Search

We present a multi-wavelength investigation of the H π region G25.8700+0.1350, located in the inner part of the Galaxy. In radio continuum emission, the region is seen as a bright arcshaped structure. An analysis of the H I line suggests that G25.8700+0.1350 lies at a distance of 6.5 kpc. The ionized gas is bordered by a photodissociation region, which is encircled by a molecular structure where four molecular clumps are detected. At infrared wavelengths, the region is also very conspicuous. Given the high level of visual absorption in the region, the exciting stars should be searched for in the infrared band. In this context, we found in the literature one Wolf-Rayet and one red supergiant, which, together with 37 2MASS sources that are candidate O-type stars, could be related to the origin of G25.8700+0.1350. Finally, as expanding H II regions are hypothesized to trigger star formation, we used different infrared point source catalogues to search for young stellar object candidates (cYSOs). A total of 45 cYSOs were identified projected on to the molecular clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first hydrostatic core (FHSC) is the first stable object to form in simulations of star formation. This stage has yet to be observed definitively, although several candidate FHSCs have been reported. We have produced synthetic spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from 3D hydrodynamical simulations of pre-stellar cores undergoing gravitational collapse for a variety of initial conditions. Variations in the initial rotation rate, radius and mass lead to differences in the location of the SED peak and far-infrared flux. Secondly, we attempt to fit the SEDs of five FHSC candidates from the literature and five newly identified FHSC candidates located in the Serpens South molecular cloud with simulated SEDs. The most promising FHSC candidates are fitted by a limited number of model SEDs with consistent properties, which suggests that the SED can be useful for placing constraints on the age and rotation rate of the source. The sources we consider most likely to be in FHSC phase are B1-bN, CB17-MMS, Aqu-MM1 and Serpens South candidate K242. We were unable to fit SerpS-MM22, Per-Bolo 58 and Chamaeleon-MMS1 with reasonable parameters, which indicates that they are likely to be more evolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to elucidate the spectral changes in the 3 μm region that result from chemical changes in the molecular periphery of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with extra hydrogens (H-PAHs) and methyl groups (Me-PAHs). Methods. Advanced laser spectroscopic techniques combined with mass spectrometry were applied on supersonically cooled 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, 9,10-dihydroanthracene, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene, 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexahydropyrene, 9-methylanthracene, and 9,10-dimethylanthracene, allowing us to record mass-selective and conformationally selective absorption spectra of the aromatic, aliphatic, and alkyl CH-stretches in the 3.175–3.636 μm region with laser-limited resolution. We compared the experimental absorption spectra with standard harmonic calculations and with second-order vibrational perturbation theory anharmonic calculations that use the SPECTRO program for treating resonances. Results. We show that anharmonicity plays an important if not dominant role, affecting not only aromatic, but also aliphatic and alkyl CH-stretch vibrations. The experimental high-resolution data lead to the conclusion that the variation in Me- and H-PAHs composition might well account for the observed variations in the 3 μm emission spectra of carbon-rich and star-forming regions. Our laboratory studies also suggest that heavily hydrogenated PAHs form a significant fraction of the carriers of IR emission in regions in which an anomalously strong 3 μm plateau is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Spectroscopic studies of ices in nearby star-forming regions indicate that ice mantles form on dust grains in two distinct steps, starting with polar ice formation (H2O rich) and switching to apolar ice (CO rich). Aims. We test how well the picture applies to more diffuse and quiescent clouds where the formation of the first layers of ice mantles can be witnessed. Methods. Medium-resolution near-infrared spectra are obtained toward background field stars behind the Pipe Nebula. Results. The water ice absorption is positively detected at 3.0 μm in seven lines of sight out of 21 sources for which observed spectra are successfully reduced. The peak optical depth of the water ice is significantly lower than those in Taurus with the same AV. The source with the highest water-ice optical depth shows CO ice absorption at 4.7 μm as well. The fractional abundance of CO ice with respect to water ice is 16-6+7%, and about half as much as the values typically seen in low-mass star-forming regions. Conclusions. A small fractional abundance of CO ice is consistent with some of the existing simulations. Observations of CO2 ice in the early diffuse phase of a cloud play a decisive role in understanding the switching mechanism between polar and apolar ice formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the first extended catalogue of far-infrared fluxes of Galactic bubbles. Fluxes were estimated for 1814 bubbles, defined here as the 'golden sample', and were selected from the Milky Way Project First Data Release (Simpson et al.) The golden sample was comprised of bubbles identified within the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) dataset (using 12- and 22-µm images) and Herschel data (using 70-, 160-, 250-, 350- and 500-µm wavelength images). Flux estimation was achieved initially via classical aperture photometry and then by an alternative image analysis algorithm that used active contours. The accuracy of the two methods was tested by comparing the estimated fluxes for a sample of bubbles, made up of 126 HII regions and 43 planetary nebulae, which were identified by Anderson et al. The results of this paper demonstrate that a good agreement between the two was found. This is by far the largest and most homogeneous catalogue of infrared fluxes measured for Galactic bubbles and it is a step towards the fully automated analysis of astronomical datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured mid-infrared polarization of protoplanetary discs to gain new insight into their magnetic fields. Using CanariCam at the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias, we detected linear polarization at 8.7, 10.3 and 12.5 μm from discs around eight Herbig Ae/Be stars and one T-Tauri star. We analysed polarimetric properties of each object to find out the most likely interpretation of the data. While the observed mid-infrared polarization from most objects is consistent with polarized emission and/or absorption arising from aligned dust particles, we cannot rule out polarization due to dust scattering for a few objects in our sample. For those objects for which polarization can be explained by polarized emission and/or absorption, we examined how the derived magnetic field structure correlates with the disc position angle and inclination. We found no preference for a certain type of magnetic field. Instead, various configurations (toroidal, poloidal or complex) are inferred from the observations. The detection rate (64 per cent) of polarized mid-infrared emission and/or absorption supports the expectation that magnetic fields and suitable conditions for grain alignment are common in protoplanetary discs around Herbig Ae/Be stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Filamentary molecular clouds, such as many of the infrared dark clouds (IRDCs), can undergo hierarchical fragmentation into substructures (clumps and cores) that can eventually collapse to form stars. Aims. We aim to determine the occurrence of fragmentation into cores in the clumps of the filamentary IRDC G304.74+01.32 (hereafter, G304.74). We also aim to determine the basic physical characteristics (e.g. mass, density, and young stellar object (YSO) content) of the clumps and cores in G304.74. Methods. We mapped the G304.74 filament at 350 μm using the Submillimetre APEX Bolometer Camera (SABOCA) bolometer. The new SABOCA data have a factor of 2.2 times higher resolution than our previous Large APEX BOlometer CAmera (LABOCA) 870 μm map of the cloud (9" vs. ). We also employed the Herschel far-infrared (IR) and submillimetre, and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) IR imaging data available for G304.74. The WISE data allowed us to trace the IR emission of the YSOs associated with the cloud. Results. The SABOCA 350 μm data show that G304.74 is composed of a dense filamentary structure with a mean width of only 0.18 ± 0.05 pc. The percentage of LABOCA clumps that are found