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THz Observations of the Cool Neutral Medium

conference contribution
posted on 2023-05-23, 17:37 authored by John DickeyJohn Dickey
The astrophysical drivers for far-infrared spectroscopy of the Galactic interstellar medium using a 15m class telescope on Dome A are compelling. For the diffuse, atomic phase, the most important lines in the far-IR spectrum are OI at 63ìm and CII at 158ìm. These are the dominant cooling lines of the cool, neutral medium, and they show rich spectral structure in Herschel observations at low latitudes. But theory predicts that they should both be highly sub-thermal in excitation, so that the level populations are not in equilibrium with the kinetic temperature of the gas. A large single dish telescope or an interferometer may be able to study the absorption and emission to determine the optical depth and column density of atoms and the physical conditions in the emission regions. Comparison of Herschel CII spectra with 21-cm absorption spectra indicates that a significant fraction of the 158ìm flux may be coming from the atomic rather than the molecular phase.

History

Publication title

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union

Volume

8

Editors

M. G. Burton, X. Cui, N. F. H. Tothill

Pagination

135-138

ISSN

1743-9213

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Event title

Astrophysics from Antarctica

Event Venue

Bejing, China

Date of Event (Start Date)

2012-08-20

Date of Event (End Date)

2012-08-24

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences

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