On the H2 line emission from NGC 6240 and other starburst galaxies

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169358· OSTI ID:6163577

Draine, B T; Woods, D T ^[1]

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1. Princeton Univ. Observatory, NJ (USA)

The origin of the powerful H2 line emission from the starburst galaxy NGC 6240 is considered. It is argued that shock waves do not appear to be able to account directly for the observed H2 emission. A new scenario is proposed in which the emission originates in molecular gas which has been abruptly exposed to intense X-ray irradiation. The required X-rays could come from a variety of sources, including SNRs or high-velocity collisions between clouds. 76 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6163577
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Vol. 363; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
GALAXIES
EMISSION SPECTRA
COSMIC GASES
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MASERS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORIGIN
SHOCK WAVES
SUPERNOVAE
X RADIATION
AMPLIFIERS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
FLUIDS
GASES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
RADIATIONS
SPACE
SPECTRA
STARS
VARIABLE STARS
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies