D. Riquelme

A λ = 3 mm molecular line survey of NGC 1068 - Chemical signatures of an AGN environment

Aims. We study the molecular composition of the interstellar medium (ISM) surrounding an active galactic nucleus (AGN), by making an inventory of molecular species and their abundances, to establish a chemical differentiation between starburst galaxies and AGN. Methods. We used the IRAM-30 m telescope to observe the central 1.5–2 kpc region of NGC 1068, covering the frequencies between 86.2 GHz and 115.6 GHz. Using Boltzmann diagrams, we calculated the column densities of the detected molecules. We used a chemical model to reproduce the abundances found in the AGN, to determine the origin of each detected species, and to test the influence of UV fields, cosmic rays, and shocks on the ISM. Results. We identified 24 different molecular species and isotopologues, among which HC3N, SO, N2H + ,C H 3CN, NS, 13 CN, and HN 13 C are detected for the first time in NGC 1068. A comparison of the abundances in the nuclear regions of NGC 1068, M 82, and NGC 253 allowed us to establish a chemical differentiation between starburst galaxies and AGN. Two abundant species in starburst galaxies, H2CO and CH3CCH, are not detected in NGC 1068, probably because they are destroyed by UV fields or shocks. On the other hand, species such as CN, SiO, HCO + , and HCN, are enhanced by cosmic ray radiation fields. We obtained the upper limits to the isotopic ratios 12 C/ 13 C = 49, 16 O/ 18 O = 177, and 32 S/ 34 S = 5. These ratios are much lower in this AGN than in starburst galaxies. Our chemical models suggest that the chemistry in the nucleus of NGC 1068 is strongly influenced by cosmic rays, although high values of both cosmic rays and far ultraviolet (FUV) radiation fields also explain the observations well. C-shocks can explain the abundances of C2 Ha nd H 2CO, but do not strongly affect the abundances of the other detected species. Conclusions. The gas in the nucleus of NGC 1068 has a different chemical composition than starburst galaxies. The distinct physical processes dominating galaxy nuclei (e.g. C-shocks, UV fields, X-rays, cosmic rays) leave clear imprints in the chemistry of the gas, which allow the nucleus activity to be characterised by its molecular abundances.

Tracing gas accretion in the Galactic center using isotopic ratios

Aims. We study the 12 C/ 13 C isotopic ratio in the disk of the central molecular zone and in the halo to trace gas accretion toward the Galactic center region in the Milky Way. Methods. Using the IRAM 30m telescope, we observed the J = 1−0 rotational transition of HCO + ,H CN, HNC, and their 13 C isotopic substitutions in order to measure the 12 C/ 13 C isotopic ratio. We observed 9 positions selected throughout the Galactic center region, including clouds at high latitude, locations where the X1 and X2 orbits associated with the barred potential are expected to intersect, and typical Galactic center molecular clouds. Results. We find a systematically higher 12 C/ 13 C isotopic ratio (>40) toward the halo and the X1 orbits than for the Galactic center molecular clouds (20–25). Our results point to molecular gas that has undergone a different degree of nuclear processing than observed in the gas towards the inner Galactic center region. Conclusions. The high isotopic ratios are consistent with the accretion of the gas from the halo and from the outskirts of the Galactic disk.

Lambda = 3 mm line survey of nearby active galaxies

We used the IRAM 30m telescope to observe the frequency range [86-116]GHz towards the central regions of the starburst galaxies M83, M82, and NGC253, the AGNs M51, NGC1068, and NGC7469, and the ULIRGs Arp220 and Mrk231. Assuming LTE conditions, we calculated the column densities of 27 molecules and 10 isotopologues. Among others, we report the first tentative detections of CH3CHO, HNCO, and NS in M82 and, for the first time in the extragalactic medium, HC5N in NGC253. Halpha recombination lines were only found in M82 and NGC253. Vibrationally excited lines of HC3N were only detected in Arp220. CH3CCH emission is only seen in the starburst-dominated galaxies. By comparison of the fractional abundances among the galaxies, we looked for the molecules that are best suited to characterise the chemistry of starbursts, AGNs and ULIRGs, as well as the differences among galaxies within the same group.

The upGREAT 1.9 THz multi-pixel high resolution spectrometer for the SOFIA Observatory

We present a new multi-pixel high resolution ( R ≳ 10 7 ) spectrometer for the Stratospheric Observatory for Far-Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). The receiver uses 2 × 7-pixel subarrays in orthogonal polarization, each in an hexagonal array around a central pixel. We present the first results for this new instrument after commissioning campaigns in May and December 2015 and after science observations performed in May 2016. The receiver is designed to ultimately cover the full 1.8−2.5 THz frequency range but in its first implementation, the observing range was limited to observations of the [CII] line at 1.9 THz in 2015 and extended to 1.83−2.07 THz in 2016. The instrument sensitivities are state-of-the-art and the first scientific observations performed shortly after the commissioning confirm that the time efficiency for large scale imaging is improved by more than an order of magnitude as compared to single pixel receivers. An example of large scale mapping around the Horsehead Nebula is presented here illustrating this improvement. The array has been added to SOFIA’s instrument suite already for ongoing observing cycle 4.

