five or more components in Na I D, possible temporal variation was identified in five UVES spectra (six components), in Ca II, Ca I and/or Na I absorption-lines. The variations detected range from 7\% to a factor of 3.6 in column density. No variation was found in any other interstellar species. Most sightlines show no variation, with 3σ upper limits to changes of the order 0.1 - 0.3 dex in Ca II and Na I. These variations observed imply that fine-scale structure is present in the ISM, but at the resolution available in this study, is not very common at visible wavelengths. A determination of the electron densities and lower limits to the total number density of a sample of the sightlines implies that there is no striking difference between these parameters in sightlines with, and sightlines without, varying components.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2014

Diffuse Atomic and Molecular Gas in the Interstellar Medium of M82 toward SN 2014J

We present a comprehensive analysis of interstellar absorption lines seen in moderately-high resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra of SN 2014J in M82. Our observations were acquired over the course of six nights, covering the period from ~6 days before to ~30 days after the supernova reached its maximum B-band brightness. We examine complex absorption from Na I, Ca II, K I, Ca I, CH+, CH, and CN, arising primarily from diffuse gas in the interstellar medium (ISM) of M82. We detect Li I absorption over a range in velocity consistent with that exhibited by the strongest Na I and K I components associated with M82; this is the first detection of interstellar Li in a galaxy outside of the Local Group. There are no significant temporal variations in the absorption-line profiles over the 37 days sampled by our observations. The relative abundances of the various interstellar species detected reveal that the ISM of M82 probed by SN 2014J consists of a mixture of diffuse atomic and molecular clouds characterized by a wide range of physical/environmental conditions. Decreasing N(Na I)/N(Ca II) ratios and increasing N(Ca I)/N(K I) ratios with increasing velocity are indicative of reduced depletion in the higher-velocity material. Significant component-to-component scatter in the N(Na I)/N(Ca II) and N(Ca I)/N(Ca II) ratios may be due to variations in the local ionization conditions. An apparent anti-correlation between the N(CH+)/N(CH) and N(Ca I)/N(Ca II) ratios can be understood in terms of an opposite dependence on gas density and radiation field strength, while the overall high CH+ abundance may be indicative of enhanced turbulence in the ISM of M82. The Li abundance also seems to be enhanced in M82, which supports the conclusions of recent gamma-ray emission studies that the cosmic-ray acceleration processes are greatly enhanced in this starburst galaxy.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2014

Anomalous Diffuse Interstellar Bands in the Spectrum of Herschel 36. II. Analysis of Radiatively Excited CH+, CH, and DIBs

Absorption spectra toward Herschel 36 for the A^1Pi <-- X^1Sigma transitions of CH+ in the J=1 excited rotational level and the A^2Delta <-- X^2Pi transition of CH in the J=3/2 excited fine structure level have been analyzed. These excited levels are above their ground levels by 40.1 K and ~25.7 K and indicate high radiative temperatures of the environment, 14.6 K and 6.7 K, respectively. The effect of the high radiative temperature is more spectacular in some diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) observed toward Her 36; remarkable extended tails toward red (ETR) were observed. We interpret these ETRs as due to a small decrease of rotational constants upon excitation of excited electronic states. Along with radiative pumping of a great many high-J rotational levels, this causes the ETRs. In order to study this effect quantitatively, we have developed a model calculation in which the effects of collision and radiation are treated simultaneously. The simplest case of linear molecules is considered. It has been found that the ETR is reproduced if the fraction of the variation of the rotational constant, beta = (B'-B)/B, is sufficiently high (3-5%) and the radiative temperature is high (T_r > 50 K). Although modeling for general molecules is beyond the scope of this paper, the results indicate that the prototypical DIBs at 5780.5, 5797.1, and 6613.6 A which show the pronounced ETRs are due to polar molecules sensitive to the radiative excitation. The requirement of high beta favors relatively small molecules with 3-6 heavy atoms. DIBs at 5849.8, 6196.0, and 6379.3 A which do not show the pronounced ETRs are likely due to non-polar molecules or large polar molecules with small beta.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2014

Diffuse Interstellar Bands vs. Known Atomic and Molecular Species in the Interstellar Medium of M82 toward SN 2014J

We discuss the absorption due to various constituents of the interstellar medium of M82 seen in moderately high resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra of SN 2014J. Complex absorption from M82 is seen, at velocities 45 $\le$ $v_{\rm LSR}$ $\le$ 260 km s$^{-1}$, for Na I, K I, Ca I, Ca II, CH, CH$^+$, and CN; many of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) are also detected. Comparisons of the column densities of the atomic and molecular species and the equivalent widths of the DIBs reveal both similarities and differences in relative abundances, compared to trends seen in the ISM of our Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds. Of the ten relatively strong DIBs considered here, six (including $λ$5780.5) have strengths within $\pm$20% of the mean values seen in the local Galactic ISM, for comparable N(K I); two are weaker by 20--45% and two (including $λ$5797.1) are stronger by 25--40%. Weaker than "expected" DIBs [relative to N(K I), N(Na I), and E(B-V)] in some Galactic sight lines and toward several other extragalactic supernovae appear to be associated with strong CN absorption and/or significant molecular fractions. While the N(CH)/N(K I) and N(CN)/N(CH) ratios seen toward SN 2014J are similar to those found in the local Galactic ISM, the combination of high N(CH$^+$)/N(CH) and high W(5797.1)/W(5780.5) ratios has not been seen elsewhere. The centroids of many of the M82 DIBs are shifted, relative to the envelope of the K I profile -- likely due to component-to-component variations in W(DIB)/N(K I) that may reflect the molecular content of the individual components. We compare estimates for the host galaxy reddening E(B-V) and visual extinction A$_{\rm V}$ derived from the various interstellar species with the values estimated from optical and near-IR photometry of SN 2014J.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2014

Probing Interstellar Silicate Dust Grain Properties in Quasar Absorption Systems at Redshifts z<1.4

Absorption lines in the spectra of distant quasars whose sightlines pass through foreground galaxies provide a valuable tool to probe the dust and gas compositions of the interstellar medium (ISM) in galaxies. The first evidence of silicate dust in a quasar absorption system (QAS) was provided through our detection of the 10 micron silicate feature in the z=0.52 absorber toward the quasar AO 0235+164. We present results from 2 follow-up programs using archival Spitzer Space Telescope infrared spectra to study the interstellar silicate dust grain properties in a total of 13 QASs at 0.1<z<1.4. We find clear detections of the 10 micron silicate feature in the QASs studied. We also detect the 18 micron silicate feature in the sources with adequate spectral coverage. We find variations in the breadth, peak wavelength, and substructure of the 10 micron interstellar silicate absorption features among the absorbers. This suggests that the silicate dust grain properties in these distant galaxies may differ relative to one another, and relative to those in the Milky Way. We also find suggestions in several sources, based on comparisons with laboratory-derived profiles from the literature, that the silicate dust grains may be significantly more crystalline than those in the amorphous Milky Way ISM. This is particularly evident in the z=0.89 absorber toward the quasar PKS 1830-211, where substructure near 10 micron is consistent with a crystalline olivine composition. If confirmed, these grain property variations may have implications for both dust and galaxy evolution over the past 9 Gyrs, and for the commonly-made assumption that high-redshift dust is similar to local dust. We also discuss indications of trends between silicate dust absorption strength and both carbonaceous dust properties and gas-phase metal properties, such as the gas velocity spread, determined from UV/optical spectra.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Diffuse Interstellar Bands: How Are They Related to Known Gas-Phase Constituents of the ISM?

In this brief review of recent work relating the DIBs to other gas-phase constituents of the ISM, we explore correlations between DIB equivalent widths and the column densities of various atomic and molecular species, drawn from a large database constructed for that purpose. The tightness and slopes of the correlations can provide information on how the DIBs might be related to those species (physically, chemically, spatially) and on various properties of the DIB carriers. Deviations from the mean relationships can reveal dependences of DIB strengths on other parameters, regional variations in DIB behavior, and individual sight lines where unusual environmental conditions affect the DIBs. Variations in DIB profiles (e.g., wings, substructure) and relative strengths may be related to differences in physical conditions inferred from atomic and/or molecular absorption lines.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Anomalous Diffuse Interstellar Bands in the Spectrum of Herschel 36. I. Observations of Rotationally Excited CH and CH+ Absorption and Strong, Extended Redward Wings on Several DIBs

Anomalously broad diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) at 5780.5, 5797.1, 6196.0, and 6613.6 A are found in absorption along the line of sight to Herschel 36, the star illuminating the bright Hourglass region of the H II region Messier 8. Interstellar absorption from excited CH+ in the J=1 level and from excited CH in the J=3/2 level is also seen. To our knowledge, neither those excited molecular lines nor such strongly extended DIBs have previously been seen in absorption from interstellar gas. These unusual features appear to arise in a small region near Herschel 36 which contains most of the neutral interstellar material in the sight line. The CH+ and CH in that region are radiatively excited by strong far-IR radiation from the adjacent infrared source Her 36 SE. Similarly, the broadening of the DIBs toward Herschel 36 may be due to radiative pumping of closely spaced high-J rotational levels of relatively small, polar carrier molecules. If this picture of excited rotational states for the DIB carriers is correct and applicable to most DIBs, the 2.7 degree cosmic microwave background may set the minimum widths (about 0.35 A) of known DIBs, with molecular processes and/or local radiation fields producing the larger widths found for the broader DIBs. Despite the intense local UV radiation field within the cluster NGC 6530, no previously undetected DIBs stronger than 10 mA in equivalent width are found in the optical spectrum of Herschel 36, suggesting that neither dissociation nor ionization of the carriers of the known DIBs by this intense field creates new carriers with easily detectable DIB-like features. Possibly related profile anomalies for several other DIBs are noted.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

Detection of Interstellar C_2 and C_3 in the Small Magellanic Cloud

We report the detection of absorption from interstellar C_2 and C_3 toward the moderately reddened star Sk 143, located in the near 'wing' region of the SMC, in optical spectra obtained with the ESO VLT/UVES. These detections of C_2 (rotational levels J=0-8) and C_3 (J=0-12) absorption in the SMC are the first beyond our Galaxy. The total abundances of C_2 and C_3 (relative to H_2) are similar to those found in diffuse Galactic molecular clouds -- as previously found for CH and CN -- despite the significantly lower average metallicity of the SMC. Analysis of the rotational excitation of C_2 yields an estimated kinetic temperature T_k ~ 25 K and a moderately high total hydrogen density n_H ~ 870 cm^-3 -- compared to the T_01 ~ 45 K and n_H ~ 85-300 cm^-3 obtained from H_2. The populations of the lower rotational levels of C_3 are consistent with an excitation temperature of about 34 K.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

Interstellar Silicate Dust in the z=0.89 Absorber Towards PKS 1830-211: Crystalline Silicates at High Redshift?

We present evidence of a >10-sigma detection of the 10 micron silicate dust absorption feature in the spectrum of the gravitationally lensed quasar PKS 1830-211, produced by a foreground absorption system at redshift 0.886. We have examined more than 100 optical depth templates, derived from both observations of Galactic and extragalactic sources and laboratory measurements, in order to constrain the chemical structure of the silicate dust. We find that the best fit to the observed absorption profile is produced by laboratory crystalline olivine, with a corresponding peak optical depth of tau_10=0.27+/-0.05. The fit is slightly improved upon by including small contributions from additional materials such as silica, enstatite, or serpentine, which suggests that the dust composition may consist of a blend of crystalline silicates. Combining templates for amorphous and crystalline silicates, we find that the fraction of crystalline silicates needs to be at least 95%. Given the rarity of extragalactic sources with such a high degree of silicate crystallinity, we also explore the possibility that the observed spectral features are produced by amorphous silicates in combination with other molecular or atomic transitions, or by foreground source contamination. While we cannot rule out these latter possibilities, they lead to much poorer profile fits than for the crystalline olivine templates. If the presence of crystalline interstellar silicates in this distant galaxy is real, it would be highly unusual, given that the Milky Way interstellar matter contains essentially only amorphous silicates. It is possible that the z=0.886 absorber towards PKS 1830-211, well known for its high molecular content, has a unique star-forming environment that enables crystalline silicates to form and prevail.

astro-ph.GA↗