arXiv subjects

S. Muehle

Publications and source records attributed to S. Muehle.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2018

Molecular line emission in NGC 4945, imaged with ALMA

NGC 4945 is one of the nearest (~3.8 Mpc; 1" ~ 19 pc) starburst galaxies. ALMA band 3 (3--4\,mm) observations of HCN, HCO+, CS, C3H2, SiO, HCO, and CH3C2H were carried out with ~2" resolution. The lines reveal a rotating nuclear disk of projected size 10" x 2" with position angle ~45 deg, inclination ~75 deg and an unresolved bright central core of size <2.5". The continuum source (mostly free-free radiation) is more compact than the nuclear disk by a linear factor of two but shows the same position angle and is centered 0.39" +_ 0.14" northeast of the nuclear accretion disk defined by H2O maser emission. Outside the nuclear disk, both HCN and CS delineate molecular arms on opposite sides of the dynamical center. These are connected by a (deprojected) 0.6 kpc sized molecular bridge, likely a dense gaseous bar seen almost ends-on, shifting gas from the front and back side into the nuclear disk. Modeling this nuclear disk located farther inside <100 pc) with tilted rings indicates a coplanar outflow reaching a characteristic deprojectd velocity of ~50 km/s. All our molecular lines, with the notable exception of CH3C2H, show significant absorption near the systemic velocity (~571 km/s), within a range of ~500-660 km/s. Apparently, only molecular transitions with low critical H2-density do not show absorption. The velocity field of the nuclear disk, derived from CH3C2H, provides evidence for rigid rotation in the inner few arcseconds and a dynamical mass of M = (2.1+_0.2) x 10^8 Mo inside a galactocentric radius of 2.45", with a significantly flattened rotation curve farther out. Velocity integrated line intensity maps with most pronounced absorption show molecular peak positions up to 1.5" southwest of the continuum peak, presumably due to absorption, which appears to be most severe slightly northeast of the nuclear maser disk.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2015

Probing highly obscured, self-absorbed galaxy nuclei with vibrationally excited HCN

We present high resolution (0."4) IRAM PdBI and ALMA mm and submm observations of the (ultra) luminous infrared galaxies ((U)LIRGs) IRAS17208-0014, Arp220, IC860 and Zw049.057 that reveal intense line emission from vibrationally excited ($ν_2$=1) J=3-2 and 4-3 HCN. The emission is emerging from buried, compact (r<17-70 pc) nuclei that have very high implied mid-infrared surface brightness $>$$5\times 10^{13}$ L$_{\odot}$ kpc$^{-2}$. These nuclei are likely powered by accreting supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and/or hot (>200 K) extreme starbursts. Vibrational, $ν_2$=1, lines of HCN are excited by intense 14 micron mid-infrared emission and are excellent probes of the dynamics, masses, and physical conditions of (U)LIRG nuclei when H$_2$ column densities exceed $10^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$. It is clear that these lines open up a new interesting avenue to gain access to the most obscured AGNs and starbursts. Vibrationally excited HCN acts as a proxy for the absorbed mid-infrared emission from the embedded nuclei, which allows for reconstruction of the intrinsic, hotter dust SED. In contrast, we show strong evidence that the ground vibrational state ($ν$=0), J=3-2 and 4-3 rotational lines of HCN and HCO$^+$ fail to probe the highly enshrouded, compact nuclear regions owing to strong self- and continuum absorption. The HCN and HCO$^+$ line profiles are double-peaked because of the absorption and show evidence of non-circular motions - possibly in the form of in- or outflows. Detections of vibrationally excited HCN in external galaxies are so far limited to ULIRGs and early-type spiral LIRGs, and we discuss possible causes for this. We tentatively suggest that the peak of vibrationally excited HCN emission is connected to a rapid stage of nuclear growth, before the phase of strong feedback.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

The thermal state of molecular clouds in the Galactic Center: evidence for non-photon-driven heating

We used the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) 12 m telescope to observe the J_KaKc=3_03-2_02, 3_22-2_21, and 3_21-2_20 transitions of para-H_2CO at 218 GHz simultaneously to determine kinetic temperatures of the dense gas in the central molecular zone (CMZ) of our Galaxy. The map extends over approximately 40 arcmin x 8 arcmin (~100x20 pc^2) along the Galactic plane with a linear resolution of 1.2 pc. The strongest of the three lines, the H_2CO (3_03-2_02) transition, is found to be widespread, and its emission shows a spatial distribution similar to ammonia. The relative abundance of para-H_2CO is 0.5-1.2 10^{-9}, which is consistent with results from lower frequency H_2CO absorption lines. Derived gas kinetic temperatures for individual molecular clouds range from 50 K to values in excess of 100 K. While a systematic trend toward (decreasing) kinetic temperature versus (increasing) angular distance from the Galactic center (GC) is not found, the clouds with highest temperature (T_kin > 100 K) are all located near the nucleus. For the molecular gas outside the dense clouds, the average kinetic temperature is 65+/-10 K. The high temperatures of molecular clouds on large scales in the GC region may be driven by turbulent energy dissipation and/or cosmic-rays instead of photons. Such a non-photon-driven thermal state of the molecular gas provides an excellent template for the more distant vigorous starbursts found in ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs).

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2011

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

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.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey IV. Velocity Dispersions in the Molecular Interstellar Medium in Spiral Galaxies

An analysis of large-area CO J=3-2 maps from the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope for 12 nearby spiral galaxies reveals low velocity dispersions in the molecular component of the interstellar medium. The three lowest luminosity galaxies show a relatively flat velocity dispersion as a function of radius while the remaining nine galaxies show a central peak with a radial fall-off within 0.2-0.4 r(25). Correcting for the average contribution due to the internal velocitydispersions of a population of giant molecular clouds, the average cloud-cloud velocity dispersion across the galactic disks is 6.1 +/- 1.0 km/s (standard deviation 2.9 km/s), in reasonable agreement with previous measurements for the Galaxy andM33. The cloud-cloud velocity dispersion derived from the CO data is on average two times smaller than the HI velocity dispersion measured in the same galaxies. The low cloud-cloudvelocity dispersion implies that the molecular gas is the critical component determining the stability of the galactic disk against gravitational collapse, especially in those regions of the disk which are H2 dominated. The cloud-cloud velocity dispersion shows a significant positivecorrelation with both the far-infrared luminosity, which traces the star formation activity, and the K-band absolute magnitude, which traces the total stellar mass. For three galaxies in the Virgo cluster, smoothing the data to a resolution of 4.5 kpc (to match the typical resolution of high redshift CO observations) increases the measured velocity dispersion by roughly a factor of two, comparable to the dispersion measured recently in a normal galaxy at z=1. This comparison suggests that the mass and star formation rate surface densities may be similar in galaxies from z=0-1 and that the high star formation rates seen at z=1 may be partly due to the presence of physically larger molecular gas disks.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey V: The CO(J=3-2) Distribution and Molecular Outflow in NGC~4631

We have made the first map of CO(J=3-2) emission covering the disk of the edge-on galaxy, NGC~4631, which is known for its spectacular gaseous halo. The strongest emission, which we model with a Gaussian ring,occurs within a radius of 5 kpc. Weaker disk emission is detected out to radii of 12 kpc, the most extensive molecular component yet seen in this galaxy. From comparisons with infrared data, we find that CO(J=3-2) emission more closely follows the hot dust component, rather than the cold dust,consistent with it being a good tracer of star formation. The first maps of $R_{3-2/1-0}$, H$_2$ mass surface density and SFE have been made for the inner 2.4 kpc radius region. Only 20\% of the SF occurs in this region and excitation conditions are typical of galaxy disks, rather than of central starbursts. The SFE suggests long gas consumption timescales ($>$ $10^9$ yr). The velocity field is dominated by a steeply rising rotation curve in the region of the central molecular ring followed by a flatter curve in the disk. A very steep gradient in the rotation curve is observed at the nucleus, providing the first evidence for a central concentration of mass: M$_{dyn}\,=\,5\,\times\,10^7$ M$_\odot$ within a radius of 282 pc. The velocity field shows anomalous features indicating the presence of molecular outflows; one of them is associated with a previously observed CO(J=1-0) expanding shell. Consistent with these outflows is the presence of a thick ($z$ up to $1.4$ kpc) CO(J=3-2) disk. We suggest that the interaction between NGC~4631 and its companion(s) has agitated the disk and also initiated star formation which was likely higher in the past than it is now. These may be necessary conditions for seeing prominent halos.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2009

The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey III: Comparisons of cold dust, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, molecular gas, and atomic gas in NGC 2403

We used 3.6, 8.0, 70, 160 micron Spitzer Space Telescope data, James Clerk Maxwell Telescope HARP-B CO J=(3-2) data, National Radio Astronomy Observatory 12 meter telescope CO J=(1-0) data, and Very Large Array HI data to investigate the relations among PAHs, cold (~20 K) dust, molecular gas, and atomic gas within NGC 2403, an SABcd galaxy at a distance of 3.13 Mpc. The dust surface density is mainly a function of the total (atomic and molecular) gas surface density and galactocentric radius. The gas-to-dust ratio monotonically increases with radius, varying from ~100 in the nucleus to ~400 at 5.5 kpc. The slope of the gas-to-dust ratio is close to that of the oxygen abundance, suggesting that metallicity strongly affects the gas-to-dust ratio within this galaxy. The exponential scale length of the radial profile for the CO J=(3-2) emission is statistically identical to the scale length for the stellar continuum-subtracted 8 micron (PAH 8 micron) emission. However, CO J=(3-2) and PAH 8 micron surface brightnesses appear uncorrelated when examining sub-kpc sized regions.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey I. Star Forming Molecular Gas in Virgo Cluster Spiral Galaxies

We present large-area maps of the CO J=3-2 emission obtained at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope for four spiral galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. We combine these data with published CO J=1-0, 24 micron, and Halpha images to measure the CO line ratios, molecular gas masses, and instantaneous gas depletion times. For three galaxies in our sample (NGC 4254, NGC4321, and NGC 4569), we obtain molecular gas masses of 7E8-3E9 Msun and disk-averaged instantaneous gas depletion times of 1.1-1.7 Gyr. We argue that the CO J=3-2 line is a better tracer of the dense star forming molecular gas than the CO J=1-0 line, as it shows a better correlation with the star formation rate surface density both within and between galaxies. NGC 4254 appears to have a larger star formation efficiency(smaller gas depletion time), perhaps because it is on its first passage through the Virgo Cluster. NGC 4569 shows a large-scale gradient in the gas properties traced by the CO J=3-2/J=1-0 line ratio, which suggests that its interaction with the intracluster medium is affecting the dense star-forming portion of the interstellar medium directly. The fourth galaxy in our sample, NGC 4579, has weak CO J=3-2 emission despite having bright 24 micron emission; however, much of the central luminosity in this galaxy may be due to the presence of a central AGN.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Triggering and Feedback: The Relation between the HI Gas and the Starburst in the Dwarf Galaxy NGC 1569

As part of our study on the impact of violent star formation on the interstellar medium (ISM) of dwarf galaxies, we report observations of neutral atomic hydrogen (HI) in the post-starburst dwarf galaxy NGC 1569. High-resolution measurements with the VLA (B-, C- and D-array) are aimed at identifying morphological and kinematical signatures in the HI caused by the starburst. Our kinematical data suggest a huge hole in the HI distribution, probably due to the large number of supernovae explosions in the center of the galaxy over the past 20 Myr. Investigating the large-scale HI structure, we confirm the existence of a possible HI companion and a so-called HI bridge east of NGC 1569. Furthermore, we report the detection of additional low-intensity HI halo emission, which leads us to suggest a revised halo structure. Based on the new picture, we discuss the origin of the halo gas and possible implications for the evolution of the starburst in NGC 1569.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

The Influence of the Starburst on the ISM in NGC 1569

A tremendous starburst, that ended about 4 million years ago, has had a very strong impact on the dwarf galaxy NGC 1569. Evidence for this event is still prominent in the different components of the galaxy: For example, photometric studies of the resolved stellar population close to the very luminous super-star clusters hint at past star formation rates of up to 3 M_solar/yr. In ROSAT observations, extended X-ray emission has been found at the same location. And the spectrum of the strong synchrotron emission shows a kink characteristic for a recently stopped starburst. We study the impact of the starburst on the neutral atomic and molecular gas. Our CO(3--2) map obtained with the Heinrich-Hertz Telescope reveals 3 giant molecular associations as well as a large amount of extended CO gas. The comparison of this map with interferometric and single-dish data of the CO(2--1) and CO(1--0) transitions indicates an unusually warm molecular gas phase. The HI distribution is remarkably smooth for a star-forming dwarf galaxy. Only one huge bubble has been found. It is located near the position of the super-star clusters. With our naturally weighted VLA data cube, we can confirm the existence of a low-mass HI cloud and a bridge connecting it to NGC 1569. This might be an HI cloud in the process of merging with the galaxy and being tidally disrupted. We also report the detection of the remnants of a shell, that can be traced best in the HI velocity field.

astro-ph↗