SIMBAD references

2007A&A...467..955W - Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 467, 955-969 (2007/6-1)

Highly-excited CO emission in APM 08279+5255 at z = 3.9.

WEISS A., DOWNES D., NERI R., WALTER F., HENKEL C., WILNER D.J., WAGG J. and WIKLIND T.

Abstract (from CDS):

We report the detection of the CO 4-3, 6-5, 9-8, 10-9, and 11-10 lines in the Broad Absorption Line quasar APM 08279+5255 at z=3.9 using the IRAM 30m telescope. We also present IRAM PdBI high spatial resolution observations of the CO 4-3 and 9-8 lines, and of the 1.4mm dust radiation as well as an improved spectrum of the HCN(5-4) line. Unlike CO in other QSO host galaxies, the CO line SED of APM 08279+5255 rises up to the CO(10-9) transition. The line fluxes in the CO ladder and the dust continuum fluxes are best fit by a two component model, a ``cold'' component at ∼65K with a high density of n(H2)=1x105cm–3, and a ``warm'', ∼220K component with a density of 1x104cm–3. We show that IR pumping via the 14µm bending mode of HCN is the most likely channel for the HCN excitation. From our models we find, that the CO(1-0) emission is dominated by the dense gas component which implies that the CO conversion factor is higher than usually assumed for high-z galaxies with α≃5M(K.km/s.pc2)–1. Using brightness temperature arguments, the results from our high-resolution mapping, and lens models from the literature, we argue that the molecular lines and the dust continuum emission arise from a very compact (r≃100-300pc), highly gravitationally magnified (m=60-110) region surrounding the central AGN. Part of the difference relative to other high-z QSOs may therefore be due to the configuration of the gravitational lens, which gives us a high-magnification zoom right into the central 200-pc radius of APM 08279+5255 where IR pumping plays a significant role for the excitation of the molecular lines.

Abstract Copyright:

Journal keyword(s): galaxies: formation - galaxies: high-redshift - ISM: molecules - galaxies: individual: APM 08279+5255 - cosmology: observations - galaxies: quasars: emission lines

Simbad objects: 18

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