to be fragmented into SABOCA cores is 36% ± 16%, but the irregular morphology of some of the cores suggests that this multiplicity fraction could be higher. The WISE data suggest that 65% ± 18% of the SABOCA cores host YSOs. The mean dust temperature of the clumps, derived by comparing the Herschel 250, 350, and 500 μm flux densities, was found to be 15.0 ± 0.8 K. The mean mass, beam-averaged H2 column density, and H2 number density of the LABOCA clumps are estimated to be 55 ± 10M⊙, (2.0 ± 0.2) × 1022 cm-2, and (3.1 ± 0.2) × 104 cm-3. The corresponding values for the SABOCA cores are 29 ± 3M⊙, (2.9 ± 0.3) × 1022 cm-2, and (7.9 ± 1.2) × 104 cm-3. The G304.74 filament is estimated to be thermally supercritical by a factor of ≳ 3.5 on the scale probed by LABOCA, and by a factor of ≳ 1.5 for the SABOCA filament. Conclusions. Our data strongly suggest that the IRDC G304.74 has undergone hierarchical fragmentation. On the scale where the clumps have fragmented into cores, the process can be explained in terms of gravitational Jeans instability. Besides the filament being fragmented, the finding of embedded YSOs in G304.74 indicates its thermally supercritical state, although the potential non-thermal (turbulent) motions can render the cloud a virial equilibrium system on scale traced by LABOCA. The IRDC G304.74 has a seahorse-like morphology in the Herschel images, and the filament appears to be attached by elongated, perpendicular striations. This is potentially evidence that G304.74 is still accreting mass from the surrounding medium, and the accretion process can contribute to the dynamical evolution of the main filament. One of the clumps in G304.74, IRAS 13039-6108, is already known to be associated with high-mass star formation, but the remaining clumps and cores in this filament might preferentially form low and intermediate-mass stars owing to their mass reservoirs and sizes. Besides the presence of perpendicularly oriented, dusty striations and potential embedded intermediate-mass YSOs, G304.74 is a relatively nearby (d ~ 2.5 kpc) IRDC, which makes it a useful target for future star formation studies. Owing to its observed morphology, we propose that G304.74 could be nicknamed the Seahorse Nebula [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI) carried out a blind survey for galaxy clusters via their Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect decrements between 2008 and 2011. The first detection, known as AMI-CL J0300+2613, has been reobserved with AMI equipped with a new digital correlator with high dynamic range. The combination of the new AMI data and more recent high-resolution sub-mm and infrared maps now shows the feature in fact to be a ring of positive dust-correlated Galactic emission, which is likely to be anomalous microwave emission (AME). If so, this is the first completely blind detection of AME at arcminute scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide is abundant in ice mantles of dust grains; some is found in the pure crystalline form as inferred from the double peak splitting of the bending profile at about 650 cm-1. To study how CO2 segregates into the pure form from water-rich mixtures of ice mantles and how it then crystallizes, we used Reflection Absorption InfraRed Spectroscopy to study the structural change of pure CO2 ice as a function of both ice thickness and temperature. We found that the υ1 + υ3 combination mode absorption profile at 3708 cm-1 provides an excellent probe to quantify the degree of crystallinity in CO2 ice. We also found that between 20 and 30 K, there is an ordering transition that we attribute to reorientation of CO2 molecules, while the diffusion of CO2 becomes significant at much higher temperatures. In the formation of pure crystallineCO2 in interstellarmedium ices, the rate limiting process is the diffusion/segregation of CO2 molecules in the ice instead of the phase transition from amorphous to crystalline after clusters/islands of CO2 are formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the CO line luminosity (LCO), the shape of the CO spectral line energy distribution (SLED), and the value of the CO-to-H2 conversion factor in galaxies in the Epoch of Reionization (EoR). For this aim, we construct a model that simultaneously takes into account the radiative transfer and the clumpy structure of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) where the CO lines are excited. We then use it to post-process state-of-the-art zoomed, high resolution (30 pc), cosmological simulation of a main-sequence (M* ≈ 1010M☉, SFR ≈ 100M☉ yr-1) galaxy, 'Althæa', at z ≈ 6.We find that the CO emission traces the inner molecular disc (r ≈ 0.5 kpc) of Althæa with the peak of the CO surface brightness co-located with that of the [C II] 158 μm emission. Its LCO(1-0) = 104.85 L☉ is comparable to that observed in local galaxies with similar stellar mass. The high (Σgas ≈ 220M☉ pc-2) gas surface density in Althæa, its large Mach number (M≈ 30) and the warm kinetic temperature (Tk ≈ 45 K) of GMCs yield a CO SLED peaked at the CO(7-6) transition, i.e. at relatively high-J and a CO-to-H2 conversion factor αCO ≈ 1.5M☉(K km s-1 pc2)-1 lower than that of the Milky Way. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observing time required to detect (resolve) at 5σ the CO(7-6) line from galaxies similar to Althæa is ≈13 h (≈38 h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The derivation of the evolutionary stage and rate of star formation of star-forming sites from Galactic single-dish far-infrared and submillimetre surveys suffers from the relatively limited spatial resolution that prevents access to 'core' scales (r ≤ 0.1 pc) for heliocentric distances d ≳ 1 kpc. In a previous article, we studied the implications of this 'distance bias' for the mass-radius relationship and its ability to diagnose potential sites for high-mass star formation, using a method that simulates the appearance at large distances of nearby and well-resolved star-forming regions mapped with Herschel. In the present article, we use the same method to quantify the bias introduced in the estimate of the evolutionary stage of dense 'clumps' (r≥0.1 pc) revealed from the Herschel Hi-GAL survey, focusing in particular on the Lbol/Menv ratio, which is widely used as an evolutionary indicator. Furthermore, we discuss how the star formation rate (SFR) and efficiency (SFE) change with distance. The location of sources extracted from the virtual distance-displaced maps in the Lbol versus Menv diagram provides evolutionary indications that are consistent with those derived from the underlying population of cores and do not fluctuate substantially with distance. We also show that estimates of the SFR from integrated clump properties are consistent with estimates from the underlying resolved source population and show only minor variations with virtual distance. We conclude that methodologies commonly used to infer evolutionary indicators from clump-integrated quantities from large-scale single-dish Galactic far-infrared and submillimetre surveys are robust against distance and angular-resolution bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The warm ionized medium (WIM) occupies a significant fraction of the Galactic disk. Determining the WIM properties at the leading edge of spiral arms is important for understanding its dynamics and cloud formation. Aims. We derive the properties of the WIM at the inner edge of the Scutum arm tangency, which is a unique location in which to disentangle the WIM from other components, using the ionized gas tracers C+ and N+. Methods. We use high spectral resolution [C ii] 158 μm and [N ii] 205 μm fine structure line observations taken with the upGREAT and GREAT instruments, respectively, on SOFIA, along with auxiliary H i and 13CO observations. The observations consist of samples in and out of the Galactic plane along 18 lines of sight (LOS) between longitude 30° and 32°. Results. We detect strong [N ii] emission throughout the Scutum tangency. At VLSR = 110 to 125 km s-1 where there is little, if any, 13CO, we are able to disentangle the [N ii] and [C ii] emission that arises from the WIM at the arm’s inner edge. We find an average electron density ~0.9 cmm-3 in the plane, and ~0.4 cmm-3 just above the plane. The [N ii] emission decreases exponentially with latitude with a scale height ~55 pc. For VLSR< 110 km s-1 there is [N ii] emission tracing highly ionized gas throughout the arm’s molecular layer. This ionized gas has a high density, n(e)~ 30 cmm-3, and a few percent filling factor. We also find evidence for [C ii] absorption by foreground gas. Conclusions. [N ii] and [C ii] observations at the Scutum arm tangency reveal a highly ionized gas with average electron density about 10 to 20 times those of the interarm WIM, and is best explained by a model in which the interarm WIM is compressed as it falls into the potential well of the arm. The widespread