Detection of the J = 6. -->. 5 transition of carbon monoxide

Journal Article · Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 1981 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183447· OSTI ID:6393337

Goldsmith, P F; Erickson, N R; Fetterman, H R; Clifton, B J; Peck, D D; Tannenwald, P E; Koepf, G A; Buhl, D; McAvoy, N

The J = 6..-->..5 rotational transition of carbon monoxide has been detected in emission from the KL ''plateau source'' in the Orion molecular cloud. The corrected peak antenna temperature is 100 K, and the FWHM line width is 26 km s/sup -1/. These observations were carried out using the 3 m telescope of the NASA IRTF (Infrared Telescope Facility) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and constitute the first astronomical data obtained at submillimeter wavelengths with a heterodyne system using a laser local oscillator. Our data support the idea that the high-velocity dispersion CO in Orion is optically thin and set a lower limit to its temperature of approx.180 K.

• Research Organization: Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Massachusetts
• OSTI ID: 6393337
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Vol. 243:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON MONOXIDE
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
NEBULAE
RADIOMETERS
HETERODYNE RECEIVERS
INFRARED SPECTRA
LASERS
ROTATIONAL STATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY LEVELS
EQUIPMENT
EXCITED STATES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIO EQUIPMENT
SPECTRA
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies