Properties of the gas and stellar content of the superluminous galaxy NGC 6240

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166410· OSTI ID:6920625

Lester, D F; Harvey, P M; Carr, J

H and K band spectra of the luminous far-infared galaxy NGC 6240 at resolving powers between 160 and 625 are presented. Line fluxes for six H2 lines are measured. The Br-gamma hydrogen recombination line is detected. The galaxy is found to be a strong source of forbidden Fe II emission. The v = 1 levels of the H2 are populated thermally at a temperature of 1300 K. The H2 emission appears to be coextensive with the broad-line component of shock-ionized gas that is seen optically near the nuclei. The strength of the B-gamma line indicates that the extinction toward the source is about A(v) = 3. NGC 6240 does not appear to be simply a scaled-up version of a bona fide starburst as in M82. Evidence that the molecular line-emitting region is rouglly twice the size of the continuum source indicates that the shocked H2 does not originate in young stars. 30 references.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Austin (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6920625
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 329; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC GASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION SPECTRA
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GASES
INFRARED RADIATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
IONIZED GASES
MORPHOLOGY
RADIATIONS
SPACE
SPECTRA
STAR EVOLUTION