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5.11. Dense molecular gas in nearby galaxies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

Y. Gao
Affiliation:
Dept. of Astronomy, Univ. of Illinois and Astronomy Program, SUNY at Stony Brook
P.M. Solomon
Affiliation:
Astronomy Program, SUNY at Stony Brook

Extract

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HCN, one of the most abundant high dipole-moment molecules (traces molecular gas at densities ≳ 3 × 104 cm−3 whereas CO traces at ∼ 500 cm−3), has only been detected in ∼ 25 galaxies, primarily towards the galactic nuclei (Solomon et al. 1992; Nguyen-Q-Rieu et al. 1992; Helfer & Blitz 1993; Aalto et al. 1995). Dense molecular gas properties in “normal” galactic disks, as compared to the centers of “normal” spirals, starbursts, and luminous IR galaxies are not clear. As part of a large HCN survey in 60 galaxies (Gao 1996; Gao & Solomon 1997), we present here HCN observations in central regions of a few nearby galaxies. HCN was mapped at least along the major axes in the inner disks to determine the total HCN luminosity, the distribution with radius of HCN emission, and of the surface brightness ratio of SBR ≡ IHCN/ICO.

Type
Part II. Nuclear Interstellar Medium
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1998 

References

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