Submillimeter Emission from Water in the W3 Region
Abstract
We have mapped the submillimeter emission from the 1(10)-1(01) transition of ortho-water in the W3 star-forming region. A 5'x5' map of the W3 IRS4 and W3 IRS5 region reveals strong water lines at half the positions in the map. The relative strength of the Odin lines compared to previous observations by SWAS suggests that we are seeing water emission from an extended region. Across much of the map the lines are double-peaked, with an absorption feature at -39 km/s; however, some positions in the map show a single strong line at -43 km/s. We interpret the double-peaked lines as arising from optically thick, self-absorbed water emission near the W3 IRS5, while the narrower blue-shifted lines originate in emission near W3 IRS4. In this model, the unusual appearance of the spectral lines across the map results from a coincidental agreement in velocity between the emission near W3 IRS4 and the blue peak of the more complex lines near W3 IRS5. The strength of the water lines near W3 IRS4 suggests we may be seeing water emission enhanced in a photon-dominated region.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0303139,
title = {Submillimeter Emission from Water in the W3 Region},
author = {C. Wilson and A. Mason and E. Gregersen and A. Olofsson and P. Bergman and R. Booth and N. Boudet and V. Buat and C. Curry and P. Encrenaz and E. Falgarone and P. Feldman and M. Fich and H. Floren and U. Frisk and M. Gerin and J. Harju and T. Hasegawa and A. Hjalmarson and M. Juvela and S. Kwok and B. Larsson and A. Lecacheux and T. Liljestrom and R. Liseau and K. Mattila and G. Mitchell and L. Nordh and M. Olberg and G. Olofsson and L. Pagani and R. Plume and L. Ristorcelli and Aa. Sandqvist and G. Serra and N. Tothill and K. Volk and F. von Scheele},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0303139},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
Accepted to A&A Letters as part of the special Odin issue; 4 pages