oh-megamasers and gigamasers are the most luminous masers known.they are related to ir-luminous galactic nuclei.we intend to observe the oh-lines at 34, 53, 119, and 115 micron in order to determine the pump process and the internal kinematics of the oh-clouds.-the 115 micron line may turn out to be an iraser-line. this investigation is also a contribution to the general goal to determine the physical state of the ism in the vicinity of the related galactic nuclei. it will be possible to decide between two presently viable models for gigamaser galaxies: mergers with two nuclei or strong nuclear wind. for the autumn lauch date we intend to observe one megamaser (arp 220) which is bright enough that fp-observations of the 115 and 119 micron lines may be performed,and the two well established gigamasers iras 14070+0525 and iras 20100-4156. the two latter objects which have much wider maser lines, will be observed in the grating mode. for the spring lauch date we intend to perform fp-observations of the 115 and 119 micron lines for one megamaser (ngc 3690) and grating observations for iras 20100-4156, and another megamaser (3zw 35).
Instrument
LWS02 , SWS02
Temporal Coverage
1996-10-18T03:17:38Z/1996-11-09T19:13:08Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the worlds first true orbiting infrared observatory. Equipped with four highly-sophisticated and versatile scientific instruments, it was launched by Ariane in November 1995 and provided astronomers world-wide with a facility of unprecedented sensitivity and capabilities for a detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths.
European Space Agency, KEGEL et al., 1999, 'OH-MEGAMASERS: PUMP MECHANISM comma POSSIBLE IRASER-LINES comma AND THE VELOCITY FIELD.', 1.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-bspopa5
