Excitation mechanisms in OMC1 deduced from H2 ortho- and para-lines emission at high spatial resolution
Abstract
K-band observations of H2 obtained with the Canada-France-Hawaii 3.6 m telescope using the PUEO adaptive optics system are reported. Data were centered on the Becklin-Neugebauer object northwest of the Trapezium stars. Narrow-band filters were used to isolate emission from the v=1-0 S(1) ortho- and v=1-0 S(0) para-lines at a spatial resolution of 0"45. We are able to combine these two lines to derive an ortho/para ratio map of the molecular gas at high spatial resolution showing variations in the o/p ratio between 1 and the equilibrium value of 3. Shock models are used to estimate the physical properties of the emitting clumps such as density and temperature. We find that the postshock density is in the range of 106-108 cm.
- Publication:
-
SF2A-2005: Semaine de l'Astrophysique Francaise
- Pub Date:
- December 2005
- Bibcode:
- 2005sf2a.conf..379K