arXiv subjects

Yunning Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to Yunning Zhao.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Galactic HII regions in LAMOST Medium-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey of Nebulae

Based on LAMOST Medium-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey of Nebulae (MRS-N) data and WISE Galactic HII region catalog, we construct a sample of 280 Galactic HII regions and candidates in the Outer Galaxy (80$^{\circ}$ $\lesssim$ l $\lesssim$ 220$^{\circ}$). Using MRS-N optical spectra, we measure four emission lines (H$\alpha$, [NII]$\lambda$6584, [SII]$\lambda\lambda$6717,6731) and use line-ratios to spectroscopically confirm 255 HII regions, including 90 previously "Known" HII regions and 165 newly classified ones. We measure their $T_{\rm e}$, $n_{\rm e}$ and oxygen abundance, and determine distances via associated OB stars and the kinematic method. The sample spans $R_{\rm gal}$ from 8.16 to 15.36 kpc, enabling investigation of radial gradients in physical properties. We find [NII]/H$\alpha$ and [SII]/H$\alpha$ decrease with increasing $R_{\rm gal}$, while [SII]/[NII] remains nearly flat; these trends are quite different from diffuse ionized gas (DIG). We derive the $T_{\rm e}$ gradient of 344.530 $\pm$ 78.083 K kpc$^{-1}$, and the $\log n_{\rm e}$ gradient of -0.143 $\pm$ 0.041 cm$^{-3}$ kpc$^{-1}$. Oxygen abundance shows a steep slope of -0.044 $\pm$ 0.010 dex kpc$^{-1}$ in the inner disk and a shallow slope of -0.016 $\pm$ 0.005 dex kpc$^{-1}$ in the outer disk, with a global slope of -0.014 $\pm$ 0.005 dex kpc$^{-1}$. We also examine the two-dimensional distributions of $T_{\rm e}$, $n_{\rm e}$, and oxygen abundance, and find the gradients vary with azimuth. There is no obvious difference between spiral arm and interarm regions, and no trend appears along individual arms. From [NII]/H$\alpha$-[SII]$\lambda$6717/H$\alpha$ diagram, HII regions have a S$^+$/S ratio (0.32), lower than DIG (0.43); however, heavy overlap prevents clear separation from this diagram alone.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

The size-velocity dispersion relationship of Galactic HII regions

The size-velocity dispersion ($\sigma$) relation, while well established for giant HII regions, remains uncertain for their smaller counterparts (physical radii R < 20 pc). Thanks to the LAMOST MRS-N dataset's large sky coverage and high spatial/spectral resolution, we examined this relationship using 10 isolated Galactic HII regions with R < 20 pc. Our results reveal two key findings: (1) these small-size HII regions remarkably follow the same size-$\sigma$ relation as giant HII regions, suggesting this correlation could serve as a novel distance indicator for Galactic HII regions; and (2) we find distinct dynamical behaviors between younger and older HII regions. Specifically, in younger (< 0.5 Myr), ionization-bounded HII regions, the velocity dispersion shows no correlation with expansion velocity, indicating that turbulence is driven primarily by stellar winds and ionization processes. In contrast, in older (> 0.5 Myr), matter-bounded HII regions, a clear correlation emerges, implying that expansion-driven processes begin to play a significant role in generating turbulence. We therefore propose an evolutionary transition in the primary turbulence mechanisms, from being dominated by stellar winds and radiation to being increasingly influenced by expansion-driven dynamics, during the evolution of HII regions. Considering the small sample size used in this work, particularly the inclusion of only two young HII regions, which also have large uncertainties in their expansion velocities, further confirmation of this interpretation will require higher-resolution 2D spectroscopy to resolve blended kinematic components along the line of sight for more accurate estimation of expansion velocities, along with an expanded sample that specifically includes more young HII regions.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Spatially-resolved Galactic HII regions observed by LAMOST medium-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey of Nebulae (LAMOST MRS-N)

