First detection of HCO+ absorption in the magellanic system

Claire E. Murray; Snežana Stanimirović; N. M. McClure-Griffiths; M. E. Putman; H. S. Liszt; Tony Wong; P. Richter; J. R. Dawson; John M. Dickey; Robert R. Lindner; Brian L. Babler; J. R. Allison

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/808/1/41

First detection of HCO⁺ absorption in the magellanic system

Claire E. Murray, Snežana Stanimirović, N. M. McClure-Griffiths, M. E. Putman, H. S. Liszt, Tony Wong, P. Richter, J. R. Dawson, John M. Dickey, Robert R. Lindner, Brian L. Babler, J. R. Allison

Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We present the first detection of HCO⁺ absorption in the Magellanic System. Using the ATCA, we observed nine extragalactic radio continuum sources behind the Magellanic System and detected HCO⁺ absorption toward one source located behind the leading edge of the Magellanic Bridge. The detection is located at an LSR velocity of , with an FWHM of , and an optical depth of . Although there is abundant neutral hydrogen (H i) surrounding the sight line in position-velocity space, at the exact location of the absorber the H i column density is low, , and there is little evidence for dust or CO emission from Planck observations. While the origin and survival of molecules in such a diffuse environment remain unclear, dynamical events such as H i flows and cloud collisions in this interacting system likely play an important role.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	41
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	808
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/808/1/41
State	Published - Jul 20 2015

Keywords

ISM: molecules
ISM: structure
Magellanic Clouds

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Online availability

10.1088/0004-637X/808/1/41

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Cite this

@article{ddda047a5c134a43b6b8f5089696f36b,

title = "First detection of HCO+ absorption in the magellanic system",

abstract = "We present the first detection of HCO+ absorption in the Magellanic System. Using the ATCA, we observed nine extragalactic radio continuum sources behind the Magellanic System and detected HCO+ absorption toward one source located behind the leading edge of the Magellanic Bridge. The detection is located at an LSR velocity of , with an FWHM of , and an optical depth of . Although there is abundant neutral hydrogen (H i) surrounding the sight line in position-velocity space, at the exact location of the absorber the H i column density is low, , and there is little evidence for dust or CO emission from Planck observations. While the origin and survival of molecules in such a diffuse environment remain unclear, dynamical events such as H i flows and cloud collisions in this interacting system likely play an important role.",

keywords = "ISM: molecules, ISM: structure, Magellanic Clouds",

author = "Murray, {Claire E.} and Sne{\v z}ana Stanimirovi{\'c} and McClure-Griffiths, {N. M.} and Putman, {M. E.} and Liszt, {H. S.} and Tony Wong and P. Richter and Dawson, {J. R.} and Dickey, {John M.} and Lindner, {Robert R.} and Babler, {Brian L.} and Allison, {J. R.}",

year = "2015",

month = jul,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1088/0004-637X/808/1/41",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "808",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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T1 - First detection of HCO+ absorption in the magellanic system

AU - Murray, Claire E.

AU - Stanimirović, Snežana

AU - McClure-Griffiths, N. M.

AU - Putman, M. E.

AU - Liszt, H. S.

AU - Wong, Tony

AU - Richter, P.

AU - Dawson, J. R.

AU - Dickey, John M.

AU - Lindner, Robert R.

AU - Babler, Brian L.

AU - Allison, J. R.

PY - 2015/7/20

Y1 - 2015/7/20

N2 - We present the first detection of HCO+ absorption in the Magellanic System. Using the ATCA, we observed nine extragalactic radio continuum sources behind the Magellanic System and detected HCO+ absorption toward one source located behind the leading edge of the Magellanic Bridge. The detection is located at an LSR velocity of , with an FWHM of , and an optical depth of . Although there is abundant neutral hydrogen (H i) surrounding the sight line in position-velocity space, at the exact location of the absorber the H i column density is low, , and there is little evidence for dust or CO emission from Planck observations. While the origin and survival of molecules in such a diffuse environment remain unclear, dynamical events such as H i flows and cloud collisions in this interacting system likely play an important role.

AB - We present the first detection of HCO+ absorption in the Magellanic System. Using the ATCA, we observed nine extragalactic radio continuum sources behind the Magellanic System and detected HCO+ absorption toward one source located behind the leading edge of the Magellanic Bridge. The detection is located at an LSR velocity of , with an FWHM of , and an optical depth of . Although there is abundant neutral hydrogen (H i) surrounding the sight line in position-velocity space, at the exact location of the absorber the H i column density is low, , and there is little evidence for dust or CO emission from Planck observations. While the origin and survival of molecules in such a diffuse environment remain unclear, dynamical events such as H i flows and cloud collisions in this interacting system likely play an important role.

KW - ISM: molecules

KW - ISM: structure

KW - Magellanic Clouds

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