Detection of the Far-IR Pumping Lines for OH Masers |
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| Authors: | Roger J Sylvester |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK |
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| Abstract: | Circumstellar hydroxyl (OH) masers are believed to be radiatively pumped (Elitzur et al. 1976). However, the proposed pumping mechanism has not been directly observed before now, because the far-IR spectral lines which correspond to the pumping cycle transitions are unobservable from the ground. We present ISO1 observations of the strong OH maser source IRC +10420. Our spectra clearly show the 34.6-µm doublet in absorption, and the ensuing rotational cascade lines at 98.7, 163 and 79 µm in emission. These spectra provide the first direct confirmation of the radiative pumping cycle for OH masers. |
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