On the distance to the North Polar Spur and the local CO-H2factor
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Aims. Most models identify the X-ray bright North Polar Spur (NPS) with a hot interstellar (IS) bubble in the Sco-Cen star-forming region at ≃130 pc. An opposite view considers the NPS as a distant structure associated with Galactic nuclear outflows. Constraints on the NPS distance can be obtained by comparing the foreground IS gas column inferred from X-ray absorption to the distribution of gas and dust along the line of sight. Absorbing columns toward shadowing molecular clouds simultaneously constrain the CO-H2 conversion factor.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: R. Lallement, S. Snowden, K. D. Kuntz, T. M. Dame, D. Koutroumpa, I. Grenier, J. M. Casandjian
Institutions: Observatoire de Paris, Galaxies, Etoiles, Physique et Instrumentation, Goddard Space Flight Center, Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2519440505