High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectroscopy of the Galactic Ultra-Compact HII Region K3-50A

TL;DR

This study uses adaptive optics spectroscopy to analyze the structure, ionization, and kinematics of the ultra-compact HII region K3-50A, revealing complex morphology, density variations, and dynamic ionized flows.

Contribution

First high-resolution infrared integral field spectroscopy of K3-50A providing detailed morphological, ionization, and kinematic insights.

Findings

Central source temperature estimated between 37000 K and 45000 K.

Detected sharp density variations indicating material clearing.

Identified a double-lobed kinematic signature in the nebula.

Abstract

Gemini North adaptive optics imaging spectroscopy is presented for the Galactic ultra-compact HII (UCHII) region K3-50A. Data were obtained in the K-band using the Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) behind the facility adaptive optics module ALTAIR in natural guide star mode. The NIFS data cube reveals a complex spatial morphology across the 0.1 pc scale of the 3'' UCHII region. Comparison of the nebular emission to Cloudy ionization models shows that the central source must have an effective temperature between about 37000 K and 45000 K with preferred values near 40000 K. Evidence is presented for sharp density variations in the nebula which are interpreted as a clearing of material nearest the central source. High excitation lines of FeIII and SeIV show that the ionization of the nebula clearly changes with distance from the central source. A double lobed kinematic signature (+/- 25 kms) is evident in the Br gamma line map which may be related to the larger scale ionized flow detailed in earlier investigations. This signature and the large scale flow are not co-alighned, but they may still be related. Though clearly resolved from the nebula, the central source itself remains buried, and the NIFS spectrum shows no evidence of photospheric lines.