The H2 line profiles in the Cygnus Loop - Evidence for J-shocks with magnetic precursors

Journal Article · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/186014· OSTI ID:5226202

Graham, J R; Wright, G S; Geballe, T R ^[1]

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1. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA) Joint Astronomy Center, Hilo, HI (USA)

Infrared Fabry-Perot spectra at 25 km/s resolution have been obtained for the H2 line emission associated with the fast shocks to the NE of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant. Profiles of the 1-0 S(1) H2 emission associated with both the optically bright radiative shocks and the faint nonradiative shocks have been observed. The profiles are resolved and have deconvolved widths of 20 km/s. This result favors excitation of the H2 emission in a magnetic precursor over excitation by a radiative precursor. Shocks with precursors may play an important role in Herbig-Haro objects, and in star-forming cloud cores. 25 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5226202
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Vol. 372; Other Information: L21-L24; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
HERBIG-HARO OBJECTS
SHOCK WAVES
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
INFRARED SPECTRA
BALMER LINES
COSMIC GASES
EMISSION SPECTRA
HYDROGEN
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
NEBULAE
STAR EVOLUTION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
NONMETALS
SPACE
SPECTRA
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources