arXiv subjects

N. J. Rodriguez-Fernandez

Publications and source records attributed to N. J. Rodriguez-Fernandez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2011

Giant Molecular Clouds in the Local Group Galaxy M33

We present an analysis of the systematic CO(2-1) survey at 12" resolution covering most of the local group spiral M 33 which, at a distance of 840 kpc, is close enough that individual giant molecular clouds (GMCs) can be identified. The goal of this work is to study the properties of the GMCs in this subsolar metallicity galaxy. The CPROPS (Cloud Properties) algorithm (Rosolowsky & Leroy 2006) was used to identify 337 GMCs in M 33, the largest sample to date in an external galaxy. The sample is used to study the GMC luminosity function, or mass spectrum under the assumption of a constant N(H2)/ICO ratio. We find that n(L)dL = K*L^(-2.0\pm0.1) for the entire sample. However, when the sample is divided into inner and outer disk samples, the exponent changes from 1.6 \pm 0.2 for the centre 2 kpc to 2.3 \pm 0.2 for galactocentric distances larger than 2 kpc. Based on the emission in the FUV, Halpha, 8mu, and 24mu bands, each cloud was classified in terms of its star forming activity - no star formation, embedded, or exposed star formation (visible in FUV and Halpha). At least one sixth of the clouds had no (massive) star formation, suggesting that the average time required for star formation to start is about one sixth of the total time for which the object is identifiable as a GMC. The clouds without star formation have significantly lower CO luminosities than those with star formation, whether embedded or exposed, presumably related to the lack of heating sources. Taking the cloud sample as a whole, the main non-trivial correlation was the decrease in cloud CO brightness (or luminosity) with galactocentric radius. The complete cloud catalog, including CO and HI spectra and the CO contours on the FUV, Halpha, 8mu, and 24mu images is presented in the appendix.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Molecular and Atomic Gas in the Local Group Galaxy M33

We present high resolution large scale observations of the molecular and atomic gas in the Local Group Galaxy M33. The observations were carried out using the HERA at the 30m IRAM telescope in the CO(2-1) line achieving a resolution of 12"x2.6 km/s, enabling individual GMCs to be resolved. The observed region mainly along the major axis out to a radius of 8.5 kpc, and covers the strip observed with HIFI/PACS Spectrometers as part of the HERM33ES Herschel key program. The achieved sensitivity in main beam temperature is 20-50 mK at 2.6 km/s velocity resolution. The CO(2-1) luminosity of the observed region is 1.7\pm0.1x10^7 Kkm/s pc^2, corresponding to H2 masses of 1.9x10^8 Msun (including He), calculated with a NH2/ICO twice the Galactic value due to the half-solar metallicity of M33. HI 21 cm VLA archive observations were reduced and the mosaic was imaged and cleaned using the multi-scale task in CASA, yielding a series of datacubes with resolutions ranging from 5" to 25". The HI mass within a radius of 8.5 kpc is estimated to be 1.4x10^9 Msun. The azimuthally averaged CO surface brightness decreases exponentially with a scale length of 1.9\pm0.1 kpc whereas the atomic gas surface density is constant at Sigma_HI=6\pm2 Msun/pc^2 deprojected to face-on. The central kiloparsec H_2 surface density is Sigma_H2=8.5\pm0.2 Msun/pc^2. The star formation rate per unit molecular gas (SF Efficiency, the rate of transformation of molecular gas into stars), as traced by the ratio of CO to Halpha and FIR brightness, is constant with radius. The SFE appears 2-4 times greater than of large spiral galaxies. A morphological comparison of molecular and atomic gas with tracers of star formation shows good agreement between these maps both in terms of peaks and holes. A few exceptions are noted. Several spectra, including those of a molecular cloud situated more than 8 kpc from the galaxy center, are presented.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

