Molecular Hydrogen Fluorescence in the Eridanus Superbubble
arXiv:astro-ph/0601590 · doi:10.1086/505203
Abstract
The first FUV (lambda lambda 1350-1750 A) spectral imaging observations of the Eridanus superbubble, obtained with the SPEAR/FIMS mission, have revealed distinct fluorescent emission from molecular hydrogen. In this study, the observed emission features were compared with those from a photo-dissociation region model with assumed illuminating stellar fields. The result showed rather high line ratios of I_{1580}/I_{1610}, which may imply the existence of high-temperature molecular clouds in the region. The H_2 fluorescence intensity showed a proportional correlation with H-alpha emission, indicating that the fluorescence and the recombination emission have similar physical origins.
10 pages, 3 figures, apjl accepted