Related papers: Mapping the Galactic Free-Free Foreground via Inte…
We summarize the relationship between the free-free emission foreground and Galactic H-alpha emission. H-alpha observations covering nearly the entire celestial sphere are described. These data provide a template to isolate and/or remove…
The Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) has completed a one-degree resolution, velocity-resolved northern sky survey of H-alpha emission from our Galaxy. The unprecedented sensitivity of the instrument and accurate spectral subtraction of…
A full-sky template map of the Galactic free-free foreground emission component is increasingly important for high sensitivity CMB experiments. We use the recently published \ha data of both the northern and southern skies as the basis for…
The Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) is a new facility dedicated to the study of faint optical emission lines from diffuse interstellar gas. During its first 18 months of operation, WHAM carried out a survey of the interstellar H-alpha…
We have identified 85 regions of enhanced H-Alpha emission at |b| > 10 degrees subtending approximately 1 degree or less on the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) sky survey. These high latitude ``WHAM point sources'' have H-Alpha fluxes of…
This document provides a brief summary estimate of Galactic free-free emission and H-alpha emission and their relationship. Particular emphasis is placed on estimating the potential free-free emission in the region of significant confusion…
A full-sky H-alpha map with 6 arcmin (FWHM) resolution is presented. This map is a composite of the Virginia Tech Spectral line Survey (VTSS) in the north and the Southern H-Alpha Sky Survey Atlas (SHASSA) in the south. The Wisconsin…
We cross-correlate a 19 GHz full sky Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) survey with other maps to quantify the foreground contribution. Correlations are detected with the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) 240, 140 and 100 micron…
The Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) has surveyed the distribution and kinematics of ionized gas in the Galaxy above declination -30 degrees. The WHAM Northern Sky Survey (WHAM-NSS) has an angular resolution of one degree and provides the…
We review present understanding of Galactic free-free emission and its possible importance to CMB fluctuation measurements. Current results, from both ``direct'' observations in the microwave band and from H$\alpha$ studies, suggest that…
The Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) has completed a survey in Balmer Alpha of the entire Northern sky above declination -30 deg. This survey provides the first calibrated, velocity-resolved map of the H-Alpha emission from the Galaxy. With…
(abridged) We discuss the Galactic foreground emission between 20 and 100GHz based on observations by Planck/WMAP. The Commander component-separation tool has been used to separate the various astrophysical processes in total intensity.…
A comparison of a 19 GHz full-sky map with the WMAP satellite K band (23 GHz) map indicates that the bulk of the 20 GHz emission within 7 degrees of the Galactic plane has an inverted (rising) spectrum with an average spectral index alpha =…
The Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) has completed a velocity-resolved map of diffuse H-alpha emission of the entire northern sky, providing the first comprehensive picture of both the distribution and kinematics of diffuse ionized gas in…
WMAP data when combined with ancillary data on free-free, synchrotron and dust allow an improved understanding of the spectrum of emission from each of these components. Here we examine the sky variation at intermediate and high latitudes…
CMB experiments commonly use maps of Halpha intensity as a spatial template for Galactic free-free emission, assuming a power law I_nu \propto nu^-0.15 for the spectrum. Any departure from the assumed free-free spectrum could have a…
We present a diagnostic test of possible Galactic contamination of cosmic microwave background sky maps designed to provide an independent check on the methods used to compile these maps. The method involves a non-parametric measurement of…
After a successful eleven-year campaign at Kitt Peak, we moved the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) to Cerro Tololo in early 2009. Here we present some of the early data after a few months under southern skies. These maps begin to complete…
H-alpha emission from neutral halo clouds probes the radiation and hydrodynamic conditions in the halo. Armed with such measurements, we can explore how radiation escapes from the Galactic plane and how infalling gas can survive a trip…
The diffuse high-latitude H-alpha background is widely believed to be predominantly the result of in-situ recombination of ionized hydrogen in the warm interstellar medium of the Galaxy. Instead, we show that both a substantial fraction of…