The Molecular Interstellar Medium of the Local Group Dwarf NGC6822

Do molecular clouds collapse to form stars at the same rate in all environments? In large spiral galaxies, the rate of transformation of H2 into stars (hereafter SFE) varies little. However, the SFE in distant objects (z~1) is much higher than in the large spiral disks that dominate the local universe. Some small local group galaxies share at least some of the characteristics of intermediate-redshift objects, such as size or color. Recent work has suggested that the Star Formation Efficiency (SFE, defined as the SFRate per unit H2) in local Dwarf galaxies may be as high as in the distant objects. A fundamental difficulty in these studies is the independent measure of the H2 mass in metal-deficient environments. At 490 kpc, NGC6822 is an excellent choice for this study; it has been mapped in the CO(2-1) line using the multibeam receiver HERA on the 30 meter IRAM telescope, yielding the largest sample of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in this galaxy. Despite the much lower metallicity, we find no clear difference in the properties of the GMCs in NGC 6822 and those in the Milky Way except lower CO luminosities for a given mass. Several independent methods indicate that the total H2 mass in NGC 6822 is about 5 x 10^6 Msun in the area we mapped and less than 10^7 Msun in the whole galaxy. This corresponds to a NH2/ICO ~ 4 x 10^{21} cm^-2 /(Kkm/s) over large scales, such as would be observed in distant objects, and half that in individual GMCs. No evidence was found for H2 without CO emission. Our simulations of the radiative transfer in clouds are entirely compatible with these NH2/ICO values. The SFE implied is a factor 5 - 10 higher than what is observed in large local universe spirals.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Gas dynamics in the Milky Way: the nuclear bar and the 3-kpc arms

We discuss the results of the first model of the gas dynamics in the Milky Way in the presence of two bars: the large scale primary bar or boxy bulge and a secondary bar in the Galactic center region. We have obtained an accurate potential by modeling 2MASS star counts and we have used this potential to simulate the gas dynamics. As a first approximation we have used one single pattern speed Ω_p. The models with Omega_p=30-40 \kmskpc and a primary bar orientation of 20-35 deg reproduce successfully many characteristics of the observed longitude-velocity diagrams as the terminal velocity curve or the spiral arm tangent points. The Galactic Molecular Ring is not an actual ring but the inner part of the spiral arms, within corotation. The model reproduces quantitatively the "3-kpc arm" and the recently found far-side counterpart, which are the lateral arms that contour the bar. In the Galactic center region, the model reproduces the 1-kpc HI ring and the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), which is the gas response to the secondary bar. In order to reproduce the observed parallelogram shape of the CO longitude velocity diagram of the CMZ, the secondary bar should be oriented by and angle of 60-70 deg with respect to the Sun-GC line. The mass of the secondary bar amounts to (2-5.5)10^9 Msun, which is 10-25 % of the mass of the primary bar.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2006

[CII] emission and star formation in the spiral arms of M31

The CII 158 microns line is the most important coolant of the interstellar medium in galaxies but substantial variations are seen from object to object. The main source of the emission at a galactic scale is still poorly understood. Previous studies of the CII emission in galaxies have a resolution of several kpc or more so the observed emission is an average of different ISM components. The aim of this work is to study, for the first time, the CII emission at the scale of a spiral arm. We want to investigate the origin of this line and its use as a tracer of star formation. We present CII and OI observations of a segment of a spiral arm of M~31 using the Infrared Space Observatory. The CII emission is compared with tracers of neutral gas (CO, HI) and star formation (Hα, Spitzer 24 mu.) The similarity of the CII emission with the Ha and 24 mu images is striking when smoothed to the same resolution, whereas the correlation with the neutral gas is much weaker. The CII cooling rate per H atom increases dramatically from ~2.7e-26 ergs/s/atom in the border of the map to ~ 1.4e-25 ergs/s/atom in the regions of star formation. The CII/FIR(42-122) ratio is almost constant at 2%, a factor 3 higher than typically quoted. However, we do not believe that M~31 is unusual. Rather, the whole-galaxy fluxes used for the comparisons include the central regions where the CII/FIR ratio is known to be lower and the resolved observations neither isolate a spiral arm nor include data as far out in the galactic disk as the observations presented here. A fit to published PDR models yields a plausible average solution of G_0~100 and n~3000 for the PDR emission in the regions of star formation in the arm of M31.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

