Aims: A near-infrared study of the main ionizing star of the ultracompact HII region G23.96+0.15 (IRAS 18317-0757) is presented, along with a re-evaluation of the distance to this source, and a re-assessment of H- and K-band classification diagnostics for O dwarfs; Methods: We have obtained near-IR VLT/ISAAC imaging and spectroscopy of G23.96+0.15, plus archival imaging from UKIRT/UFTI. A spectroscopic analysis was carried out using a non-LTE model atmosphere code; Results: A quantitative H- and K-band classification scheme for O dwarfs is provided, from which we establish an O7.5V spectral subtype for the central star of G23.96+0.15. We estimate an effective temperature of Teff ~ 38 kK from a spectral analysis; Conclusions: A spectroscopic distance of 2.5 kpc is obtained for G23.96+0.15, substantially lower than the kinematic distance of 4.7 kpc, in common with recent studies of other Milky way HII regions. Such discrepancies would be alleviated if sources are unresolved binaries or clusters.
We study the ionizing sources in spiral galaxies and examine in more detail our Galaxy. Using Taylor & Cordes (1993) model we analyze the electron density in different parts of the Galaxy, and emphasize the still unsolved problems. Finally, we compare the intensities of H$α$ emission in disk and halo.
We have obtained the first classification spectrum and present the first direct spectral classification of the ionizing star of an ultracompact HII region. The ultracompact HII region is G29.96-0.02, a well-studied object with roughly twice solar metallicity. The near infrared K-band spectrum of the ionizing star exhibits CIV and NIII emission and HeII absorption, but lines of HI and HeI are obliterated by nebular emission. We determine that the star has a spectral type of O5 to O7 or possibly O8. We critically evaluate limits on the properties of the star and find that it is compatible with z…
We present new observations in X-ray and optical/ultraviolet of the nucleus of NGC1097, known for the abrupt appearance of broad, double-peaked Balmer lines in its spectrum in 1991. These new observations are used to construct the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the central engine. From the SED we infer that this AGN is radio-loud and has a bolometric luminosity L_Bol ~ 10^42 erg/s, implying a low Eddington ratio of L_Bol/L_Edd ~ 10^{-4}. These results suggest that the central ionizing source is an advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) in the form of an ellevated structure which phot…
We revisit in this paper the location of the various components observed in the AGN of NGC1068. Discrepancies between previously published studies are explained, and a new measurement for the absolute location of the K-band emission peak is provided. It is found to be consistent with the position of the central engine as derived by Gallimore (1997), Capetti (1997) and Kishimoto (1999). A series of map overlays is then presented and discussed. Model predictions of dusty tori show that the nuclear unresolved NIR-MIR emission is compatible with a broad range of models: the nuclear SED alone does …
The role of momentum transfer (``radiation pressure'') due to an internal source of ionizing radiation for the formation of baryonic structures is investigated. Fully-ionized self-gravitating gaseous objects can be radiation-pressure supported on a characteristic length scale $D_{\rm rp} \sim 100 \pc - 3 \kpc$. On smaller scales momentum transfer due to ionizing radiation will be the dominant force and for spherical collapsing objects of mass $\la 10^{10}\Msol$ a complete bounce is possible. A population of massive stars and/or accretion onto a central compact object are natural sources of ion…
We present the results of an analysis of ultraviolet observations of T Tauri Stars (TTS). By analysing emission measures taken from the literature we derive rates of ionizing photons from the chromospheres of 5 classical TTS in the range ~10^41-10^44 photons/s, although these values are subject to large uncertainties. We propose that the HeII/CIV line ratio can be used as a reddening-independent indicator of the hardness of the ultraviolet spectrum emitted by TTS. By studying this line ratio in a much larger sample of objects we find evidence for an ionizing flux which does not decrease, and m…
The precise analysis of properties of planetary nebulae is strongly dependent on good models for the stellar ionizing spectrum. Observations in the UV - X-ray wavelength range as well as NLTE model atmosphere calculations of spectra of their exciting stars have shown that neither blackbody fluxes nor "standard" NLTE atmosphere models which are composed out of hydrogen and helium only are good approximations. Strong differences between synthetic spectra from these compared to observed spectra at energies higher than 54 eV (He II ground state) can be ascribed to the neglect of metal-line blanket…
The masses and emission-line region sizes of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) can be measured by ``reverberation-mapping'' (measuring the lag of the emission-line luminosity after changes in the continuum). We use tis technique to calibrate similar size and mass estimates made by photoionization models of the AGN line-emitting regions. We compile a sample of 19 AGNs with reliable reverberation and spectroscopy data, twice the number available previously. The data provide strong evidence that the BLR size and the emission-line width measure directly the central mass. Two methods are used to estima…
We use a three-dimensional radiation transfer code to calculate the steady-state escape fraction of ionizing photons from disk galaxies as a function of redshift and galaxy mass. The gaseous disks are assumed to be isothermal (with a sound speed $c_s\sim 10~{\rm km~s^{-1}}$) and radially exponential. Their scale-radius is related to the characteristic spin parameter and virial radius of their host halos, and their vertical structure is dictated by their self-gravity. The sources of radiation are taken to be either stars embedded in the disk, or a central quasar. The predicted increase in the d…
The Galactic HII region NGC 2579 has stayed undeservedly unexplored due to identification problems which persisted until recently. Both NGC 2579 and its companion ESO 370-9 have been misclassified as planetary or reflection nebula, confused with each other and with other objects. Due to its high surface brightness, high excitation, angular size of few arcminutes and relatively low interstellar extinction, NGC 2579 is an ideal object for investigations in the optical range. Located in the outer Galaxy, NGC 2579 is an excellent object for studying the Galactic chemical abundance gradients. In th…
The mass of the central black hole in Seyfert galaxies and QSOs can be determined from the broad emission lines and the reverberation method. Using the measured black hole mass and the bolometric or ionizing luminosity, the accretion rate can be estimated. Compiling a sample of Seyfert 1 galaxies and QSOs with reliable central masses, estimated ionizing luminosities and X-ray spectral slopes, we find that the X-ray spectral slope strongly correlates with the accretion rate. The objects in the sample are found to be distributed in two distinct classes in the spectral index versus Log(L_ion/L_Ed…
The analysis of Planetary Nebulae (PNe) provides a tool to investigate the properties of their exciting central stars (CSPN) at the moment of the PN ejection as well as on the properties of the ambient interstellar medium (ISM). The spectral analysis of the CSPN is a prerequisite to calculate the ionizing flux which is a crucial input for reliable PN modeling. In the framework of a systematic study of PNe interacting with the ISM, we present preliminary results of ongoing NLTE spectral analyses of ten of their CS based on new optical medium-resolution spectra.
The properties of star cluster winds in the supercritical, catastrophic cooling regime are discussed. We demonstrate that strong radiative cooling may inhibit superwinds and, after a rapid phase of accumulation of the ejected material within the star-forming volume, a new stationary isothermal regime, supported by the ionizing radiation from the central cluster, is established. The expected appearance of this core/halo supernebula in the visible line regime and possible late evolutionary tracks for super-star cluster winds, in the absence of ionizing radiation, are thoroughly discussed.
Planetary Nebulae (PNe) are the result of heavy mass loss of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. They are understood in terms of Kwok's (1978) interacting-winds model as the product of the mass-loss history on the AGB and the central star (CS) evolution. Since the CS are close to the end of nuclear burning and at their hottest stage of evolution then, precise modeling of these pre-white dwarfs is a prerequisite in order to calculate reliable ionizing fluxes which are crucial input for the presently available 3D photoionization codes. In the framework of a systematic study of PNe which sho…
The luminosity of the central source in ionizing radiation is an essential parameter in a photoionized environment, and one of the most fundamental physical quantities one can measure. We outline a method of determining luminosity for any emission-line region using only infrared data. In dusty environments, grains compete with hydrogen in absorbing continuum radiation. Grains produce infrared emission, and hydrogen produces recombination lines. We have computed a very large variety of photoionization models, using ranges of abundances, grain mixtures, ionizing continua, densities, and ionizati…
We present in this paper a list of candidates tidal dwarf galaxies selected among a sample of 117 HII region observed in 11 minor mergers. The classification of the HII regions was performed using the blue absolute magnitude (M$_B$ $<$ -15), H$α$ luminosity ($\cal L$$(Hα)$ $>$ 10$^{39}$ erg s$^{-1}$) and the star formation rate ($SFR_{Hα}$ $>$ 0.4 M$_{\odot}$ y$^{-1}$) as parameters. The total number of UV photons, the number of the star of each spectral type and the total stellar mass of the cluster were computed for different models adopting Salpeter's IMF with $α= -2.65$ for the ionizing cl…
We present infrared and millimeter observations of molecular gas, dust and ionized gas towards a sample of clouds distributed along the 500 central pc of the Galaxy. The clouds were selected to investigate the physical state, in particular the high gas temperatures, of the Galactic center region (GCr) clouds located far from far-infrared of thermal radio continuum sources. We have found that there is ionized gas associated with the molecular gas. The ionizing radiation is hard (~35000 K) but diluted due to the inhomogeneity of the medium. We estimate that ~30 % of the warm molecular gas observ…
We present a comprehensive study to determine if the LINER/H II region transition spectrum in NGC 4569 can be generated solely by photoionization by the nuclear starburst. A review of the multiwavelength data from the literature reveals no additional sources that contribute to the ionization. We find that the young starburst dominating the UV emission is distinct from the nuclear population of A supergiants identified in the optical spectrum by Keel (1996). Spectral synthesis analysis provides constraints on the physical nature of the starburst, revealing a 5-6 Myr, approximately instantaneous…
The results of deep long-slit spectroscopy of the extremely low-metallicity blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxy SBS 0335-052 are presented. Down to intensity levels of 10^{-3 ... -4} of Hbeta, unprecedented for spectroscopy of extra-galactic giant H II regions, we detect numerous weak permitted and forbidden nebular lines in the brightest part of the galaxy. With varying degrees of confidence, the detections include lines of high-ionization ions like Fe^{4+} -Fe^{6+}, implying very hard ionizing radiation. Two broad emission features, possibly from Wolf-Rayet stars, and stellar He II 4200 absorpti…
The ultraviolet resonance wind stellar lines, the nebular optical emission lines and the higher order terms of the Balmer series and HeI absorption lines detected in the spectra of NGC 604 are interpreted using evolutionary models optimized for young star forming regions. The evolutionary state and the massive stellar content of the region is derived in a self-consistent way. The three techniques applied suggest that the central ionizing cluster in NGC 604 is very young, 3 Myr old, and that the stars in the cluster were formed in an instantaneous burst following a Salpeter or flatter IMF, havi…
Simulations predict that the first stars in an LCDM universe formed at redshifts z>20 in minihalos with masses of about 10^6 M_sun. We have studied their radiative feedback by simulating the propagation of ionization fronts (I-fronts) created by these first Population III stars (M_* = 15-500 M_sun) at z=20, within the density field of a cosmological simulation of primordial star formation, outward thru the host minihalo and into the surrounding gas. A three-dimensional ray-tracing calculation tracks the I-front once the H II region evolves a "champagne flow'' inside the minihalo, after the ear…
We study the stellar and wind properties of massive stars in the central cluster of the Galaxy. We use non-LTE atmosphere models including winds and line-blanketing to fit their H and K band spectra obtained with the 3D spectrograph SINFONI on the VLT. We derive the main stellar (Teff, L, abundances, ionizing flux) and wind (mass loss rate, terminal velocity) properties. They are found to be similar to other galactic massive stars. We show that a direct evolutionary link between Ofpe/WN9, WN8 and WN/C stars exists. Using individual SEDs for each massive star, we construct the total spectral en…
We have analyzed ISO SWS 01 observations for 61 proto-planetary nebulae candidates and classified their spectra according to their dominant chemistry. On the basis of our classification and the more general classification of SWS 01 spectra by Kraemer et al. (2002) we discuss the connection between proto-planetary nebulae candidates and planetary nebulae, with emphasis on possible precursors of planetary nebulae with [WR] central stars.
