| Description |
H2O and OH are key tracers of the structure, kinematics, and activity in the nuclear regions of (Ultra) Luminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs): with their excitation dominated by pumping by far-infrared continuum radiation, they probe the nuclear source of the far-IR radiation and its associated structures (disks, torus); their P-Cygni, absorption, and emission profiles trace massive molecular outflows and possibly inflows, and the astrophysically important associated energetics involved in the (negative) feedback from star formation and-or AGN on the molecular gas; they probe the physical and radiative environments (X-rays, cosmic rays, hot cores) where they reside. In order to distinguish among the above scenarios, we propose PACS spectroscopy of key transitions of H2O and OH in a sample of 9 bright (U)LIRGs where submillimeter H2O lines have been detected with SPIRE, as well as key diagnostic lines of NH3 and OH+ to ascertain the formation mechanism and implied physical processes. The proposed observations will serve as a crucial benchmark for future routine observations of H2O with ALMA in the distant Universe. |
| Publication |
Hidden or missing outflows in highly obscured galaxy nuclei? . Falstad N. et al. . Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 623, id.A29, 10 pp. . 623 . 10.1051/0004-6361/201834586 . 2019A&A...623A..29F ,
Far-infrared Line Spectra of Active Galaxies from the Herschel-PACS Spectrometer: The Complete Database . Fernández-Ontiveros Juan Antonio et al. . The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, Volume 226, Issue 2, article id. 19, 26 pp. (2016). . 226 . 10.3847/0067-0049/226/2/19 . 2016ApJS..226...19F ,
Importance of radiative pumping for the excitation of the H2<->O submillimeter lines in galaxies . González-Alfonso Eduardo et al. . Astronomy and Astrophysics . null . null . 2022A&A...666L...3G ,
High-lying OH Absorption, [C II] Deficits, and Extreme L FIR-M H2 Ratios in Galaxies . González-Alfonso E. et al. . The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 800, Issue 1, article id. 69, 10 pp. (2015). . 800 . 10.1088/0004-637X/800/1/69 . 2015ApJ...800...69G ,
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