High excitation ISM and gas

An overview is given of ISO results on regions of high excitation ISM and gas, i.e. HII regions, the Galactic Centre and Supernovae Remnants. IR emission due to fine-structure lines, molecular hydrogen, silicates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dust are summarised, their diagnostic capabilities illustrated and their implications highlighted.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

ISO observations of the Galactic center Interstellar Medium: ionized gas

(Abridged) We present fine structure and recombination lines observations of the ionized gas toward a sample of 18 sources located within 300 pc of the center of the Galaxy (GC). The fine structure lines from [NII] and [SIII] have been detected in 16 sources. In 10 sources we have even detected the [OIII] 88 $μ$m line. The measured N, S and Ne abundances are similar to those measured in the HII regions in the 5-kpc ring and in the nuclei of starburst galaxies. The fine structure lines ratios measured for all the sources can be explained by photo-ionization with an effective temperature of 32000-37000 K and an ionization parameter, $U$, of $-1>\log U > -3$. The highest excitation is found in the Radio Arc region but there must be more ionizing sources distributed over the Galactic center than the known clusters of massive stars. Most of the clouds are located far from the prominent continuum complexes (Sgr C, B ...). However, it is possible that the clouds are ionized by escaped photons from those complexes. The excitation ratios, effective temperature and ionization parameter measured in the GC are similar to those found in some low excitation starburst galaxies. The [NeIII]/[NeII] line ratios measured in the GC sources are consistent with the results of the Thornely et al. (2000) model for a short burst of massive star formation less than 8 Myr ago. We have also found that the [NeII] 13 $μ$m ~ to far-infrared continuum ratio measured for the GC sources is similar to that of external galaxies, supporting the idea by Sturm et al. (2002) that the far-infrared continuum in Active Galaxies is dominated by dust heated by stellar radiation rather than by the AGN.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Molecular Gas Chemistry in AGN I. The IRAM Survey of NGC1068

There is observational evidence that nuclear winds and X-rays can heavily influence the physical conditions and chemical abundances of molecular gas in the circumnuclear disks (CND) of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). In this paper we probe the chemical status of molecular gas in the CND of NGC1068, a prototypical Seyfert 2 galaxy. Precedent claims that the chemistry of molecular gas in the nucleus of NGC1068 is abnormal by galactic standards were based on the high HCN/CO luminosity ratio measured in the CND. Results from new observations obtained in this survey have served to derive abundances of molecular species such as SiO, CN, HCO+, HOC+, H13CO+ and HCO. These estimates are complemented by a re-evaluation of molecular abundances for HCN, CS and CO, based on previously published single-dish and interferometer observations of NGC1068. We report on the first detection of SiO emission in the CND of NGC1068. The estimated large abundance of SiO in the CND, X(SiO)~5-10x10^{-9}, cannot be attributed to shocks related to star formation, as there is little evidence of a recent starburst in the nucleus of NGC1068. Alternatively, we propose that silicon chemistry is driven by intense X-ray processing of molecular gas. We also report on the first extragalactic detection of the reactive ion HOC+. Most remarkably, the estimated HCO+/HOC+ abundance ratio in the nucleus of NGC1068, ~30-80, is the smallest ever measured in molecular gas. The abundances derived for all molecules that have been the subject of this survey are compared with the predictions of models invoking either oxygen-depletion or X-ray chemistry in molecular gas. Our conclusions favour an overall scenario where the CND of NGC1068 has become a giant X-ray Dominated Region (XDR).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

