[64.08] SMA Observations of Warm Molecular Gas in Nearby Galaxies

AAS 207th Meeting, 8-12 January 2006
Session 64 ISM outside the Milky Way
Poster, Tuesday, 9:20am-6:30pm, January 10, 2006, Exhibit Hall

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[64.08] SMA Observations of Warm Molecular Gas in Nearby Galaxies

G.R. Petitpas, A.B. Peck (CfA), D. Iono (NAOJ), C.D. Wilson (McMaster/CfA), S. Matsushita (ASIAA), M. Krips (CfA), P.T.P. Ho (ASIAA)

We present high resolution ¹²CO, ¹³CO, C¹⁸O J=2-1, and ¹²CO J=3-2 observations of the nearby galaxies NGC 2903, NGC 3627, NGC 6574, and NGC 7331 made with the Submillimeter Array. Our 1.5'' - 3'' resolution observations show the warm, optically thin gas in the nuclei and spiral arms of these galaxies exhibits structure and dynamics not detectable in the lower resolution CO J=1-0 BIMA SONG and NRO-OVRO survey data. We discuss the effects of the physical conditions in the molecular gas on the nuclear structure and activity in these galaxies. These data highlight the need to study the warm ISM at high angular and spectral resolution when trying to understand gas inflow in barred and spiral galaxies.

The Submillimeter Array is a joint project between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and is funded by the Smithsonian Institution and the Academia Sinica.

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