HCO{sup +} AND HCN J = 3-2 ABSORPTION TOWARD THE CENTER OF CENTAURUS A

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/696/1/176; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)· OSTI ID:21296210

Muller, Sebastien; Dinh-V-Trung, ^[1]

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1. Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), P.O. Box 23-141, Taipei 106, Taiwan (China)

We have investigated the presence of dense gas toward the radio source Cen A by looking at the absorption of the HCO{sup +} and HCN (3-2) lines in front of the bright continuum source with the Submillimeter Array. We detect narrow HCO{sup +} (3-2) absorption, and tentatively HCN (3-2), close to the systemic velocity. For both molecules, the J = 3 - 2 absorption is much weaker than for the J = 1 - 0 line. From simple excitation analysis, we conclude that the gas density is of the order of a few 10{sup 4} cm{sup -3} for a column density N(HCO{sup +})/{delta}V of 3 x 10{sup 12} cm{sup -2} km{sup -1} s and a kinetic temperature of 10 K. In particular, we find no evidence for molecular gas density higher than a few 10{sup 4} cm{sup -3} on the line of sight to the continuum source. We discuss the implications of our finding on the nature of the molecular gas responsible for the absorption toward Cen A.

• OSTI ID: 21296210
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 696; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ABSORPTION
DENSITY
GALAXIES
HYDROCYANIC ACID
MOLECULES