High spatial resolution observations of neutral atomic carbon in the molecular clouds M17 and W51

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166711· OSTI ID:6591612

Genzel, R; Harris, A I; Stutzki, J; Jaffe, D T

The 370-micron 3P2-3P1 fine structure line of neutral atomic carbon in the molecular clouds M17 and W51 has been mapped with 25-arcmin resolution. In the H II region/molecular cloud interface in M17, bright C I forbidden line emission comes from a wide (about 1 pc) ridge at the edge of the molecular cloud. In W51, the C I forbidden line emission peaks on the compact IR source and H II region IRS 2, and at the interface between the extended H II region IRS 1 and the dense molecular condensation W51 Main. Spatial scales of the C I forbidden line emission, relative location of C I and C18O, and mean C I/CO ratio are similar in the two molecular clouds. The data are in good agreement with an origin of the atomic carbon in photodissociation regions created by UV radiation illuminating a clumpy molecular cloud. 43 references.

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Garching (Germany, F.R.); Texas Univ., Austin (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6591612
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 332; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMOCHEMISTRY
DISSOCIATION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FINE STRUCTURE
FLUIDS
FORBIDDEN TRANSITIONS
GASES
H2 REGIONS
INTERFACES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MOLECULES
NONMETALS
ORIGIN
RESOLUTION
SPACE
SPATIAL RESOLUTION
SPECTRA