distribution of [N ii] in the molecular layers shows that high density ionized gas is distributed throughout the Scutum arm. The electron densities derived from [N ii] for these molecular cloud regions are ~30 cmm-3, and probably arise in the ionized boundary layers of clouds. The [N ii] detected in the molecular portion of the spiral arm arises from several cloud components with a combined total depth ~8 pc. This [N ii] emission most likely arises from ionized boundary layers, probably the result of the shock compression of the WIM as it impacts the arm’s neutral gas, as well as from extended H ii regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an extensively updated version of the purely ray-tracing 3D dust radiation transfer code DART-Ray. The new version includes five major upgrades: 1) a series of optimizations for the ray-angular density and the scattered radiation source function; 2) the implementation of several data and task parallelizations using hybrid MPI+OpenMP schemes; 3) the inclusion of dust self-heating; 4) the ability to produce surface brightness maps for observers within the models in HEALPix format; 5) the possibility to set the expected numerical accuracy already at the start of the calculation. We tested the updated code with benchmark models where the dust self-heating is not negligible. Furthermore, we performed a study of the extent of the source influence volumes, using galaxy models, which are critical in determining the efficiency of the DART-Ray algorithm. The new code is publicly available, documented for both users and developers, and accompanied by several programmes to create input grids for different model geometries and to import the results of N-body and SPH simulations. These programmes can be easily adapted to different input geometries, and for different dust models or stellar emission libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. A multiwavelength study of laboratory carbons with varying degrees of hydrogenation and sp2 hybridization is required to characterize the structure of the carbonaceous carriers of interstellar and circumstellar extinction. Aims. We study the spectral properties of carbonaceous dust analogs from the far-ultraviolet to the mid-infrared and correlate features in both spectral ranges to the aromatic/aliphatic degree. Methods. Analogs to carbonaceous interstellar dust encountered in various phases of the interstellar medium have been prepared in the laboratory. These are amorphous hydrogenated carbons (a-C:H), analogs to the diffuse interstellar medium component, and soot particles, analogs to the polyaromatic component. Thin films (d < 100 nm) have been measured in transmission in the vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV; 120–210 nm) within the atmospheric pressure experiment (APEX) chamber of the DISCO beam line at the SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility. Spectra of these films were further measured through the UV-Vis (210 nm–1 µm) and in the mid-infrared (3–15 µm). Results. Tauc optical gaps, Eg, are derived from the visible spectra. The major spectral features are fitted through the VUV to the mid-infrared to obtain positions, full-widths at half maximum (FWHM), and integrated intensities. These are plotted against the position of the π-π ∗ electronic transitions peak. Unidentified or overlapping features in the UV are identified by correlations with complementary infrared data. A correlation between the optical gap and position of the π-π ∗ electronic transitions peak is found. The latter is also correlated to the position of the sp3 carbon defect band at ∼8 µm, the aromatic C=C stretching mode position at ∼6 µm, and the H/C ratio. Conclusions. Ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy of structurally diverse carbon samples are used to constrain the nanostructural properties of carbon carriers of both circumstellar and interstellar extinction, such as the associated coherent lengths and the size of polyaromatic units. Our study suggests that carriers of the interstellar UV bump should exhibit infrared bands akin to the A/B classes of the aromatic infrared bands, while the circumstellar bump carriers should exhibit bands corresponding to the B/C classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimate the column density of the Galactic foreground interstellar medium (GFISM) in the direction of extragalactic sources. All-sky AKARI FIS infrared sky survey data might be used to trace the GFISM with a resolution of 2 arcminutes. The AKARI based GFISM hydrogen column density estimates are compared with similar quantities based on HI 21cm measurements of various resolution and of Planck results. High spatial resolution observations of the GFISM may be important recalculating the physical parameters of gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxies using the updated foreground parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. L1630 in the Orion B molecular cloud, which includes the iconic Horsehead Nebula, illuminated by the star system σ Ori, is an example of a photodissociation region (PDR). In PDRs, stellar radiation impinges on the surface of dense material, often a molecular cloud, thereby inducing a complex network of chemical reactions and physical processes. Aims. Observations toward L1630 allow us to study the interplay between stellar radiation and a molecular cloud under relatively benign conditions, that is, intermediate densities and an intermediate UV radiation field. Contrary to the well-studied Orion Molecular Cloud 1 (OMC1), which hosts much harsher conditions, L1630 has little star formation. Our goal is to relate the [C ii] fine-structure line emission to the physical conditions predominant in L1630 and compare it to studies of OMC1. Methods. The [C ii] 158 μm line emission of L1630 around the Horsehead Nebula, an area of 12' × 17', was observed using the upgraded German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies (upGREAT) onboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). Results. Of the [C ii] emission from the mapped area 95%, 13 L☉, originates from the molecular cloud; the adjacent Hii region contributes only 5%, that is, 1 L☉. From comparison with other data (CO (1-0)-line emission, far-infrared (FIR) continuum studies, emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)), we infer a gas density of the molecular cloud of nH ~ 3 × 103 cm-3, with surface layers, including the Horsehead Nebula, having a density of up to nH ~ 4 × 104 cm-3. The temperature of the surface gas is T ~ 100K. The average [C ii] cooling effciency within the molecular cloud is 1:3 × 10-2. The fraction of the mass of the molecular cloud within the studied area that is traced by [C ii] is only 8%. Our PDR models are able to reproduce the FIR-[C ii] correlations and also the CO(1-0)-[C ii] correlations. Finally, we compare our results on the heating effciency of the gas with theoretical studies of photoelectric heating by PAHs, clusters of PAHs, and very small grains, and find the heating effciency to be lower than theoretically predicted, a continuation of the trend set by other observations. Conclusions. In L1630 only a small fraction of the gas mass is traced by [C ii]. Most of the [C ii] emission in the mapped area stems from PDR surfaces. The layered edge-on structure of the molecular cloud and limitations in spatial resolution put constraints on our ability to relate different tracers to each other and to the physical conditions. From our study, we conclude that the relation between [C ii] emission and physical conditions is likely to be more complicated than often assumed. The theoretical heating effciency is higher than the one we calculate from the observed [C ii] emission in the L1630 molecular cloud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform numerical simulations of dusty, supersonic turbulence in molecular clouds. We model 0.1, 1 and 10 μm sized dust grains at an initial dust-to-gas mass ratio of 1:100, solving the equations of combined gas and dust dynamics where the dust is coupled to the gas through a drag term. We show that, for 0.1 and 1 μm grains, the dust-to-gas ratio deviates by typically 10-20 per cent from the mean, since the stopping time of the dust due to the gas drag is short compared to the dynamical time. Contrary to previous findings, we find no evidence for orders of magnitude fluctuation in the dust-to-gas ratio for∼0.1 μmgrains. Larger, 10 μmdust grains may have dust-to-gas ratios increased by up to an order of magnitude locally. Both small (0.1 μm) and large (≳1 μm) grains trace the large-scale morphology of the gas; however, we find evidence for 'size-sorting' of grains, where turbulence preferentially concentrates larger grains into dense regions. Size-sorting may help to explain observations of 'coreshine' from dark clouds and why extinction laws differ along lines of sight through molecular clouds in the Milky