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B.L. Rachford, T.P. Snow, J. Tumlinson, J.M. Shull (U. Colorado), W.P. Blair (JHU), R. Ferlet (IAP), S.D. Friedman (JHU), C. Gry (ISO Data Center), E.B. Jenkins (Princeton), D.C. Morton (NRC/HIA), B.D. Savage (U. Wisconsin), K.R. Sembach (STScI), P. Sonnentrucker (JHU), A. Vidal-Madjar (IAP), D.E. Welty, D.G. York (U. Chicago)
We present results from the first survey of molecular hydrogen in translucent clouds undertaken with FUSE. Twenty-three lines of sight toward early-type stars have been observed, covering a wide range of extinction properties (AV ~ 1-4; RV ~ 2-4) and environments. Through profile fitting of the heavily damped low-J lines, we have determined column densities and kinetic temperatures. Combined with existing neutral hydrogen column densities we have also derived molecular fractions. While the average column density and molecular fraction are the largest of any sample observed to date, we see only limited evidence that our sample extends into a new physical and chemical regime. Most of the lines of sight are best explained as a combination of several diffuse clouds.
This work is based on data obtained for the Guaranteed Time Team by the NASA-CNES-CSA FUSE mission operated by the Johns Hopkins University. Financial support to U.S. participants has been provided by NASA contract NAS5-32985.