We present a model for the structure, temporal behavior, and evolutionary status of the bipolar nebula M2-9. According to this model the system consists of an AGB or post-AGB star and a hot white dwarf companion, with an orbital period of about 120 years. The white dwarf has undergone a symbiotic nova eruption about 1200 years ago, followed by a supersoft x-ray source phase. The positional shift of the bright knots in the inner nebular lobes is explained in terms of a revolving ionizing source. We show that the interaction between the slow, AGB star's wind, and a collimated fast wind from the …
Spectral analysis by means of NLTE model atmospheres has presently arrived at a high level of sophistication. High-resolution spectra of central stars of planetary nebulae can be reproduced in detail from the infrared to the X-ray wavelength range. In the case of LSV +4621, the exciting star of Sh 2-216, we demonstrate the state-of-the-art in the determination of photospheric properties like, e.g., effective temperature, surface gravity, and abundances of elements from hydrogen to nickel. From such detailed model atmospheres, we can reliably predict the ionizing spectrum of a central star whic…
We have observed the W75 N massive star forming region in SiO(J=2-1 & J=1-0) at 3" - 5" resolution and in 6 cm, 2 cm, and 7 mm continuum emission at 1.4" - 0.2" resolution. The abundance ratio of [SiO]/[H2] is roughly 5-7 x 10^-11 which is typical for what is expected in the ambient component of molecular clouds with active star formation. The SiO morphology is diffuse and centered on the positions of the ultracompact HII regions - no collimated, neutral jet was discovered. The ionized gas surrounding the protostars have emission measures ranging from 1-15 x 10^6 pc cm^-6, densities from 0.4-5…
We report the discovery of three proplyd-like structures in the giant HII region NGC 3603. The emission nebulae are clearly resolved in narrow-band and broad-band HST/WFPC2 observations in the optical and broad-band VLT/ISAAC observations in the near-infrared. All three nebulae are tadpole shaped, with the bright ionization front at the head facing the central cluster and a fainter ionization front around the tail pointing away from the cluster. Typical sizes are 6,000 A.U. x 20,000 A.U. The nebulae share the overall morphology of the proplyds (``PROto PLanetarY DiskS'') in Orion, but are 20 t…
The central star of the Helix Nebula is a hot white dwarf with unexpected hard X-ray emission. With an effective temperature of ~100,000 K, the star is a powerful source of H-ionizing radiation; the atmosphere of a stellar or planetary companion, if present, will be ionized and emit recombination lines. To probe the origin of hard X-ray emission from the Helix Nebula's central star, we have obtained multi-epoch high-dispersion spectra of the star, and found temporal variation in the H-alpha line profile over a time span of one week. The observed width and strength of the variable H-alpha emiss…
The large-scale prints in The Carnegie Atlas of Galaxies have been used to formulate a classification scheme for the central regions of late-type galaxies. Systems that exhibit small bright central bulges or disks (type CB) are found to be of earlier Hubble type and of higher luminosity than galaxies that do not contain nuclei (type NN). Galaxies containing nuclear bars, or exhibiting central regions that are resolved into individual stars and knots, and galaxies with semi-stellar nuclei, are seen to have characteristics that are intermediate between those of types CB and NN. The presence or a…
We report observations of ionized and warm molecular gas in the extended regions of the central galaxies in several cooling flow clusters. These show that both gas phases are present in these clusters to large radii. We trace both Pa alpha and H2 lines to radii in excess of 20 kpc. The surface brightness profiles of the two phases trace each other closely. Apart from very close to the central AGN, line ratios in and between the phases vary only slowly with position. The kinematics of the phases are indistinguishable and away from the influence of the central AGN both the mean and dispersion in…
We explore the ability of measurements of the 21-cm power spectrum during reionization to enable the simultaneous reconstruction of the reionization history and the properties of the ionizing sources. For various sets of simulated 21-cm measurements, we perform maximum likelihood fits in order to constrain the reionization and galaxy formation histories. We employ a flexible six-parameter model that parametrizes the uncertainties in the properties of high-redshift galaxies. The computational speed needed is attained through the use of an analytical model that is in reasonable agreement with nu…
