Galactic HCO+ Absorption toward Compact Extragalactic Radio Sources

TL;DR

This study investigates the presence of dark molecular gas in the Milky Way by detecting HCO+ absorption toward extragalactic sources, revealing new detections and comparing gas tracers to understand the gas composition.

Contribution

First detection of HCO+ absorption toward B0838+133 and analysis of dark molecular gas presence in high-latitude sight lines using multiple gas tracers.

Findings

HCO+ absorption detected toward two sources, including a new detection.

Dark molecular gas likely present along the line of sight to B0838+133.

Most sight lines show atomic gas with no CO emission detected.

Abstract

As part of the search for the "dark molecular gas (DMG)," we report on the results of HCO$^+$ J = 1-0 absorption observations toward nine bright extragalactic millimeter wave continuum sources. The extragalactic sources are at high Galactic latitudes (|b| > 10$\deg$) and seen at small extinction (E(B-V) $\lesssim$ 0.1 mag). We have detected the HCO$^+$ absorption lines toward two sources, B0838+133 and B2251+158. The absorption toward B2251+158 was previously reported, while the absorption toward B0838+133 is a new detection. We derive hydrogen column densities or their upper limits toward the nine sources from our observations and compare them to those expected from CO line emission and far-infrared dust continuum emission. Toward the seven sources with no HCO$^+$ detection, CO emission has not been detected, either. Thus the sight lines are likely to be filled with almost pure atomic gas. Toward the two sources with HCO$^+$ detection, CO emission has been also detected. Comparison of the H$_2$ column densities from HCO$^+$ absorption and CO emission suggests a non-negligible amount of DMG toward B0838+133.