Physics and chemistry of dark molecular clouds: a detailed study of L134N

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5509315

Swade, D A

The dark molecular cloud L134N was studied in detail through radio-astronomical observations of spectral lines at millimeter and centimeter wavelengths. The overall goal of this thesis was to develop a physical and chemical model for L134N, which may be applicable to other dark clouds, to provide insight into the formation of low-mass stars and solar systems. L134N was chosen for this study because: (1) it is a nearby cloud at a distance of 160 parsecs, thus radio observations have high spatial resolution; (2) it resides out of the galactic disk, providing unobscured viewing along the line of sight; and (3) it is known to be a rich source of molecular emission. The large-scale structure of L134N was observed by mapping the {sup 13}CO J = 1-0 spectral line over 1.3 square degrees on the sky. L134N contains approximately 190 solar masses of molecular gas distributed in four subclouds, one of which appears to be rotating. A dense core, which is not evident in the {sup 13}CO map, exists within the main subcloud. This core has a kinetic temperature of 12 K, a peak molecular hydrogen density of 3 x 10{sup 4} cm{sup {minus}3}, a mass of 23 solar masses, and is characterized by maps of molecular emission from C{sup 18}O, CS, H{sup 13} CO{sup +}, SO, NH{sub 3}, and C{sub 3}H{sub 2}.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Univ., Amherst, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5509315
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640105 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACYL RADICALS
AMMONIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBON SULFIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLOUDS
EMISSION SPECTRA
FORMYL RADICALS
GALAXIES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MICROWAVE SPECTRA
MILKY WAY
MOLECULES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADICALS
SPECTRA
STAR EVOLUTION
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES