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Photometry of the UWISH2 extended H2 source catalogue

Nicholas, Jack (2016) Photometry of the UWISH2 extended H2 source catalogue. Master of Science by Research (MScRes) thesis, University of Kent. (KAR id:54879)

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Abstract

The UKIRT Widefield Infrared Survey for H2 (UWISH2) is a large, unbiased survey of extended H2 emission sources, using the 1-0 S(1) emission line at 2.122?m. It covers 209 square degrees of the Galactic Plane (GP) between l ? 357° to l ? 66° and b ? ±1.5°. UWISH2 further covers high column density regions in Cygnus and Auriga, covering approximately 42 and 35.5 square degrees respectively and leading to a total survey coverage of ? 286.5 square degrees. As part of the UWISH2 team, I have performed the photometry for 33200 individual H2 features, which have been found to compose ~ 700 H2 jets and outflows, 284 planetary nebulae (PNe), 30 supernova remnants (SNRs) and ~ 1300 photo-dissociation regions (PDRs). About 60% of PNe are newly discovered candidates. Using H2 emission as a tracer for star formation, I find that the majority of H2 flux is located in the lower Galactic longitudes for jet and PDR features, indicating increased star formation activity. I have also observed partial concentrations of high H2 flux at higher Galactic longitudes in the GP from jet features but not PDR features, indicating a lack of high-mass star formation at this region. I offer two methods of photometry: the 'total flux' photometry and the 'median surface brightness times area' photometry. Upon comparing the ratios of the fluxes from both photometries for each feature, I find good agreement (full catalogue: ~ 97% in a 100% deviation and ~ 82% in a 20% deviation) for all feature classes except jets, and recommend the median surface brightness times area photometry for all feature types except jets, which should use total flux photometry. Finally, I have calculated the signal-to-noise ratios for individual features, finding the median value for the entire survey to be approximately 15 when using the feature area.

Item Type: Thesis (Master of Science by Research (MScRes))
Thesis advisor: Froebrich, Dirk
Uncontrolled keywords: star formation; ISM; H2; jets; outflows; planetary nebulae; supernovae remnants; photo-dissociation regions; HII regions; galactic plane; photometry; catalogue;
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Users 1 not found.
Date Deposited: 12 Apr 2016 09:00 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 05:46 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/54879 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Nicholas, Jack.

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