We present spatially-resolved spectroscopic observations of 10 isolated Galactic HII regions using data from the LAMOST Medium-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey of Nebulae (LAMOST MRS-N). The high spatial resolution of the data allows us to investigate the 1D radial profiles of emission line fluxes (Ha, [S II] and [N II]), flux ratios ([N II]/Ha, [S II]/Ha and [S II]/[N II]), and radial velocities of these three emission lines. Among these regions, two are ionization-bounded, while the remaining eight are matter-bounded. The matter-bounded HII regions exhibit shallower slopes in their radial flux profiles compared to the ionization-bounded ones. In most cases, the [N II]/Ha and [S II]/Ha ratios increase with distance from the center of the HII regions, consistent with model predictions that low-ionization emissions dominate the outer zones of these regions. The two ionization-bounded HII regions have kinematic ages (t) of 0.2 and 0.3 Myr, while the matter-bounded regions span ages from 1 to 12 Myr. For the matter-bounded HII regions, the optical emission flux decreases continuously beyond the photodissociation region (PDR), extending to approximately 1-4 times the radius of the PDR (r_PDR). The escape fraction f_esc of ionizing photons, derived from 1D Ha radial flux profiles, is ~ 0% for ionization-bounded HII regions, while it ranges from 50% to 90% for the matter-bounded HII regions. The correlation between f_esc and t suggests that evolved HII regions (with t > 1 Myr) contribute more significantly to ionizing the surrounding diffuse ionized gas compared to younger, newly formed HII regions.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Diffuse Ionized Gas in the Anti-center of the Milky Way

Using data from the LAMOST Medium-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey of Nebulae, we create a sample of 17,821 diffuse ionized gas (DIG) spectra in the anti-center region of the Milky Way, by excluding fibers in the directions of H II regions and supernova remnants. We then analyze the radial and vertical distributions of three line ratios ([N II]/H$\alpha$, [S II]/H$\alpha$, and [S II]/[N II]), as well as the oxygen abundance. [N II]/H$\alpha$ and [S II]/H$\alpha$ do not exhibit a consistent, monotonic decrease with increasing Galactocentric distance (R$_{gal}$). Instead, they show enhancement within the interarm region, positioned between the Local Arm and the Perseus Arm. [S II]/[N II] has a radial gradient of 0.1415 $\pm$ 0.0646 kpc$^{-1}$ for the inner disk (8.34 $ < R_{gal} < $ 9.65 kpc), and remains nearly flat for the outer disk ($R_{gal} > $ 9.65 kpc). In the vertical direction, [N II]/H$\alpha$, [S II]/H$\alpha$, and [S II]/[N II] increase with increasing Galactic disk height ($|z|$) in both southern and northern disks. Based on the N2S2H$\alpha$ method, which combines [S II]/[N II] and [N II]/H$\alpha$, we estimate the oxygen abundance. The oxygen abundance exhibits a consistent radial gradient with R$_{gal}$, featuring a slope of -0.0559 $\pm$ 0.0209 dex kpc$^{-1}$ for the inner disk and a similar slope of -0.0429 $\pm$ 0.0599 dex kpc$^{-1}$ for the outer disk. A single linear fitting to the entire disk yields a slope of -0.0317 $\pm$ 0.0124 dex kpc$^{-1}$. In the vertical direction, the oxygen abundance decreases with increasing $|z|$ in both southern and northern disks.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Galactic Cirri at High Galactic Latitudes: I. Investigating Scatter in Slopes between Optical and far-Infrared Intensities

Based on the slopes between DESI $g,r$ and IRAS 100 $\mu m$ intensities, specifically $k_{g}$ and $k_{r}$, we have constructed a substantial sample of Galactic cirri. This sample covers 561.25 deg$^2$ at high Galactic latitudes (|b| $\geq$ 30$^{\circ}$), allowing for a systematic study of the physical parameters of the Galactic cirrus on a large scale, such as $g-r$ color, dust temperature, asymmetry factor and albedo. The ratio of $k_{g}$ and $k_{r}$ is consistent with the diffuse Galactic starlight model, suggesting that the diffuse starlight within our own Galaxy serves as the primary illumination source for the cirrus. Both $k_{g}$ and $k_{r}$ decrease slowly with increasing Galactic latitudes and IRAS 100 $\mu m$ intensities, while they do not have a correlation with Galactic longitudes. The distribution of $k_{g}$ and $k_{r}$ confirms a significant scatter in the slopes, reaching a factor of 4-5. Such large scatter cannot be explained by the weak correlation between the slopes and Galactic latitudes and IRAS 100 $\mu m$ intensities. Instead, it is attributed to substantial variations in the intrinsic properties of the dust, e.g., asymmetry factor and albedo. We propose that the properties of dust particles play a critical role in the observed scatter in slopes, making them the primary contributing factors. Moreover, the variations in dust properties within the cirrus are localized rather than exhibiting large-scale gradients.

astro-ph.GA↗