Chemical features in the circumnuclear disk of the Galactic center

Aims. The circumnuclear disk (CND) of the Galactic center is exposed to many energetic phenomena coming from the supermassive black hole Sgr A* and from stellar activities. These energetic activities can affect the chemical composition in the CND through interaction with UV photons, cosmic rays, X-rays, and shock waves. We aim to constrain the physical conditions present in the CND through chemical modeling of observed molecular species detected toward it. Methods. We analyzed a selected set of molecular line data taken toward a position in the southwest lobe of the CND with the IRAM 30m and APEX 12-m telescopes and derived the column density of each molecule via a large velocity gradient (LVG) analysis. The determined chemical composition is compared with a time-dependent, gas-grain chemical model based on the UCL_CHEM code, which includes the effects of shock waves with varying physical parameters. Results. We detect molecules, such as CO, HCN, HCO+, HNC, CS, SO, SiO, NO, CN, H2CO, HC3N, N2H+, and H3O+, and obtain their column densities. Total hydrogen densities obtained from LVG analysis range between 2x10(4) and 1x10(6) cm(-3) and most species indicate values around several x10(5) cm(-3). These values are lower than those corresponding to the Roche limit, which shows that the CND is tidally unstable. The chemical models show good agreement with the observations in cases where the density is similar to 10(4) cm(-3), the cosmic-ray ionization rate is high, > 10(-15) s(-1), or shocks with velocities > 40 km s(-)1 have occurred. Conclusions. Comparison of models and observations favors a scenario where the cosmic-ray ionization rate in the CND is high, but precise effects of other factors, such as shocks, density structures, UV photons, and X-rays from the Sgr A*, must be examined with higher spatial resolution data.

Kinetic temperatures toward X1/X2 orbit interceptions regions and giant molecular loops in the Galactic center region

Context. It is well known that the kinetic temperatures, Tkin, of the molecular clouds in the Galactic center region are higher than in typical disk clouds. However, the Tkin of the molecular complexes found at higher latitudes towards the giant molecular loops in the central region of the Galaxy is so far unknown. The gas of these high-latitude molecular clouds (hereafter referred to as “halo clouds”) is located in a region where the gas in the disk may interact with the gas in the halo in the Galactic center region. Aims. To derive Tkin in the molecular clouds at high latitude and understand the physical process responsible for the heating of the molecular gas both in the central molecular zone (the concentration of molecular gas in the inner ∼500 pc) and in the giant molecular loops. Methods. We measured the metastable inversion transitions of NH3 from (J,K) = (1, 1) to (6, 6) toward six positions selected throughout the Galactic central disk and halo. We used rotational diagrams and large velocity gradient (LVG) modeling to estimate the kinetic temperatures toward all the sources. We also observed other molecules like SiO, HNCO, CS, C 34 S, C 18 O, and 13 CO, to derive the densities and to trace different physical processes (shocks, photodissociation, dense gas) expected to dominate the heating of the molecular gas. Results. We derive for the first time Tkin of the high-latitude clouds interacting with the disk in the Galactic center region. We find high rotational temperatures in all the observed positions. We derive two kinetic temperature components (∼150 K and ∼40 K) for the positions in the central molecular zone, and only the warm kinetic temperature component for the clouds toward the giant molecular loops. The fractional abundances derived from the different molecules suggest that shocks provide the main heating mechanism throughout the Galactic center, also at high latitudes.

High spectral and spatial resolution observations of the PDR emission in the NGC 2023 reflection nebula with SOFIA and APEX

We have mapped the NGC 2023 reflection nebula in [CII] and CO(11--10) with the heterodyne receiver GREAT on SOFIA and obtained slightly smaller maps in 13CO(3--2), CO(3--2), CO(4--3), CO(6--5), and CO(7--6) with APEX in Chile. We use these data to probe the morphology, kinematics, and physical conditions of the C II region, which is ionized by FUV radiation from the B2 star HD37903. The [CII] emission traces an ellipsoidal shell-like region at a position angle of ~ -50 deg, and is surrounded by a hot molecular shell. In the southeast, where the C II region expands into a dense, clumpy molecular cloud ridge, we see narrow and strong line emission from high-J CO lines, which comes from a thin, hot molecular shell surrounding the [CII] emission. The [CII] lines are broader and show photo evaporating gas flowing into the C II region. Based on the strength of the [13CII] F=2--1 line, the [CII] line appears to be somewhat optically thick over most of the nebula with an optical depth of a few. We model the physical conditions of the surrounding molecular cloud and the PDR emission using both RADEX and simple PDR models. The temperature of the CO emitting PDR shell is ~ 90 -- 120 K, with densities of 10^5 -- 10^6 cm^-3, as deduced from RADEX modeling. Our PDR modeling indicates that the PDR layer where [CII] emission dominates has somewhat lower densities, 10^4 to a few times 10^5 cm^-3

The diffuse molecular component in the nuclear bulge of the Milky Way

Context: The bulk of the Molecular gas in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) of the Galactic center region shows warm kinetic temperatures, ranging from

L1599B: CLOUD ENVELOPE AND C+ EMISSION IN A REGION OF MODERATELY ENHANCED RADIATION FIELD

>20

The inception of star cluster formation revealed by [C ii] emission around an Infrared Dark Cloud

K in the coldest and densest regions (n