Bibcode
Iglesias-Páramo, J.; López-Martín, L.; Vílchez, J. M.; Petropoulou, V.; Sulentic, J. W.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 539, id.A127
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3
2012
Journal
Citations
14
Refereed citations
14
Description
Aims: We study the ionized gas emission from the large scale
shock region of Stephan's Quintet (SQ). Methods: We carried out
integral field unit (IFU) optical spectroscopy on three pointings in and
near the SQ shock. We used Potsdam MultiAperture Spectrometer (PMAS) on
the 3.5 m Calar Alto telescope to obtain measures of emission lines that
provide insight into physical properties of the gas. Severe blending of
Hα and [Nii]λ6548, 6583 Å emission lines in many
spaxels required the assumption of at least two kinematical components
to extract fluxes for the individual lines. Results: The main
results from our study include (a) detection of discrete emission
features in the new intruder velocity range 5400-6000 km s-1
showing properties consistent with Hii regions, (b) detection of a
low-velocity component spanning the range 5800-6300 km s-1
with properties resembling a solar-metallicity shocked gas and (c)
detection of a high-velocity component at ≈6600 km s-1
with properties consistent with those of a low-metallicity shocked gas.
Conclusions: The two shocked components are interpreted as
products of a collision between NGC 7318b new intruder and a debris
field in its path. This has given rise to a complex structure of ionized
gas where several components with different kinematical and physical
properties coexist, although part of the original interstellar medium
(ISM) associated with NGC 7318b is still present and remains unaltered.
Our observations suggest that the low-velocity ionized component might
have existed before the new intruder collision and could be associated
with the NW-LV Hi component. The high-velocity ionized component might
fill the gap between the Hi complexes observed in SQ-A and NGC 7319's
tidal filament (NW-HV, Arc-N and Arc-S in Williams et al. 2002, AJ, 123,
2417).
Based on observations taken at the 3.5 m telescope at Calar Alto
Observatory.Tables 1-5, Figs. 12-19 and Appendix A are available in
electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
Related projects
Physics of Ionized Nebulae
The research that is being carried out by the group can be condensed into two main lines: 1) Study of the structure, dynamics, physical conditions and chemical evolution of Galactic and extragalactic ionized nebulae through detailed analysis and modelization of their spectra. Investigation of chemical composition gradients along the disk of our
Jorge
García Rojas