Detection of HC{sub 3}N maser emission in NGC 253

Journal Article · Sat May 20 04:00:00 EDT 2017 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/AA71A6· OSTI ID:22869115

Ellingsen, Simon P. ^[1]; Chen, Xi; Qiao, Hai-hua ^[2]

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1. School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas 7001 (Australia)
2. Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Shanghai 200030 (China)

We report the detection of maser emission from the J=4--3 transition of HC{sub 3}N at 36.4 GHz toward the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253. This is the first detection of maser emission from this transition in either a Galactic or extragalactic source. The HC{sub 3}N maser emission has a brightness temperature in excess of 2500 K and is offset from the center of the galaxy by approximately 18″ (300 pc), but close to a previously reported class I methanol maser. Both the HC{sub 3}N and methanol masers appear to arise near the interface between the galactic bar and the central molecular zone, where it is thought that molecular gas is being transported inwards, producing a region of extensive low-velocity shocks.

• OSTI ID: 22869115
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 841; ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
BRIGHTNESS
DETECTION
EMISSION
GALAXIES
GHZ RANGE
MASERS
METHANOL
MOLECULES
NITRILES