Ossenkopf, V. and Muller, H.S.P. and Lis, D.C. and Schilke, P. and Bell, T.A. and Bruderer, S. and Bergin, E.A. and Ceccarelli, C. and Comito, C. and Stutzki, J. and Bacman, A. and Baudry, A. and Benz, A.O. and Benedettini, M. and Berne, O. and Blake, G.A. and Boogert, A. and Bottinelli, S. and Boulanger, F. and Cabrit, S. and Caselli, P. and Caux, E. and Cernicharo, J. and Codella, C. and Coutens, A. and Crimier, N. and Crockett, N.R. and Daniel, F. and Demyk, K. and Dieleman, P. and Dominik, C. and Dubernet, M.-L. and Emprechtinger, M. and Encrenaz, P. and Falgarone, E. and France, K. and Fuente, A. and Gerin, M. and Giesen, T.F. and Di Giorgio, A.M. and Goicoechea, J.R. and Goldsmith, P.F. and Gusten, R. and Harris, A. and Helmich, F. and Herbst, E. and Hily-Blant, P. and Jacobs, K. and Jacq, T. and Joblin, Ch. and Johnstone, D. and Kahane, C. and Kama, M. and Klein, T. and Klotz, A. and Kramer, C. and Langer, W. and Lefloch, B. and Leinz, C. and Lorenzani, A. and Lord, S.D. and Maret, S. and Martin, P.G. and Martin-Pintado, J. and McCoey, C. and Melchior, M. and Melnick, G.J. and Menten, K.M. and Mookerjea, B. and Morris, P. and Murphy, J.Anthony and Neufeld, D.A. and Nisini, B. and Pacheco, S. and Pagini, L. and Parise, B. and Pearson, J.C. and Perault, M. and Phillips, T.G. and Plume, R. and Quin, S.-L. and Rizzo, R. and Rollig, M. and Salez, M. and Saraceno, P. and Schlemmer, S. and Simon, R. and Schuster, K. and van der Tak, F.F.S. and Tielens, A.G.G.M. and Teyssier, D. and Trappe, Neil and Vastel, C. and Viti, S. and Wakelam, V. and Walters, A. and Wang, S. and Whyborn, N. and van der Wiel, M. and Yorke, H.W. and Yu, S. and Zmuidzinas, J. (2010) Detection of interstellar oxidaniumyl: Abundant H2O+ towards the star-forming regions DR21, Sgr B2, and NGC6334. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 518 (L.111). pp. 1-5. ISSN 0004-6361

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Abstract

Aims. We identify a prominent absorption feature at 1115 GHz, detected in first HIFI spectra towards high-mass star-forming regions, and interpret its astrophysical origin. Methods. The characteristic hyperfine pattern of the H2O+ ground-state rotational transition, and the lack of other known low-energy transitions in this frequency range, identifies the feature as H2O+ absorption against the dust continuum background and allows us to derive the velocity profile of the absorbing gas. By comparing this velocity profile with velocity profiles of other tracers in the DR21 star-forming region, we constrain the frequency of the transition and the conditions for its formation. Results. In DR21, the velocity distribution of H2O+ matches that of the [Cii] line at 158 μm and of OH cm-wave absorption, both stemming from the hot and dense clump surfaces facing the Hii-region and dynamically affected by the blister outflow. Diffuse foreground gas dominates the absorption towards Sgr B2. The integrated intensity of the absorption line allows us to derive lower limits to the H2O+ column density of 7.2 × 1012 cm−2 in NGC 6334, 2.3 × 1013 cm−2 in DR21, and 1.1 × 1015 cm−2 in Sgr B2.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	astrochemistry – line; identification – molecular data – ISM; abundances – ISM; molecules – ISM; clouds;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Experimental Physics
Item ID:	2081
Depositing User:	Dr. Neil Trappe
Date Deposited:	11 Aug 2010 15:45
Journal or Publication Title:	Astronomy & Astrophysics
Publisher:	EDP Sciences
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://www.aanda.org/
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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