Far-infrared line emission from the galaxy

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5949437

Stacey, G J

The diffuse 157.74 micron (CII) emission from the Galaxy was sampled at several galactic longitudes near the galactic plane including complete scan across the plane at (II) 2.16 deg and (II) 7.28 deg. The observed (CII) emission profiles follow closely the nearby (12)CO (J 1to0) emission profiles. The (CII) emission probably arises in neutral photodissociation regions near the edges of giant moleclar clouds (GMC's). These regions have densities of approximately 350 cm(-3) and temperatures of approximately 300 K, and amount to 4x10(8) solar mass of hydrogen in the inner Galaxy. The total 157.74 micron luminosity of the Galaxy is estimated to be 6x10(7) solar luminosity. Estimates were also made of the galactic emission in other far-infrared (FIR) cooling lines. The (CII) line was found to be the dominant FIR emission line from the galaxy and the primary coolant for the warm neutral gas near the galactic plane. Other cooling lines predicted to be prominent in the galactic spectrum are discussed. The 145.53 micron (OI) emission line from the Orion nebula was also measured.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5949437
• Report Number(s): N-85-13702; NASA-CR-174166
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON
COSMIC GASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
INFRARED RADIATION
LUMINOSITY
MILKY WAY
NEBULAE
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXYGEN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA