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12CO J = 1 → 0 Observations of the Circinus Galaxy using the Mopra 22 m Radio Telescope

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2016

M. Elmouttie
Affiliation:
Physics Department, University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia
R. F. Haynes
Affiliation:
Australia Telescope National Facility, CSIRO, PO Box 76, Epping, NSW 2121, [email protected]
K. L. Jones
Affiliation:
Physics Department, University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia
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Abstract

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The J = 1–0 rotational transition of carbon monoxide has been used to trace the molecular gas at five different positions in the Circinus galaxy using the Australia Telescope National Facility's 22 m radio telescope at Mopra. The intensity profile of the central CO emission has a full width at half maximum of 550 pc. The 12CO (1–0) spectrum at the centre of the galaxy has an integrated temperature of 145 K km S−1, with components peaking at 0·62 K and ranging in velocity from 200–600 km S−1. The total mass of molecular gas in the Circinus galaxy, assuming that the CO intensity profile of the galaxy is similar to the radio continuum, is at least 7·5±4·1 × 108 M. This estimate, combined with previously published far infrared data, yields a value for the star-forming efficiency, SFE = 16±9 L M‒1.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 1997

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