Intensity and extinction irregularities in the H/sub 2/ emission from Orion

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Astron. J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5704933

Smith, H A; Larson, H P; Feierberg, M A; Fink, U

Fourteen lines of the v = 1-0 and v = 2-1 2 ..mu..m H/sub 2/ quadrupole spectrum were measured in a series of ground-based spectroscopic observations of four locations within the Orion molecular cloud-H/sub 2/ emission complex. Beam sizes of 7'' and 10'' were used, with a resolution of 1.8 cm/sup -1/. The results indicate that there are differences in the extinction between regions of as much as deltaA/sub V/approx. =20 mag. In particular there appears to be a ridge of material near the object IRS 2 ( = IRc 9), a previously suggested source of activity. The 2-1 S (3) line intensity is substantially stronger at Peak 2 than the present models predict, and this observation is the first indication that there may be a non-Boltzmann distribution within the vibrational levels of shock-excited H/sub 2/. We also report a detection of the 1-0 Q (6) line, a feature which was previously absent in spectra of the Orion cloud.

• Research Organization: E. O. Hulburt Center for Space Research, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375
• OSTI ID: 5704933
• Journal Information: Astron. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astron. J.; (United States) Vol. 88:3; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
CHEMISTRY
COSMOCHEMISTRY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN
INFRARED RADIATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
MOLECULES
NEBULAE
NONMETALS
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SPECTRA