arXiv subjects

P. García

Publications and source records attributed to P. García.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper (LVM): Helix Nebula public data, Data Analysis Pipeline data products

We present a spatially resolved spectroscopic analysis of the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) using data from the SDSS-V Local Volume Mapper (LVM), by applying the recently developed LVM Data Analysis Pipeline (LVM-DAP). Covering the full optical range (3600-9800 Å) over a contiguous ~ 0.5 degree field, the LVM data provide the first hexagonally sampled, wide-field emission-line maps of all major ionic species in this archetypal planetary nebula. The resulting flux, kinematic, and line-ratio maps reveal the well-known ionization stratification of the nebula, from the compact He++ core to the bright [O III] ring and the extended low-ionization envelope, enabling a detailed comparison with classical aperture spectroscopy. Owing to the sensitivity and uniform spatial sampling of the LVM, numerous faint auroral and diagnostic lines are detected across the nebula, including [O III] 4363, [N II] 5755, and He I lines, allowing precise measurements of weak-line morphology. The derived radial trends confirm the remarkably low dust content and the overall homogeneity of electron temperature and density across the main ring. Ionized-gas kinematics traced by Hα further support the scenario of a slowly expanding, limb-brightened shell consistent with previous studies. This work demonstrates the diagnostic power of LVM spectroscopy for extended nebulae and highlights its capability to recover both global and spatially resolved physical conditions across complex ionized structures.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

ATOMS: ALMA Three-millimeter Observations of massive Star-forming regions -XX. Probability distribution function of integrated intensity for dense molecular gas tracers

We report the observations of J=1-0 of HCN, HCO+, H13CO+, and H13CN, HC3N (J=11-10) emission towards 135 massive star-forming clumps, as part of the ATOMS (ALMA Three-millimeter Observations of Massive Star-forming regions) Survey. We present the integrated intensity probability distribution function for these molecular tracers, modeled as a combination of a log-normal distribution and a power-law tail. The molecular line luminosities for the power-law tail segment, Lmol(p), have been calculated. We have investigated the correlation between the bolometric luminosity, Lbol, and the power-law part of the molecular line luminosity, Lmol(p). Our findings suggest that the scaling relationships between Lbol and Lmol(p) for HCN and HCO+ are sublinear, indicating that these molecules might not be the most effective tracers for the dense gas. In contrast, H13CN and HC3N exhibit a nearly linear relationship between Lbol and Lmol(p), indicating that they can well trace gravitationally bound dense gas. The ratios of Lbol-to-Lmol(p), serving as indicators of star formation efficiency within massive star-forming clumps, exhibit a weak anti-correlation with the power-law index in the I-PDF. In addition, the star formation efficiency is also weakly anti-correlated with the exponent U of the corresponding equivalent density distribution. Our results implie that clumps with substantial gas accumulation may still display low star formation efficiencies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Disruption of a massive molecular cloud by a supernova in the Galactic Centre: Initial results from the ACES project

The Milky Way's Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) differs dramatically from our local solar neighbourhood, both in the extreme interstellar medium conditions it exhibits (e.g. high gas, stellar, and feedback density) and in the strong dynamics at play (e.g. due to shear and gas influx along the bar). Consequently, it is likely that there are large-scale physical structures within the CMZ that cannot form elsewhere in the Milky Way. In this paper, we present new results from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) large programme ACES (ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey) and conduct a multi-wavelength and kinematic analysis to determine the origin of the M0.8$-$0.2 ring, a molecular cloud with a distinct ring-like morphology. We estimate the projected inner and outer radii of the M0.8$-$0.2 ring to be 79" and 154", respectively (3.1 pc and 6.1 pc at an assumed Galactic Centre distance of 8.2 kpc) and calculate a mean gas density $> 10^{4}$ cm$^{-3}$, a mass of $\sim$ $10^6$ M$_\odot$, and an expansion speed of $\sim$ 20 km s$^{-1}$, resulting in a high estimated kinetic energy ($> 10^{51}$ erg) and momentum ($> 10^7$ M$_\odot$ km s$^{-1}$). We discuss several possible causes for the existence and expansion of the structure, including stellar feedback and large-scale dynamics. We propose that the most likely cause of the M0.8$-$0.2 ring is a single high-energy hypernova explosion. To viably explain the observed morphology and kinematics, such an explosion would need to have taken place inside a dense, very massive molecular cloud, the remnants of which we now see as the M0.8$-$0.2 ring. In this case, the structure provides an extreme example of how supernovae can affect molecular clouds.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Magnetic field morphology and evolution in the Central Molecular Zone and its effect on gas dynamics

The interstellar medium in the Milky Way's Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) is known to be strongly magnetised, but its large-scale morphology and impact on the gas dynamics are not well understood. We explore the impact and properties of magnetic fields in the CMZ using three-dimensional non-self gravitating magnetohydrodynamical simulations of gas flow in an external Milky Way barred potential. We find that: (1) The magnetic field is conveniently decomposed into a regular time-averaged component and an irregular turbulent component. The regular component aligns well with the velocity vectors of the gas everywhere, including within the bar lanes. (2) The field geometry transitions from parallel to the Galactic plane near $z=0$ to poloidal away from the plane. (3) The magneto-rotational instability (MRI) causes an in-plane inflow of matter from the CMZ gas ring towards the central few parsecs of $0.01-0.1$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ that is absent in the unmagnetised simulations. However, the magnetic fields have no significant effect on the larger-scale bar-driven inflow that brings the gas from the Galactic disc into the CMZ. (4) A combination of bar inflow and MRI-driven turbulence can sustain a turbulent vertical velocity dispersion of $σ_z \simeq 5$ km s$^{-1}$ on scales of $20$ pc in the CMZ ring. The MRI alone sustains a velocity dispersion of $σ_z \simeq 3$ km s$^{-1}$. Both these numbers are lower than the observed velocity dispersion of gas in the CMZ, suggesting that other processes such as stellar feedback are necessary to explain the observations. (5) Dynamo action driven by differential rotation and the MRI amplifies the magnetic fields in the CMZ ring until they saturate at a value that scales with the average local density as $B \simeq 102 (n/10^3 cm^{-3})^{0.33}$ $μ$G. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results within the observational context in the CMZ.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

The SOFIA FEEDBACK Legacy Survey: Dynamics and mass ejection in the bipolar HII region RCW 36

We present [CII] 158 $μ$m and [OI] 63 $μ$m observations of the bipolar HII region RCW 36 in the Vela C molecular cloud, obtained within the SOFIA legacy project FEEDBACK, which is complemented with APEX $^{12/13}$CO(3-2) and Chandra X-ray (0.5-7 keV) data. This shows that the molecular ring, forming the waist of the bipolar nebula, expands with a velocity of 1 - 1.9 km s$^{-1}$. We also observe an increased linewidth in the ring indicating that turbulence is driven by energy injection from the stellar feedback. The bipolar cavity hosts blue-shifted expanding [CII] shells at 5.2$\pm$0.5$\pm$0.5 km s$^{-1}$ (statistical and systematic uncertainty) which indicates that expansion out of the dense gas happens non-uniformly and that the observed bipolar phase might be relatively short ($\sim$0.2 Myr). The X-ray observations show diffuse emission that traces a hot plasma, created by stellar winds, in and around RCW 36. At least 50 \% of the stellar wind energy is missing in RCW 36. This is likely due to leakage which is clearing even larger cavities around the bipolar RCW 36 region. Lastly, the cavities host high-velocity wings in [CII] which indicates relatively high mass ejection rates ($\sim$5$\times$10$^{-4}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$). This could be driven by stellar winds and/or radiation pressure, but remains difficult to constrain. This local mass ejection, which can remove all mass within 1 pc of RCW 36 in 1-2 Myr, and the large-scale clearing of ambient gas in the Vela C cloud indicates that stellar feedback plays a significant role in suppressing the star formation efficiency (SFE).

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

Preparing for low surface brightness science with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory: characterisation of tidal features from mock images

Tidal features in the outskirts of galaxies yield unique information about their past interactions and are a key prediction of the hierarchical structure formation paradigm. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is poised to deliver deep observations for potentially of millions of objects with visible tidal features, but the inference of galaxy interaction histories from such features is not straightforward. Utilising automated techniques and human visual classification in conjunction with realistic mock images produced using the NEWHORIZON cosmological simulation, we investigate the nature, frequency and visibility of tidal features and debris across a range of environments and stellar masses. In our simulated sample, around 80 per cent of the flux in the tidal features around Milky Way or greater mass galaxies is detected at the 10-year depth of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (30-31 mag / sq. arcsec), falling to 60 per cent assuming a shallower final depth of 29.5 mag / sq. arcsec. The fraction of total flux found in tidal features increases towards higher masses, rising to 10 per cent for the most massive objects in our sample (M*~10^{11.5} Msun). When observed at sufficient depth, such objects frequently exhibit many distinct tidal features with complex shapes. The interpretation and characterisation of such features varies significantly with image depth and object orientation, introducing significant biases in their classification. Assuming the data reduction pipeline is properly optimised, we expect the Rubin Observatory to be capable of recovering much of the flux found in the outskirts of Milky Way mass galaxies, even at intermediate redshifts (z<0.2).

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

Positive invariant regions for a modified Van Der Pol equation modeling heart action

The dynamical characterization of the heart rate is definitely a problem of vital importance. The selection, construction and adjustment of models that reproduce the dynamic behavior of the cardiac muscle, brings us closer to the solution of the usual classification problem in medicine, i.e. decide whether or not a patient belongs to the healthy class of patients. An usual model for this dynamic is often given by a modified Van der Pol model (vdPM), whose parameters are currently optimized with machine learning techniques or evolutionary algorithms. In any of these cases, the proper selection of the initial condition of the parameters drastically reduces the computational cost of the optimization method used. In this work, a strategy to estimate a positively invariant region that contains the periodic orbit, associated with a set of particular parameters of the vdPM considered, is presented. An algorithm is proposed to build the positively invariant region, the numerical results confirm that the vdPM solutions starting within the positively invariant region converge to the periodic orbit. This kind of result allows to reduce the cost of searching for the optimal parameters that represent a real electrocardiographic signal, which in turn, let us reduce the dimensionality of the system allowing the design of more efficient classifiers for these signals.

math.DS↗

arXiv2021

Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2 (GASTON): Evidence of mass accretion onto dense clumps

High-mass stars ($m_* \gtrsim 8 \, M_\odot$) play a crucial role in the evolution of galaxies, and so it is imperative that we understand how they are formed. We have used the New IRAM KIDs Array 2 (NIKA2) camera on the Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimétrique (IRAM) 30-m telescope to conduct high-sensitivity continuum mapping of $\sim2$ deg$^2$ of the Galactic plane (GP) as part of the Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2 (GASTON) large program. We have identified a total of 1467 clumps within our deep 1.15 mm continuum maps and, by using overlapping continuum, molecular line, and maser parallax data, we have determined their distances and physical properties. By placing them upon an approximate evolutionary sequence based upon 8 $μ$m $\textit{Spitzer}$ imaging, we find evidence that the most massive dense clumps accrete material from their surrounding environment during their early evolution, before dispersing as star formation advances, supporting clump-fed models of high-mass star formation.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

Warm ISM in the Sgr A Complex. II. The [C/N] abundance ratio traced by [CII] 158 um and [NII] 205 um observations toward the Arched Filaments at the Galactic center