The Galactic center interstellar medium as seen by ISO

This paper deals with the heating and the ionization of the interstellar medium (ISM) in the 500 central pc of the Milky Way (hereafter Galactic center, GC). We review the results of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) observations of a sample of GC molecular clouds located far from thermal radiocontinuum or far-infrared sources. For the first time, we have been able to study in detail the dust continuum spectra from 40 to 190 microns founding a warm (30-40 K) dust component in addition to the well known 15-20 K component. Fine-structure lines observations have revealed the presence of diffuse ionized gas associated with the molecular clouds. The effective temperature of the ionizing radiation is higher than 33000 K. ISO has also allow us to measure the fraction of warm (~ 150 K) H2 in the GC clouds, which is on average of 30 %. The observations of the warm (a few 100 K) neutral gas are compatible with a Photon Dominated Region (PDR) scenario.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

The far-IR spectrum of Sagittarius B2 region: Extended molecular absorption, photodissociation and photoionization

We present large scale 9'x 27'(25 pc x 70 pc) far-IR observations around Sgr B2 using the Long-wavelength spectrometer (LWS) on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). The spectra are dominated by the strong continuum emission of dust, the widespread molecular absorption of light hydrides (OH, CH and H2O) and the fine structure lines of [NII], [NIII], [OIII], [CII] and [OI]. The molecular richness in the outer layers of Sgr B2 is probed by the ISO-LWS Fabry-Perot (35 km s^-1) detections towards Sgr B2(M), where more that 70 lines from 15 molecular and atomic species are observed at high signal to noise ratio.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Warm molecular gas, dust and ionized gas in the 500 central pc of the Galaxy

We present infrared and millimeter observations of molecular gas, dust and ionized gas towards a sample of clouds distributed along the 500 central pc of the Galaxy. The clouds were selected to investigate the physical state, in particular the high gas temperatures, of the Galactic center region (GCr) clouds located far from far-infrared of thermal radio continuum sources. We have found that there is ionized gas associated with the molecular gas. The ionizing radiation is hard (~35000 K) but diluted due to the inhomogeneity of the medium. We estimate that ~30 % of the warm molecular gas observed in the GCr clouds is heated by ultra-violet radiation in photo-dissociation regions.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Extended photoionization and photodissociation in Sgr B2

We present large scale 9' x 27' (25 pc x 70 pc) far-IR observations of the Sgr B2 complex using the spectrometers on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). The far-IR spectra are dominated by the strong continuum emission of dust and by the fine structure lines of high excitation potential ions (NII, NIII and OIII) and those of neutral or weakly ionized atoms (OI and CII). The line emission has revealed a very extended component of ionized gas. The study of the NIII 57 microns/NII 122 microns and OIII 52/88 microns line intensity ratios show that the ionized gas has a density of n_e~10^{2-3} cm^-3 while the ionizing radiation can be characterized by a diluted but hard continuum, with effective temperatures of ~35000 K. Photoionization models show that the total number of Lyman photons needed to explain such an extended component is approximately equal to that of the HII regions in Sgr B2(N) and (M) condensations. We propose that the inhomogeneous and clumpy structure of the cloud allows the radiation to reach large distances through the envelope. Therefore, photodissociation regions (PDRs) can be numerous at the interface of the ionized and the neutral gas. The analysis of the OI (63 and 145 microns) and CII (158 microns) lines indicates an incident far-UV field (G_0, in units of the local interstellar radiation field) of 10^{3-4} and a H density of 10^{3-4} cm^{-3} in such PDRs. We conclude that extended photoionization and photodissociation are also taking place in Sgr B2 in addition to more established phenomena such as widespread low--velocity shocks.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

The ionized gas in the Galactic Center Radio Arc

We present Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) observations of fine structure lines toward the Radio Arc region, close to Sgr A, in the Galactic center region (GCR). The ionization at large scale is dominated by the clusters of massive stars in this region: the Quintuplet and the Arches cluster. Any other possible mechanism as interaction with the magnetic fields revealed by the Non-Thermal Filaments (NTFs) must play a minor role. The radiation in this area is relatively hard ($T_\mathrm{eff}\sim 33-35$ kK) but diluted. It reaches large distances due to the inhomogeneity of the medium.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Warm molecular gas in the Galactic center region

