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Millimeter-wave absorption features toward the galactic center: evidence for a massive nuclear disk

Journal Article · · Astrophys. J.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/158577· OSTI ID:6535726
We report the detection of molecular gas which appears in absorption at large negative velocities near the galaxtic center for a number of millimeter-wavelength molecular transitions previously observed only in emisson. We have made millimeter-continuum emission measurements which show that the absorbing line is optically thick in HCO/sup +/ and has an excitation temperature consistent with no collisional excitation form --117 to --83 km s/sup -1/ toward Sgr B2. At these velocities CO is seen in emission at a level of 3 K. We obtain molecular column densities for five species and estimate a molecular hydrogen column density of approx.5 x 10/sup 23/ cm/sup -2/ to Sgr B2. We associate this absorbing gas with the nuclear disk and esimate that the total mass involved is approx.8 x 10/sup 9/ M/sub sun/. It is shown that spiral arms in the galactic disk also appear as absorption features in HCO/sup +/ and HCN.
Research Organization:
Bell Laboratories, Crawford Hill Laboratory
OSTI ID:
6535726
Journal Information:
Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 243:1; ISSN ASJOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English