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K. Volk

Publications and source records attributed to K. Volk.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2003

Submillimeter Emission from Water in the W3 Region

We have mapped the submillimeter emission from the 1(10)-1(01) transition of ortho-water in the W3 star-forming region. A 5'x5' map of the W3 IRS4 and W3 IRS5 region reveals strong water lines at half the positions in the map. The relative strength of the Odin lines compared to previous observations by SWAS suggests that we are seeing water emission from an extended region. Across much of the map the lines are double-peaked, with an absorption feature at -39 km/s; however, some positions in the map show a single strong line at -43 km/s. We interpret the double-peaked lines as arising from optically thick, self-absorbed water emission near the W3 IRS5, while the narrower blue-shifted lines originate in emission near W3 IRS4. In this model, the unusual appearance of the spectral lines across the map results from a coincidental agreement in velocity between the emission near W3 IRS4 and the blue peak of the more complex lines near W3 IRS5. The strength of the water lines near W3 IRS4 suggests we may be seeing water emission enhanced in a photon-dominated region.

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arXiv2003

First detection of NH3 (1,0 - 0,0) from a low mass cloud core: On the low ammonia abundance of the rho Oph A core

Odin has successfully observed the molecular core rho Oph A in the 572.5 GHz rotational ground state line of ammonia, NH3 (J,K = 1,0 - 0,0). The interpretation of this result makes use of complementary molecular line data obtained from the ground (C17O and CH3OH) as part of the Odin preparatory work. Comparison of these observations with theoretical model calculations of line excitation and transfer yields a quite ordinary abundance of methanol, X(CH3OH) = 3e-9. Unless NH3 is not entirely segregated from C17O and CH3OH, ammonia is found to be significantly underabundant with respect to typical dense core values, viz. X(NH3) = 8e-10.

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arXiv2003

First NH3 detection of the Orion Bar

Odin has successfully observed three regions in the Orion A cloud, i.e. Ori KL, Ori S and the Orion Bar, in the 572.5 GHz rotational ground state line of ammonia, ortho-NH3 (J,K) = (1,0) -> (0,0), and the result for the Orion Bar represents the first detection in an ammonia line. Several velocity components are present in the data. Specifically, the observed line profile from the Orion Bar can be decomposed into two components, which are in agreement with observations in high-J CO lines by Wilson et al. 2001. Using the source model for the Orion Bar by these authors, our Odin observation implies a total ammonia abundance of NH3/H2 = 5E-9.

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arXiv2001

Grains in Photo-Ionized Environments

Ever since the pioneering study of Spitzer, it has been widely recognized that grains play an important role in the heating and cooling of photo-ionized environments. This includes the diffuse ISM, as well as H II regions, planetary nebulae, and photo-dissociation regions. A detailed code is necessary to model grains in a photo-ionized medium since the interactions of grains with their environment include a host of microphysical processes, and their importance can only be judged by performing a complete simulation. In this paper we will use the spectral synthesis code Cloudy for this purpose. A comprehensive upgrade of the grain model has been recently incorporated in Cloudy, and certain aspects of this upgrade will be discussed. Special emphasis will be on the new grain charge model. We will consider in detail the physics of grains in both ionized and neutral environments, and will present a calculation of photo-electric heating and collisional cooling rates for a range of physical conditions and grain materials and for a range of grain sizes (including a realistic size distribution). We conclude with a brief discussion of the problems currently hampering progress in this field. The new grain model will be used to model the silicate emission in the Ney-Allen nebula, and will help us better understand the nature of the grains in that part of the Orion complex.

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arXiv1999

The peculiar post-AGB supergiant IRAS 04296+3429: optical spectroscopy and its spectral energy distribution

The optical spectrum of the infrared source IRAS 04296+3429 (optical counterpart-G0 Ia star, V=14.2) was obtained with the echelle spectrometer PFES at the prime focus of the 6 m telescope. We discover emission bands (0,0) and (0,1) of the Swan system of the C2 molecule in the optical spectrum of IRAS 04296+3429. Comparison with the spectrum of the Hale-Bopp comet leads us to propose that in both cases the same mechanism (resonance fluorescence) is responsible for the emission in the C2 molecular bands. Several strong absorption features whose positions coincide with known diffuse interstellar bands are revealed in the spectrum of IRAS 04296+3429. The infrared spectrum of IRAS 04296+3429 shows the famous 21 um feature, but this object has not been observed by KAO. However, like IRAS 05113+1347, IRAS 05341+0852 and IRAS 22223+4327, our detailed modelling of its spectral energy distribution suggested that this source also should show the 30 um band. In fact, ISO discovered a broad, relatively strong feature around 30 um for IRAS 04296+3429. The surface chemical composition of the source IRAS 04296+3429 is metal-deficient (the averaged value of the abundances of the iron group elements Ti, V, Cr and Fe relative to the solar values is [M/H]=-0.9 and has been considerably altered during the evolution: carbon, nitrogen and s-process elements are overabundant relative to the metallicity. The totality of physical and chemical parameters derived for IRAS 04296+3429 confirms a relation between presence of the feature at 21 um in the spectrum of a carbon rich star and an excess of the s-process elements.

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