Detection of the 205 μm [N II] Line from the Carina Nebula

T. E. Oberst, S. C. Parshley, G. J. Stacey, T. Nikola, A. Loehr, J. I. Harnett, N. F. H. Tothill, A. P. Lane, A. A. Stark, C. E. Tucker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

118 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the first detection of the 205 μm 3P1-->3P0 [N II] line from a ground-based observatory using a direct detection spectrometer. The line was detected from the Carina star formation region using the South Pole Imaging Fabry-Perot Interferometer (SPIFI) on the Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO) at the South Pole. The [N II] 205 μm line strength indicates a low-density (n~32 cm-3) ionized medium, similar to the low-density ionized halo previously reported in its [O III] 52 and 88 μm line emission. When compared with the Infrared Space Observatory [C II] observations of this region, we find that 27% of the [C II] line emission arises from this low-density ionized gas, but the large majority (~73%) of the observed [C II] line emission arises from the neutral interstellar medium. This result supports and underpins prior conclusions that most of the observed [C II] 158 μm line emission from Galactic and extragalactic sources arises from the warm, dense photodissociated surfaces of molecular clouds. The detection of the [N II] line demonstrates the utility of Antarctic sites for THz spectroscopy.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L125-L128
Number of pages4
JournalAstrophysical Journal. Letters
Volume652
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ISM: H II Regions; Infrared: ISM; Instrumentation: Spectrographs; ISM: Atoms; ISM: Individual: Name: Carina Nebula; ISM: Lines and Bands; Astrophysics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Detection of the 205 μm [N II] Line from the Carina Nebula'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this