Way compared to the diffuse interstellar medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyl isocyanate has been recently detected in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/CG) and in the interstellar medium. New physicochemical studies on this species are now necessary as tools for subsequent studies in astrophysics. In this work, infrared spectra of solid CH3NCO have been obtained at temperatures of relevance for astronomical environments. The spectra are dominated by a strong, characteristic multiplet feature at 2350-2250 cm-1, which can be attributed to the asymmetric stretching of the NCO group. A phase transition from amorphous to crystalline methyl isocyanate is observed at -90 K. The band strengths for the absorptions of CH3NCO in ice at 20 K have been measured. Deuterated methyl isocyanate is used to help with the spectral assignment. No X-ray structure has been reported for crystalline CH3NCO. Here we advance a tentative theoretical structure, based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, derived taking the crystal of isocyanic acid as a starting point. A harmonic theoretical spectrum is then calculated for the proposed structure and compared with the experimental data. A mixed ice of H2O and CH3NCO was formed by simultaneous deposition of water and methyl isocyanate at 20 K. The absence of new spectral features indicates that methyl isocyanate and water do not react appreciably at 20 K, but form a stable mixture. The high CH3NCO/H2O ratio reported for comet 67P/CG, and the characteristic structure of the 2350-2250 cm-1 band, makes it a very good candidate for future astronomical searches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have obtained deep narrowband images in the near-infrared H2 λ2.122 μm emission line for a sample of 15 faint Isaac Newton Telescope Photometric Hα Survey (IPHAS) bipolar planetary nebulae (PNe) to search for molecular material. H2 emission is found in most of them (14 out of 15), mostly associated with rings at their equatorial regions and with their bipolar lobes. These detections add to the high occurrence of H2 emission among bipolar PNe reported in previous works, resulting from the large reservoir of molecular material in these sources and the suitable excitation conditions for H2 emission. The correlation between detailed bipolar morphology and H2 luminosity is also confirmed: bipolar PNe with broad equatorial rings (R-BPNe) have almost no continuum emission, are H2 brighter and have larger H2/Br γ line ratio than bipolar PNe with pinched equatorial waists (W-BPNe). The origin of this dichotomy is unclear. The larger size and age of R-BPNe are consistent with shock excitation of H2, whereas ultraviolet pumping is most likely the excitationmechanism in the smaller and younger W-BPNe, which would explain their lower H2 luminosity. Although both types of bipolar PNe seem to proceed from the same progenitor population, this does not imply that R-BPNe descend fromW-BPNe. Otherwise, we note that some of the H2-weak bipolar PNe harbor post-common envelope binary systems and symbiotic stars. Finally, we suggest that the long-living H2 emission from R-BPNe arises from a discrete distribution of compact knots embedded within the ionized gas at the equatorial region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. There is a considerable deficiency in the number of known supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Galaxy compared to that expected. This deficiency is thought to be caused by a lack of sensitive radio continuum data. Searches for extended low-surface brightness radio sources may find new Galactic SNRs, but confusion with the much larger population of H II regions makes identifying such features challenging. SNRs can, however, be separated from H II regions using their significantly lower mid-infrared (MIR) to radio continuum intensity ratios. Aims. Our goal is to find missing SNR candidates in the Galactic disk by locating extended radio continuum sources that lack MIR counterparts. Methods. We use the combination of high-resolution 1-2 GHz continuum data from The HI, OH, Recombination line survey of the Milky Way (THOR) and lower-resolution VLA 1.4 GHz Galactic Plane Survey (VGPS) continuum data, together with MIR data from the Spitzer GLIMPSE, Spitzer MIPSGAL, and WISE surveys to identify SNR candidates. To ensure that the candidates are not being confused with H II regions, we exclude radio continuum sources from the WISE Catalog of Galactic H II Regions, which contains all known and candidate H II regions in the Galaxy. Results. We locate 76 new Galactic SNR candidates in the THOR and VGPS combined survey area of 67.4° > ℓ > 17.5°, | b | ≤ 1.25° and measure the radio flux density for 52 previously-known SNRs. The candidate SNRs have a similar spatial distribution to the known SNRs, although we note a large number of new candidates near ℓ ≃ 30°, the tangent point of the Scutum spiral arm. The candidates are on average smaller in angle compared to the known regions, 6.4' ± 4.7' versus 11.0' ± 7.8', and have lower integrated flux densities. Conclusions. The THOR survey shows that sensitive radio continuum data can discover a large number of SNR candidates, and that these candidates can be efficiently identified using the combination of radio and MIR data. If the 76 candidates are confirmed as true SNRs, for example using radio polarization measurements or by deriving radio spectral indices, this would more than double the number of known Galactic SNRs in the survey area. This large increase would still, however, leave a discrepancy between the known and expected SNR populations of about a factor of two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emission of fullerenes in their infrared vibrational bands has been detected in space near hot stars. The proposed attribution of the diffuse interstellar bands at 9577 and 9632 Å to electronic transitions of the buckminsterfullerene cation (i.e. C+ 60) was recently supported by new laboratory data, confirming the presence of this species in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM). In this Letter, we present the detection, also in the diffuse ISM, of the 17.4 and 18.9 μm emission bands commonly attributed to vibrational bands of neutral C60. According to classical models that compute the charge state of large molecules in space, C60 is expected to be mostly neutral in the diffuse ISM. This is in agreement with the abundances of diffuse C60 we derive here from observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a comprehensive statistical analysis of star-forming objects located in the vicinities of 1 360 bubble structures throughout the Galactic Plane and their local environments. The compilation of ~70 000 star-forming sources, found in the proximity of the ionized (Hii) regions and detected in both Hi-GAL and GLIMPSE surveys, provided a broad overview of the different evolutionary stages of star-formation in bubbles, from prestellar objects to more evolved young stellar objects (YSOs). Surface density maps of star-forming objects clearly reveal an evolutionary trend where more evolved star-forming objects are found spatially located near the center, while younger star-forming objects are found at the edge of the bubbles. We derived dynamic ages for a subsample of 182 Hii regions for which kinematic distances and radio continuum flux measurements were available. We detect ~80% more star-forming sources per unit area in the direction of bubbles than in the surrounding fields. We estimate ~10% clump formation efficiency (CFE) of Hi-GAL clumps in bubbles, twice the CFE in fields not affected by feedback. We find higher CFE of protostellar clumps in younger bubbles, whose density of the bubble shells is higher. We argue that the formation rate from prestellar to protostellar phase is probably higher during the early stages of the bubble expansion. Evaluation of the fragmentation time inside the shell of bubbles advocates the preexistence of clumps in the medium before the bubble, as supported by numerical simulations. Approximately 23% of the Hi-GAL clumps are found located in the direction of a bubble, with 15% for prestellar clumps and 41% for protostellar clumps. We argue that the high fraction of protostellar clumps may be due to the acceleration of the star-formation process cause by the feedback of the (Hii) bubbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundance of metals in galaxies is a key parameter that permits to distinguish between different galaxy formation and evolution models. Most of the metallicity determinations are based on optical line ratios. However, the optical spectral range is subject to dust extinction and, for high-z objects (z > 3), some of the lines used in optical metallicity diagnostics are shifted to wavelengths not accessible to ground-based observatories. For this reason, we explore metallicity diagnostics using