The physical conditions in the inner narrow line region (NLR) of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 are examined using HST/STIS ultraviolet and optical spectra and photoionization models. 1) The emission-line gas in the blueshifted northeast quadrant is photoionized by the hidden central source out to 100 pc, at which point we find evidence of another source of ionizing radiation, which may be due to fast (1000 km/s) shocks resulting from the interaction of the emission-line knots and the interstellar medium. 2) The gas in the redshifted northeast quadrant is photoionized by continuum radiation tha…
We study the conditions under which a main sequence binary companion to the central ionizing star of a planetary nebula (PN) might become magnetically active and thereby display strong X-ray luminosity. Since most PNe are older than few billion years, any main sequence companion will rotate too slowly to have magnetic activity and hence bright X-ray emission, unless it is spun-up. We demonstrate that if the orbital separation during the AGB phase of the PN progenitor is less than 30-60 AU, main sequence companions in the spectral type range F7 to M4 will accrete enough angular momentum from th…
We present a comprehensive study of the Magellanic Cloud planetary nebula SMP 61 and of its nucleus, a Wolf-Rayet type star classified [WC 5-6]. We have performed a detailed spectral analysis of the central star, using the Potsdam code for expanding atmospheres in non-LTE. The fluxes from the model stellar atmosphere were used to compute photoionization models of the nebula. All the available observations, within their error bars, were used to constrain these models. We find that the ionizing fluxes predicted by the stellar model are basically consistent with the fluxes needed by the photoioni…
Imaging studies have shown that about 25% of LINER galaxies display a compact nuclear UV source. I compare the HST ultraviolet spectra now available for seven such ``UV-bright'' LINERs. The spectra of NGC 404, NGC 4569, and NGC 5055 show clear absorption-line signatures of massive stars, indicating a stellar origin for the UV continuum. Similar features are probably present in NGC 6500. The same stellar signatures may be present but undetectable in NGC 4594, due to the low signal-to-noise ratio of the spectrum, and in M81 and NGC 4579, due to superposed strong, broad emission lines. The compac…
Low- and high-resolution spectra of the planetary nebulae HuDo 1 and HuBi 1, around [WC-late] stars, are analyzed. The objects belong to the galactic disk, with heliocentric radial velocities of -12 km/s (HuDo 1) and 57 km/s (HuBi 1). C(Hbeta) reddening values are of 2.04 for HuDo 1 and 1.22 for HuBi 1. Plasma line ratios are used to estimate physical conditions and abundances. We find log (O/H)+12 = 8.43 and 8.57, and N/O = 0.2 and 0.1 for HuDo 1 and HuBi 1 respectively. HuBi 1 is the only PN excited by a very late [WC] star showing intense nebular HeI recombination lines. From the stellar li…
Continuing our series of papers on the three-dimensional (3-D) structures of and accurate distances to Planetary Nebulae (PNe), we present our study of the planetary nebula NGC6781. For this object we construct a 3-D photoionization model and, using the constraints provided by observational data from the literature we determine the detailed 3-D structure of the nebula, the physical parameters of the ionizing source and the first precise distance. The procedure consists in simultaneously fitting all the observed emission line morphologies, integrated intensities and the 2-D density map from the…
We present a detailed analysis of the planetary nebula M4-18 (G146.7+07.6) and its WC10-type Wolf-Rayet central star, based on high quality optical spectroscopy (WHT/UES, INT/IDS, WIYN/DensPak) and imaging (HST/WFPC2). From a non-LTE model atmosphere analysis of the stellar spectrum, we derive Teff=31kK, log(Mdot/(Msun yr))=-6.05, v_inf=160 km/s and abundance number ratios of H/He<0.5, C/He=0.60 and O/He=0.10. These parameters are remarkably similar to He2-113 ([WC10]). Assuming an identical stellar mass to that determined by De Marco et al. for He2-113, we obtain a distance of 6.8kpc to M4-18…
Acquiring data for spectral classification of heavily reddened stars using traditional criteria in the blue-violet region of the spectrum can be prohibitively time consuming using small to medium sized telescopes. One such star is the Vatican Observatory emission-line star VES 735, which we have found excites the HII region KR140. In order to classify VES 735, we have constructed an atlas of stellar spectra of O stars in the yellow-green (4800 - 5420 A). We calibrate spectral type versus the line ratio HeI 4922:HeII 5411, showing that this ratio should be useful for the classification of heavi…
(abridged) We present new Spitzer, UKIRT and MMT observations of the blue compact dwarf galaxy (BCD) Mrk 996, with an oxygen abundance of 12+log(O/H)=8.0. This galaxy has the peculiarity of possessing an extraordinarily dense nuclear star-forming region, with a central density of ~10^6 cm^{-3}. The nuclear region of Mrk 996 is characterized by several unusual properties: a very red color J-K = 1.8, broad and narrow emission-line components, and ionizing radiation as hard as 54.9 eV, as implied by the presence of the OIV 25.89 micron line. The nucleus is located within an exponential disk with …