Aims. We aim to investigate the I([CII]) versus I([NII]) integrated intensity behavior in the AF region in order to assess the [CII] emission contribution from the H II region, which is traced by [NII] line observations, and PDR components in the high-metallicity environment of the GC. Methods. We used [CII] 158 um and [NII] 205 um fine-structure line observations of the AF in the literature to compare their observational integrated intensity distribution to semi-theoretical predictions for the contribution of H II regions and adjacent PDRs to the observed [CII] emission. We explored variations in the [C/N] elemental abundance ratio to explain the overall behavior of the observed relationship. Based on our models, the H II region and PDR contributions to the observed [CII] emission is calculated for a few positions within and near to the AF. Estimates for the [C/N] abundance ratio and [N/H] nitrogen elemental abundance in the AF can then be derived. Results. The behavior of the I([CII]) versus I([NII]) relationship in the AF can be explained by model results satisfying 0.84 < [C/N]_AF < 1.41, with model metallicities ranging from 1 Z to 2 Z, hydrogen volume density log n(H) = 3.5, and ionization parameters log U from -1 to -2. A least-squares fit to the model data points yields log I([CII]) = 1.068log I([NII]) + 0.645 to predict the [CII] emission arising from the H II regions in the AF. The fraction of the total observed [CII] emission arising from within PDRs varies between ~ 0.20 and ~ 0.75. Our results yield average values for the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and nitrogen elemental abundances of [C/N]_AF = 1.13 +/- 0.09 and [N/H]_AF = 6.21x10^4 for the AF, respectively. They are a factor of ~ 0.4 smaller and ~ 7.5 larger than their corresponding Galactic disk values.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

GASTON: Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2. Evidence for the mass growth of star-forming clumps

Determining the mechanism by which high-mass stars are formed is essential for our understanding of the energy budget and chemical evolution of galaxies. By using the New IRAM KIDs Array 2 (NIKA2) camera on the Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimétrique (IRAM) 30-m telescope, we have conducted high-sensitivity and large-scale mapping of a fraction of the Galactic plane in order to search for signatures of the transition between the high- and low-mass star-forming modes. Here, we present the first results from the Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2 (GASTON) project, a Large Programme at the IRAM 30-m telescope which is mapping $\approx$2 deg$^2$ of the inner Galactic plane (GP), centred on $\ell$=23.9$^\circ$, $b$=0.05$^\circ$, as well as targets in Taurus and Ophiuchus in 1.15 and 2.00 mm continuum wavebands. In this paper we present the first of the GASTON GP data taken, and present initial science results. We conduct an extraction of structures from the 1.15 mm maps using a dendrogram analysis and, by comparison to the compact source catalogues from Herschel survey data, we identify a population of 321 previously-undetected clumps. Approximately 80 per cent of these new clumps are 70 $μ$m-quiet, and may be considered as starless candidates. We find that this new population of clumps are less massive and cooler, on average, than clumps that have already been identified. Further, by classifying the full sample of clumps based upon their infrared-bright fraction - an indicator of evolutionary stage - we find evidence for clump mass growth, supporting models of clump-fed high-mass star formation.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Calibration and Performance of the NIKA2 camera at the IRAM 30-meter Telescope

NIKA2 is a dual-band millimetric continuum camera of 2900 Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KID), operating at $150$ and $260\,\rm{GHz}$, installed at the IRAM 30-meter telescope. We present the performance assessment of NIKA2 after one year of observation using a dedicated point-source calibration method, referred to as the \emph{baseline} method. Using a large data set acquired between January 2017 and February 2018 that span the whole range of observing elevations and atmospheric conditions encountered at the IRAM 30-m telescope, we test the stability of the performance parameters. We report an instantaneous field of view (FOV) of 6.5' in diameter, filled with an average fraction of $84\%$ and $90\%$ of valid detectors at $150$ and $260\,\rm{GHz}$, respectively. The beam pattern is characterized by a FWHM of $17.6'' \pm 0.1''$ and $11.1''\pm 0.2''$, and a beam efficiency of $77\% \pm 2\%$ and $55\% \pm 3\%$ at $150$ and $260\,\rm{GHz}$, respectively. The rms calibration uncertainties are about $3\%$ at $150\,\rm{GHz}$ and $6\%$ at $260\,\rm{GHz}$. The absolute calibration uncertainties are of $5\%$ and the systematic calibration uncertainties evaluated at the IRAM 30-m reference Winter observing conditions are below $1\%$ in both channels. The noise equivalent flux density (NEFD) at $150$ and $260\,\rm{GHz}$ are of $9 \pm 1\, \rm{mJy}\cdot s^{1/2}$ and $30 \pm 3\, \rm{mJy}\cdot s^{1/2}$. This state-of-the-art performance confers NIKA2 with mapping speeds of $1388 \pm 174$ and $111 \pm 11 \,\rm{arcmin}^2\cdot \rm{mJy}^{-2}\cdot \rm{h}^{-1}$ at $150$ and $260\,\rm{GHz}$. With these unique capabilities of fast dual-band mapping at high (better that 18'') angular resolution, NIKA2 is providing an unprecedented view of the millimetre Universe.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2016