far-infrared (far-IR) line ratios which can provide a suitable alternative in such situations. To investigate these far-IR line ratios, we modelled the emission of a starburst with the photoionization code CLOUDY. The most sensitive far-IR ratios to measure metallicities are the [OIII]52 μm and 88 μm to [NIII]57 μm ratios. We show that this ratio produces robust metallicities in the presence of an active galactic nucleus and is insensitive to changes in the age of the ionizing stellar. Another metallicity-sensitive ratio is the [OIII]88 μm/[N II]122 μm ratio, although it depends on the ionization parameter. We propose various mid- and far-IR line ratios to break this dependence. Finally, we apply these far-IR diagnostics to a sample of 19 local ultraluminous IR galaxies (ULIRGs) observed with Herschel and Spitzer. We find that the gas-phase metallicity in these local ULIRGs is in the range 0.7 < Zgas/Z⊙ < 1.5, which corresponds to 8.5 < 12 + log(O/H) < 8.9. The inferred metallicities agree well with previous estimates for local ULIRGs and this confirms that they lie below the local mass-metallicity relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an analysis of the properties of neutral hydrogen (H I) in 248 nearby (0.02 < z < 0.25) radio galaxies with S1.4 GHz > 30 mJy and for which optical spectroscopy is available. The observations were carried out with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope as the last large project before the upgrade of the telescope with phased array feed receivers (Apertif). The sample covers almost four orders of magnitude in radio power from log P1.4 GHz = 22.5 W Hz−1 and 26.2 W Hz−1. We detect H I in absorption in 27% ± 5.5% of the objects. The detections are found over the full range of radio power. However, the distribution and kinematics of the absorbing H I gas appear to depend on radio power, the properties of the radio continuum emission, and the dust content of the sources. Among the sources where H I is detected, gas with kinematics deviating from regular rotation is more likely found as the radio power increases. In the great majority of these cases, the H I profile is asymmetric with a significant blue-shifted component. This is particularly common for sources with log P1.4 GHz > 24 W Hz−1, where the radio emission is small, possibly because these radio sources are young. The same is found for sources that are bright in the mid-infrared, i.e. sources rich in heated dust. In these sources, the H I is outflowing likely under the effect of the interaction with the radio emission. Conversely, in dust-poor galaxies, and in sources with extended radio emission, at all radio powers we only detect H I distributed in a rotating disk. Stacking experiments show that in sources for which we do not detect H I in absorption directly, the H I has a column density that is lower than 3.5 × 1017 (Tspin/cf) cm−2. We use our results to predict the number and type of H I absorption lines that will be detected by the upcoming surveys of the Square Kilometre Array precursors and pathfinders (Apertif, MeerKAT, and ASKAP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Herschel has revolutionized our ability to measure column densities (NH) and temperatures (T) of molecular clouds thanks to its far infrared multiwavelength coverage. However, the lack of a well defined background intensity level in the Herschel data limits the accuracy of the NH and T maps. Aims. We aim to provide a method that corrects the missing Herschel background intensity levels using the Planck model for foreground Galactic thermal dust emission. For the Herschel/PACS data, both the constant-offset as well as the spatial dependence of the missing background must be addressed. For the Herschel/SPIRE data, the constant-offset correction has already been applied to the archival data so we are primarily concerned with the spatial dependence, which is most important at 250 μm. Methods. We present a Fourier method that combines the publicly available Planck model on large angular scales with the Herschel images on smaller angular scales. Results. We have applied our method to two regions spanning a range of Galactic environments: Perseus and the Galactic plane region around l = 11deg (HiGal–11). We post-processed the combined dust continuum emission images to generate column density and temperature maps. We compared these to previously adopted constant-offset corrections. We find significant differences (≳20%) over significant (~15%) areas of the maps, at low column densities (NH ≲ 1022 cm-2) and relatively high temperatures (T ≳ 20 K). We have also applied our method to synthetic observations of a simulated molecular cloud to validate our method. Conclusions. Our method successfully corrects the Herschel images, including both the constant-offset intensity level and the scale-dependent background variations measured by Planck. Our method improves the previous constant-offset corrections, which did not account for variations in the background emission levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sheer interstellar abundance of helium makes any bound molecules or complexes containing it of potential interest for astrophysical observation. This work utilizes high-level and trusted quantum chemical techniques to predict the rotational, vibrational and rovibrational traits of HeHHe+, HeHNe+ and HeHAr+. The first two are shown to be strongly bound, while HeHAr+ is shown to be more of a van der Waals complex of argonium with a helium atom. In any case, the formation of HeHHe+ through reactions of HeH+ with HeH3 + is exothermic. HeHHe+ exhibits the quintessentially bright proton-shuttle motion present in all proton-bound complexes in the 7.4 micron range making it a possible target for telescopic observation at the mid-/far-Infrared crossover point and a possible tracer for the as-of-yet unobserved helium hydride cation. Furthermore, a similar mode in HeHNe+ can be observed to the blue of this close to 6.9 microns. The brightest mode of HeHAr+ is dimmed due the reduced interaction of the helium atom with the central proton, but this fundamental frequency can be found slightly to the red of the Ar-H stretch in the astrophysically detected argonium cation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we extend the study initiated in Paper I by modelling grain ensemble evolution in a dynamical model of an expanding HII region and checking the effects of momentum transfer from dust to gas. The radiation pressure on the dust, the dust drift and the lug on the gas by the dust are all important processes that should be considered simultaneously to describe the dynamics of HII regions. By accounting for the momentum transfer from the dust to the gas, the expansion time of the HII region is notably reduced (for our model of RCW 120, the time to reach the observed radius of the HII region is reduced by a factor of 1.5). Under the common approximation of frozen dust, where there is no relative drift between the dust and gas, the radiation pressure from the ionizing star drives the formation of the very deep gas cavity near the star. Such a cavity is much less pronounced when the dust drift is taken into account. The dust drift leads to the two-peak morphology of the dust density distribution and significantly reduces the dust-to-gas ratio in the ionized region (by a factor of 2 to 10). The dust-to-gas ratio is larger for higher temperatures of the ionizing star since the dust grains have a larger electric charge and are more strongly coupled to the gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present cosmological, radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of galaxy formation during the epoch of reionization in an effort towards modelling the interstellar medium (ISM) and interpreting Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) observations. Simulations with and without stellar radiation are compared at large (Mpc), intermediate (tens of kpc) and small (sub-kpc) scales. At large scales, the dense regions around galaxies reionize first before ultraviolet (UV) photons penetrate the voids; however, considerable amounts of neutral gas remain present within the haloes. The spatial distribution of neutral gas is highly dynamic and is anticorrelated with the presence of stars older than a few Myr. For our specific feedback implementation, most of the metals remain inside the virial radii of haloes, and they are proportionally distributed over the ionized and neutral media by mass. For our most massive galaxy with Mh ∼ 1011 M⊚, the majority of the C II and OI masses are associated with cold neutral clumps.NII is more diffuse and arises inwarmer gas, whileOIII arises in hotter gas with a higher ionization parameter, produced by photoheating and supernovae. If smaller pockets of high-metallicity gas exist in the ISM, the emission from these ions may be observable by ALMA, while the low metallicity of the galaxy may cause these systems to fall below the local [C II]–star formation rate relation. The presence of dust can cause spatial offsets between UV/Lyman α and [C II] emissions, as suggested by the recent observations of Maiolino et al. [O III] may be spatially offset from both of these components since it arises from a different part of density–temperature phase space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex organic molecules (COMs) have been identified in different environments in star-forming regions. Laboratory studies show that COMs form in the solid state, on icy grains, typically following a 'non-energetic' (atom-addition) or 'energetic' (UV-photon absorption) trigger. So far, such studies have been largely performed for single processes. Here, we present the first work that quantitatively investigates both the relative importance and the cumulative effect of '(non-)energetic' processing. We focus on astronomically relevant CO:CH3OH = 4:1 ice analogues exposed to doses relevant for the collapse stage of dense clouds. Hydrogenation experiments result in the formation of methyl formate (MF; HC(O)OCH3), glycolaldehyde (GA; HC(O)CH2OH) and ethylene glycol (EG; H2C(OH)CH2OH) at 14 K. The absolute abundances and the abundance fractions are found to be dependent on the H-atom/CO:CH3OH-molecule ratios and on the overall deposition rate. In the case that ices are exposed to UV photons only, several different COMs are found. Typically, the abundance fractions are 0.2 for MF, 0.3 for GA and 0.5 for EG as opposed to the values found in pure hydrogenation experiments without UV in which MF is largely absent: 0.0, 0.2-0.6 and 0.8-0.4, respectively. In experiments where both are applied, overall COM abundances drop to about half of those found in the pure UV irradiation experiments, but the composition fractions are very similar. This implies COM ratios can be used as a diagnostic tool to derive the processing history of an ice. Solid-state branching ratios derived here for GA and EG compare well with observations, while the MF case cannot be explained by solid-state conditions investigated here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Protostellar jets and outflows are key features of the star-formation process, and primary processes of the feedback of young stars on the interstellar medium. Understanding the underlying shocks is necessary to explain how jet and outflow systems are launched, and to quantify their chemical and energetic impacts on the surrounding medium. Aims: We performed a high-spectral resolution study of the [OI]63μm emission in the outflow of the intermediate-mass Class 0 protostar Cep E-mm. The goal is to determine the structure of the outflow, to constrain the chemical conditions in the various components, and to understand the nature of the underlying shocks, thus probing the origin of the mass-loss phenomenon. Methods: We present observations of the OI ³P1 → ³P2, OH between ²Π1/2J = 3/2 and J = 1/2 at 1837.8 GHz, and CO (16-15) lines with the GREAT receiver onboard SOFIA towards three positions in the Cep E protostellar outflow: Cep E-mm (the driving protostar), Cep E-BI (in the southern lobe), and Cep E-BII (the terminal position in the southern lobe). Results: The CO (16-15) line is detected at all three positions. The [OI]63μm line is detected in Cep E-BI and BII, whereas the OH line is not detected. In Cep E-BII, we identify three kinematical components in OI and CO. These were already detected in CO transitions and relate to spatial components: the jet, the HH377 terminal bow-shock, and the outflow cavity. We measure line temperature and line integrated intensity ratios for all components. The OI column density is higher in the outflow cavity than in the jet, which itself is higher than in the terminal shock. The terminal shock is the region where the abundance ratio of OI to CO is the lowest (about 0.2), whereas the jet component is atomic (N(OI)/N(CO)~2.7). In the jet, we compare the [OI]63μm observations with shock models that successfully fit the integrated intensity of 10 CO lines. We find that these models most likely do not fit the [OI]63μm data. Conclusions: The high intensity of OI emission points towards the propagation of additional dissociative or alternative FUV-irradiated shocks, where the illumination comes from the shock itself. A picture emerges from the sample of low-to-high mass protostellar outflows, where similar observations have been performed, with the effects of illumination increasing with the mass of the protostar. These findings need confirmation with more observational constraints and a larger sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The neutral interstellar medium of galaxies acts as a reservoir to fuel star formation. The dominant heating and cooling mechanisms in this phase are uncertain in extremely metal-poor star-forming galaxies. The low dust-to-gas mass ratio and low polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon abundance in such objects suggest that the traditional photoelectric effect heating may not be effective. Aims. Our objective is to identify the dominant thermal mechanisms in one such galaxy, I Zw 18 (1=30 Z⊙, assess the diagnostic value of fine-structure cooling lines, and estimate the molecular gas content. Even though molecular gas is an important catalyst and tracer of star formation, constraints on the molecular gas mass remain elusive in the most metal-poor galaxies. Methods. Building on a previous photoionization model describing the giant H ii region of I Zw 18-NW within a multi-sector topology, we provide additional constraints using, in particular, the [C II] 157 μm and [O I] 63 μm lines and the dust mass recently measured with the Herschel Space Telescope. Results. The heating of the H I region appears to be mainly due to photoionization by radiation from a bright X-ray binary source, while the photoelectric effect is negligible. Significant cosmic ray heating is not excluded. Inasmuch as X-ray heating dominates in the H I gas, the infrared fine-structure lines provide an average X-ray luminosity of order 4 × 1040 erg s-1 over the last few 104 yr in the galaxy. The upper limits to the [Ne v] lines provide strong constraints on the soft X-ray flux arising from the binary. A negligible mass of H2 is predicted. Nonetheless, up to ~107 M⊙ of H2 may be hidden in a few sufficiently dense clouds of order .5 pc (.0.0500) in size. Regardless of the presence of significant amounts of H2 gas, [C II] and [O I] do not trace the so-called "CO-dark gas", but they trace the almost purely atomic medium. Although the [C II]+[O I] to total infrared ratio in IZw 18 is similar to values in more metal-rich sources (~1%), it cannot be safely used as a photoelectric heating effciency proxy. This ratio seems to be kept stable owing to a correlation between the X-ray luminosity and the star formation rate. Conclusions. X-ray heating could be an important process in extremely metal-poor sources. The lack of photoelectric heating due to the low dust-to-gas ratio tends to be compensated for by the larger occurrence and power of X-ray binaries in low-metallicity galaxies. We speculate that X-ray heating may quench star formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Dust and its emission is increasingly being used to constrain the evolutionary stage of a galaxy. A comprehensive characterization of dust, best achieved in nearby bright galaxies, is thus a highly useful resource. Aims. We aim to characterize the relationship between dust properties (mass, luminosity, and temperature) and their relationships with galaxy-wide properties (stellar, atomic, and molecular gas mass, and star formation mode). We also aim to provide equations to accurately estimate dust properties from limited observational datasets. Methods. We assemble a sample of 1630 nearby (z < 0:1) galaxies - over a large range of stellar masses (M*), star formation rates (SFR) and specific star formation rates (sSFR = SFR/M*) - for which comprehensive and uniform multi-wavelength observations are available from WISE, IRAS, Planck, and/or SCUBA. The characterization of dust emission comes from spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting using Draine & Li (2007, ApJ, 657, 810) dust models, which we parametrize using two components (warm at 45-70 K and cold at 18-31 K). The subsample of these galaxies with global measurements of CO and/or HI are used to explore the molecular and/or atomic gas content of the galaxies. Results. The total infrared luminosity (LIR), dust mass (Mdust), and dust temperature of the cold component (Tcold) form a plane that we refer to as the dust plane. A galaxy's sSFR drives its position on the dust plane: starburst (high sSFR) galaxies show higher LIR, Mdust, and Tcold compared to main sequence (typical sSFR) and passive galaxies (low sSFR). Starburst galaxies also show higher specific dust masses (Mdust/M*) and specific gas masses (Mgas/M*). We confirm earlier findings of an anti-correlation between the dust to stellar mass ratio and M*. We also find different anti-correlations depending on sSFR; the anti-correlation becomes stronger as the sSFR increases, with the spread due to different cold dust temperatures. The dust mass is more closely correlated with the total gas mass (atomic plus molecular) than with the individual atomic and molecular gas masses. Our comprehensive multiwavelength data allows us to define several equations to accurately estimate LIR, Mdust, and Tcold from one or two monochromatic luminosities in the infrared and/or sub-millimeter. Conclusions. It is possible to estimate the dust mass and infrared luminosity from a single monochromatic luminosity within the Rayleigh-Jeans tail of the dust emission, with errors of 0.12 and 0.20 dex, respectively. These errors are reduced to 0.05 and 0.10 dex, respectively, if the dust temperature of the cold component is used. The dust mass is better correlated with the total ISM mass (MISM ∝ Mdust 0:7). For galaxies with stellar masses 8.5 < log(M*/M⊙) < 11.9, the conversion factor between the single monochromatic luminosity at 850 μm and the total ISM mass (α850 μm) shows a large scatter (rms = 0.29 dex) and a weak correlation with the LIR. The star formation mode of a galaxy shows a correlation with both the gas mass and dust mass: the dustiest (high Mdust/M*) galaxies are gas-rich and show the highest SFRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim of improving predictions on far-infrared (FIR) line emission from Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs), we study the effects of photoevaporation (PE) produced by external farultraviolet (FUV) and ionizing (extreme-ultraviolet) radiation on GMC structure.We consider three different GMCs with mass in the range MGMC = 103-106M⊙. Our model includes (i) an observationally based inhomogeneous GMC density field, and (ii) its time evolution during the PE process. In the fiducial case (MGMC ≈ 105M⊙), the PE time (tpe) increases from 1 to 30 Myr for gasmetallicityZ = 0.05-1 Z⊙ respectively. Next, we compute the time-dependent luminosity of key FIR lines tracing the neutral and ionized gas layers of the GMCs, ([C II] at 158 μm, [O III] at 88μm) as a function of G0 and Z until complete PE at tpe. We find that the specific [C II] luminosity is almost independent of the GMC model within the survival time of the cloud. Stronger FUV fluxes produce higher [C II] and [O III] luminosities, however, lasting for progressively shorter times. At Z = Z⊙, the [CII] emission is maximized (LCII ≈ 104 L⊙ for the fiducial model) for t <1Myr and logG0 ⩾ 3. Noticeably and consistently with the recent detection by Inoue et al. of a galaxy at redshift z ≈ 7.2, for Z ⩽ 0.2Z⊙, the [OIII] line might outshine [C II] emission by up to ≈1000 times. We conclude that the [OIII] line is a key diagnostic of low-metallicity interstellar medium, especially in galaxies with very young stellar populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We study the association between giant molecular clouds (GMCs) and young stellar cluster candidates (YSCCs) to shed light on the time evolution of local star formation episodes in the nearby galaxy M 33. Methods: The CO (J = 2-1) IRAM all-disk survey was used to identify and classify 566 GMCs with masses between 2 × 104 and 2 × 106M⊙ across the whole star-forming disk of M 33. In the same area, there are 630 YSCCs that we identified using Spitzer-24 µm data. Some YSCCs are embedded star-forming sites, while the majority have GALEX-UV and Ha counterparts with estimated cluster masses and ages. Results: The GMC classes correspond to different cloud evolutionary stages: inactive clouds are 32% of the total and classified clouds with embedded and exposed star formation are 16% and 52% of the total, respectively. Across the regular southern spiral arm, inactive clouds are preferentially located in the inner part of the arm, possibly suggesting a triggering of star formation as the cloud crosses the arm. The spatial correlation between YSCCs and GMCs is extremely strong, with a typical separation of 17 pc. This is less than half the CO (2-1) beam size and illustrates the remarkable physical link between the two populations. GMCs and YSCCs follow the HI filaments, except in the outermost regions, where the survey finds fewer GMCs than YSCCs, which is most likely due to undetected clouds with low CO luminosity. The distribution of the non-embedded YSCC ages peaks around 5 Myr, with only a few being as old as 8-10 Myr. These age estimates together with the number of GMCs in the various evolutionary stages lead us to conclude that 14 Myr is the typical lifetime of a GMC in M 33 prior to cloud dispersal. The inactive and embedded phases are short, lasting about 4 and 2 Myr, respectively. This underlines that embedded YSCCs rapidly break out from the clouds and become partially visible in Ha or UV long before cloud dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The onset of star formation is intimately linked with the presence of massive unstable filamentary structures. These filaments are therefore key for theoretical models that aim to reproduce the observed characteristics of the star formation process in the Galaxy. Aims. As part of the filament study carried out by the Herschel Galactic Cold Cores Key Programme, here we study and discuss the filament properties presented in GCC VII (Paper I) in context with theoretical models of filament formation and evolution. Methods. A conservatively selected sample of filaments located at a distance D< 500 pc was extracted from the GCC fields with the getfilaments algorithm. The physical structure of the filaments was quantified according to two main components: the central (Gaussian) region of the filament (core component), and the power-law-like region dominating the filament column density profile at larger radii (wing component). The properties and behaviour of these components relative to the total linear mass density of the filament and the column density of its environment were compared with the predictions from theoretical models describing the evolution of filaments under gravity-dominated conditions. Results. The feasibility of a transition from a subcritical to supercritical state by accretion at any given time is dependent on the combined effect of filament intrinsic properties and environmental conditions. Reasonably self-gravitating (high Mline,core) filaments in dense environments (AV≳ 3 mag) can become supercritical on timescales of t ~ 1 Myr by accreting mass at constant or decreasing width. The trend of increasing Mline,tot (Mline,core and Mline,wing) and ridge AV with background for the filament population also indicates that the precursors of star-forming filaments evolve coevally with their environment. The simultaneous increase of environment and filament AV explains the observed association between dense environments and high Mline,core values, and it argues against filaments remaining in constant single-pressure equilibrium states. The simultaneous growth of filament and background in locations with efficient mass assembly, predicted in numerical models of filaments in collapsing clouds, presents a suitable scenario for the fulfillment of the combined filament mass-environment criterium that is in quantitative agreement with Herschel observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of spatial resolution in star-forming regions, observed at large distances (d≳ 1 kpc) with Herschel, can lead to estimates of the physical parameters of the detected compact sources (clumps), which do not necessarily mirror the properties of the original population of cores. This paper aims at quantifying the bias introduced in the estimation of these parameters by the distance effect. To do so, we consider Herschel maps of nearby star-forming regions taken from the Herschel Gould Belt survey, and simulate the effect of increased distance to understand what amount of information is lost when a distant star-forming region is observed with Herschel resolution. In the maps displaced to different distances we extract compact sources, and we derive their physical parameters as if they were original Herschel infrared Galactic Plane Survey maps of the extracted source samples. In this way, we are able to discuss how the main physical properties change with distance. In particular, we discuss the ability of clumps to form massive stars: we estimate the fraction of distant sources that are classified as high-mass stars-forming objects due to their position in the mass versus radius diagram, that are only 'false positives'. We also give a threshold for high-mass star formation M >1282 (r/[pc])1.42 M☉. In conclusion, this paper provides the astronomer dealing with Herschel maps of distant star-forming regions with a set of prescriptions to partially recover the character of the core population in