Contents of: VI/111/./abstract/WKEGEL_MEGAMAS.abs

The following document lists the file abstract/WKEGEL_MEGAMAS.abs from catalogue VI/111.
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==> In this proposal, more time is being requested for  WKEGEL.OH_MEGA
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OH-megamasers and gigamasers are the most luminous masers known.They are
related to IR-luminous galactic nuclei.We intend to observe the OH-lines at
34,  53, 119, and 115 micron in in the megamaser galaxy 3Zw 35 in order to
determine the pump process and the internal kinematics of the OH-clouds.-The
115 micron line may turn out to be an iraser-line.- For the megamaser Arp220
the 34 micron line has been observed in the central programme (Skinner et al.,
Nature submitted.). The line shows an absorption of about 20 per cent. If the
line is of similar strength in 3Zw35 it will be securely detected. The large
depth of the 34 micron absorption towards Arp220 is somewhat puzzling, since
it implies an unexpectedly large covering factor of at least 0.2. This means
that the OH-absorbing material may be spread over a much larger area than the
region containing the masers. Comparison of both absorption and emission lines
towards Arp220 (from the central program), 3Zw35 (from this proposal) and the
intrinsically much more powerful Gigamaser sources IRAS 14070+0525 and IRAS
20100-4156 (from our active proposal OH_MEGA) will answer this important
question. In addition, we will gain insight into the megamaser pump process.
This investigation together with our project OH_MEGA is also a contribution
to the general goal to determine the physical state of the ISM in the vicinity
of the related galactic nuclei.
We intend to observe the megamaser galaxy 3Zw 35 which is substantially
brighter than the two gigamasers to be observed in our project
OH_MEGA. 3Zw 35 was contained in the spring target list of our
project OH_MEGA.