PDR Emission from the Arched-Filaments and Nearby Positions

We investigate the physical conditions of the gas, atomic and molecular, in the filaments in the context of Photo-Dissociation Regions (PDRs) using the KOSMA-PDR mode of clumpy clouds. We also compare the [CII] vs. [NII] integrated intensity predictions in Abel et al. 2005 for HII regions and adjacent PDRs in the Galactic disk, and check for their applicability under the extreme physical conditions present in the GC. Our preliminary results show that observed integrated intensities are well reproduced by the PDR model. The gas is exposed to a relatively low Far-UV field between 10^2 - 10^3 Draine fields. The total volume hydrogen density is well constrained between 10^4 - 10^5 cm^-3. The hydrogen ionization rate due to cosmic-rays varies between 10^-15 and 4x10^-15 s^-1, with the highest value ~ 10^-14 s^-1 found towards G0.07+0.04. Our results show that the line-of-sight contribution to the total distance of the filaments to the Arches Cluster is not negligible. The spatial distribution of the [CII]/[NII] ratio shows that the integrated intensity ratios are fairly homogeneously distributed for values below 10 in energy units. Calculations including variation on the [C/N] abundance ratio show that tight constraints on this ratio are needed to reproduce the observations.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

Warm ISM in the Sgr A Complex. I: Mid-J CO, atomic carbon, ionized atomic carbon,and ionized nitrogen sub-mm/FIR line observations with the Herschel-HIFI and NANTEN2/SMART telescopes

We present large-scale submm observations towards the Sgr A Complex covering ~300 arcmin2. These data were obtained in the frame of the HEXGAL Program with the Herschel-HIFI satellite and are complemented with submm observations obtained with the NANTEN2/SMART telescope as part of the NANTEN2/SMART Central Nuclear Zone Survey. The observed species are CO(4-3) observed with the NANTEN2/SMART telescope, and [CI](1-0), [CI](2-1), [NII](1-0), and [CII](3/2-1/2) observed with the Herschel-HIFI satellite. The observations are presented in a 1 km/s spectral resolution and a spatial resolution ranging from 46" to 28". The spectral coverage of the three lower frequency lines is +-200 km/s, while in the two high frequency lines, the upper LSR velocity limit is +94 km/s and +145 km/s for the [NII] and [CII] lines, respectively. The spatial distribution of the emission in all lines is very widespread. The bulk of the CO emission is found towards Galactic latitudes below the Galactic plane, and all the known molecular clouds are identified. Both neutral atomic carbon lines have their brightest emission associated with the +50 km/s cloud. Their spatial distribution at this LSR velocity describes a crescent-shape structure, which is probably the result of interaction with the energetic event (one or several supernovae explosions) that gave origin to the non-thermal Sgr A-East source. The [CII] and [NII] emissions have most of their flux associated with the thermal Arched-Filaments and the H Region and bright spots in [CII] emission towards the Central Nuclear Disk (CND) are detected. Warm Gas at very high (|Vlsr| > 100 km/s) LSR velocities is also detected towards the line of sight to the Sgr A Complex, and it is most probably located outside the region, in the X1 orbits.

astro-ph.GA↗