unresolved clumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Information on the existence and properties of diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) outside the optical domain is still limited. Additional infra-red (IR) measurements and IR-optical correlative studies are needed to constrain DIB carriers and locate various absorbers in 3D maps of the interstellar matter. Methods. We extended our study of H-band DIBs in Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) Telluric Standard Star (TSS) spectra. We used the strong λ15273 band to select the most and least absorbed targets. We used individual spectra of the former subsample to extract weaker DIBs, and we searched the two stacked series for differences that could indicate additional bands. High-resolution NARVAL and SOPHIE optical spectra for a subsample of 55 TSS targets were additionally recorded for NIR/optical correlative studies. Results. From the TSS spectra we extract a catalog of measurements of the poorly studied λλ15617, 15653, and 15673 DIBs in ≃300 sightlines, we obtain a first accurate determination of their rest wavelength and constrained their intrinsic width and shape. In addition, we studied the relationship between these weak bands and the strong λ15273 DIB.We provide a first or second confirmation of several other weak DIBs that have been proposed based on different instruments, and we add new constraints on their widths and locations. We finally propose two new DIB candidates. Conclusions. We compared the strength of the λ15273 absorptions with their optical counterparts λλ5780, 5797, 6196, 6283, and 6614. Using the 5797-5780 ratio as a tracer of shielding against the radiation field, we showed that the λ15273 DIB carrier is significantly more abundant in unshielded (σ-type) clouds, and it responds even more strongly than the λ5780 band carrier to the local ionizing field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The submillimeter spectral domain has been extensively explored by the Herschel and Planck satellites and is now reachable from the ground with ALMA. A wealth of data, revealing cold dust thermal emission, is available for astronomical environments ranging from interstellar clouds, cold clumps, circumstellar envelops, and protoplanetary disks. The interpretation of these observations relies on the understanding and modeling of cold dust emission and on the knowledge of the dust optical properties. Aims. The aim of this work is to provide astronomers with a set of spectroscopic data of realistic interstellar dust analogues that can be used to interpret the observations. It pursues the experimental effort aimed at characterizing the spectroscopic properties of interstellar dust analogues at low temperature in the mid-infrared (MIR) to millimeter spectral domain. Compared to previous studies, it extends the range of studied dust analogues in terms of composition and of structure of the material. Methods. Glassy silicates of mean composition (1-x)MgO - xSiO2 with x = 0.35 (close to forsterite, Mg2SiO4), 0.50 (close to enstatite, MgSiO3) and 0.40 (close to Mg1.5SiO3.5 or MgSiO3:Mg2SiO4 = 50:50) were synthesized. The mass absorption coefficient (MAC) of the samples was measured in the spectral domain 30-1000 µm for grain temperature in the range 300-10 K and at room temperature in the 5-40 µm domain. Results. We find that the MAC of all samples varies with the grains temperature and that its spectral shape cannot be approximated by a single power law in λβ. In the FIR/submm, and above 30 K, the MAC value at a given wavelength increases with the temperature as thermally activated absorption processes appear. The studied materials exhibit different and complex behaviors at long wavelengths (λ = 200 to 700 µm depending on the samples). These behaviors are attributed to the amorphous nature of dust and to the amount and nature of the defects within this amorphous structure. We do not observe MAC variations in the 10-30 K range. Above 20 µm, the measured MAC are much higher than the MAC calculated from interstellar silicate dust models indicating that the analogues measured in this study are more emissive than the silicates in cosmic dust models. Conclusions. The underestimated value of the MAC deduced from cosmic dust models in the FIR/submm has important astrophysical implications because masses are overestimated by the models. Moreover, constraints on elemental abundance of heavy elements in cosmic dust models are relaxed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiolysis of pure N2O ice at 11 and 75 K by 90 MeV 136Xe23+ ion irradiation has been studied by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Six daughter molecular species have been observed: NO2, (NO)2, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5, and O3. The chemical evolution of the new molecules formed in the sample was followed by the measurement of the column densities of the precursor and products as a function of the beam fluence. This procedure allows the determination of their formation and dissociation cross-sections. Other processes monitored by FTIR were sublimation (non-existent at 11 K, but present at 75 K) and ice compaction by the ion beam. Comparison between results obtained for the 11 and 75 K ices shows that formation and destruction cross-sections are higher (for light products) or much higher (for heavy products) at 75 K. This enhancement of chemical activity at higher temperature should not be attributed to higher projectile ionization rate but rather to a higher mobility of the radiolysis products in an ice undergoing slow sublimation. Although N2O ice has not yet been observed in space, it is reasonable to expect its occurrence since N and O are very abundant and reactive. Furthermore, if this ice is actually absent, the knowledge of the chemical-physical processes induced by ion irradiation on N2O ice at low temperature is necessary to explain its depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical models predict that core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) can be efficient dust producers (0.1-1.0 M☉), potentially accounting for most of the dust production in the early Universe. Observational evidence for this dust production efficiency is however currently limited to only a few CCSN remnants (e.g. SN 1987A, Crab nebula). In this paper, we revisit the dust mass produced in Cassiopeia A (Cas A), a ~330-yr old O-rich Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) embedded in a dense interstellar foreground and background. We present the first spatially resolved analysis of Cas A based on Spitzer and Herschel infrared and submillimetre data at a common resolution of ~0.6 arcmin for this 5 arcmin diameter remnant following a careful removal of contaminating line emission and synchrotron radiation. We fit the dust continuum from 17 to 500 μm with a four-component interstellar medium and supernova (SN) dust model.We find a concentration of cold dust in the unshocked ejecta of Cas A and derive a mass of 0.3-0.5M☉ of silicate grains freshly produced in the SNR, with a lower limit of ≥0.1- 0.2 M☉. For a mixture of 50 per cent of silicate-type grains and 50 per cent of carbonaceous grains, we derive a total SN dust mass between 0.4 and 0.6M☉. These dust mass estimates are higher than from most previous studies of Cas A and support the scenario of SN-dominated dust production at high redshifts. We furthermore derive an interstellar extinction map for the field around Cas A which towards Cas A gives average values of AV = 6-8 mag, up to a maximum of AV = 15 mag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and their derivatives, including protonated and cationic species, are suspected to be carriers of the unidentified infrared (UIR) emission bands observed from the galactic and extragalactic sources. We investigated the infrared (IR) spectra of protonated nonplanar PAHs: corannulene (C20H10) and sumanene (C21H12), that are regarded as a fragments of a fullerene,C60. The protonated corannulene H+ C20H10 and sumanene H+ C21H12 were produced in seperate experiments by bombarding a mixture of corannulene/sumanene and para-hydrogen (p-H2) with electrons during deposition at 3.2 K. During maintenance of the electron-bombarded matrix in darkness the intensities of IR lines of protonated corannulene decreased because of neutralization by electrons that were slowly released from the trapped sites whereas the hydrogenated species were produced. The observed lines were classified into several groups according to their responses to darkness and secondary irradiation at 365 nm/385 nm LEDs. Spectral assignments were derived based on a comparison of the observed spectra with those predicted with the B3PW91/6-311+ +G(2d,2p) method. The observed IR spectrum of hub-H+ C20H10, the most stable protonated isomer, resembles several bands of the Class-A UIR bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]