We present some recent studies on the physical conditions and the chemistry of the interstellar medium (ISM) in the Galactic center region (GCR). Large scale shocks in the context of a bar potential can play a role in explaining the observed properties, at least in some particular regions. Alternatively, we propose that the observed properties (inhomogeneity, high temperatures of the molecular gas, rich chemistry,...) of the GCR ISM can be the consequence of the recent past ($10^6-10^7$ years ago) of massive star formation in the GCR.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Variational approach for walking solitons in birefringent fibres

We use the variational method to obtain approximate analytical expressions for the stationary pulselike solutions in birefringent fibers when differences in both phase velocities and group velocities between the two components and rapidly oscillating terms are taken into account. After checking the validity of the approximation we study how the soliton pulse shape depends on its velocity and nonlinear propagation constant. By numerically solving the propagation equation we have found that most of these stationary solutions are stable.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2001

Large scale ionization of the Radio Arc region by the Quintuplet and the Arches cluster

(Short version) We present an analysis of selected fine structure lines observed ISO toward the Radio Arc in the Galactic center region (GCR). We study the density of the ionized gas and the large scale ionization structure in a region of ~30x30 pc^2 by means of the NeIII 15.6 mum/NeII 12.8 mum and NIII 57 mum/NII 122 mum line ratios. The electron densities (n_e) derived from the OIII lines ratio indicate the presence of diffuse ionized material with n_e of \~10^{1.8-2.6} cm^{-3}. The NIII/NII ratio show two clear gradients, one pointing toward the Quintuplet cluster and the other pointing toward the Arches cluster. The model used to explain the ionization structure shows that the large scale ionization of the whole region can be accounted for by the UV radiation produced by the Quintuplet and the Arches cluster. Any other ionization mechanism should play a minor role. We also investigate the influence of the clusters on the bubble of warm dust seen in the MSX infrared images. The warm dust is well correlated with the ionized gas indicating that the dust is also heated by the radiation from both clusters. Furthermore, the elliptical rather than circular symmetry of some structures like the Thermal Filaments can also be explained when one considers the combined effects of both the Arches and the Quintuplet clusters. The bubble is filled with continuum emission of hard X rays and with emision from the 6.4 keV line of neutral or low ionized Fe.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

The Galactic Center Interstellar Medium: from ISO to FIRST

The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) has shown the complexity of the Galactic center (GC) Interstellar medium (ISM) detecting, not only large column densities of warm molecular gas (H2), but the emission of neutral atoms and ions of low ionization potential (CII, OI, SiII,...) that should arise in shocked or photon-dominated regions (PDRs). In addition, ISO has also detected emission from ions like SIII, NeII, ArII, or NII (in some clouds we have even detected NeIII and OIII) that should arise from HII regions that were previously unsuspected due to the non-detection of Hydrogen recombination lines. Here we review some ISO results on the large scale study of the GC ISM and in particular, on the heating mechanisms of the clouds. Although, shocks should play an important role on the physics and chemistry of the GC ISM, ISO shows that the effect of radiation on the heating of the gas cannot be ruled out with the simple argument that the dust temperature is lower than that of the gas.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Large scale grain mantle disruption in the Galactic Center

We present observations of C2H5OH toward molecular clouds in Sgr A, Sgr B2 and associated with thermal and non-thermal features in the Galactic center. C2H5OH emission in Sgr A and Sgr B2 is widespread, but not uniform. C2H5OH emission is much weaker or it is not detected in some molecular clouds in both complexes, in particular those with radial velocities between 70 and 120 km/s. While most of the clouds associated with the thermal features do not show C2H5OH emission, that associated with the Non-Thermal Radio Arc shows emission. The fractional abundance of C2H5OH in most of the clouds with radial velocities between 0 and 70 km/s in Sgr A and Sgr B2 is relatively high, of few 1e-8. The C2H5OH abundance decreases by more than one order of magnitude (aprox. 1e-9) in the clouds associated with the thermal features. The large abundance of C2H5OH in the gas-phase indicates that C2H5OH has formed in grains and released to gas-phase by shocks in the last aprox. 1e5 years.

astro-ph↗