A comprehensive search for extragalactic 6.7-GHz methanol masers |
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| Authors: | Phillips Norris Ellingsen & Rayner |
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| Institution: | Department of Physics, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-21, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia,;CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility, PO Box 76, Epping, NSW 2121, Australia |
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| Abstract: | We have used the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) to search for 6.7-GHz methanol maser emission towards 87 galaxies. We chose the target sources using several criteria, including far-IR luminosities and the presence of known OH megamasers. In addition, we searched for methanol masers in the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253, making a full spectral-line synthesis image. No emission was detected in any of the galaxies, with detection limits ranging from 25 to 75 mJy. This is surprising, given the close association of OH and methanol masers in Galactic star formation regions, and significantly constrains models of OH megamaser emission. This absence of maser emission may be a result of low methanol abundances in molecular clouds in starburst galaxies. |
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| Keywords: | masers ISM: molecules galaxies: ISM radio lines: galaxies |
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