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Molecular hydrogen emission in galaxies: Determination of excitation mechanism
The Astrophysical Journal1994Vol. 427, pp. 777–777
Citations Over TimeTop 19% of 1994 papers
Abstract
Infrared H_2_ emission is a mixture of thermal and nonthermal components. We have found the excitation temperature of the thermal component to be 2000 K for supernova remnants and <= 1000 K for photo- dissociation regions. Hence the thermal H_2_ temperature is a discriminant between shock excitation by supernovae and UV excitation by OB stars. Utilizing this result, we discuss the origin of H_2_ emission in Seyfert and starburst galaxies, which has long been controversial.