Multi-Wavelength Correlation Studies Of Diffuse Emission From The Aquila Rift

TL;DR

This study analyzes the diffuse ultraviolet emission from the Aquila Rift using GALEX data, revealing excess FUV emission likely due to molecular hydrogen fluorescence and other processes, with saturation effects in high-density regions.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed multi-wavelength correlation analysis of diffuse UV emission in the Aquila Rift, identifying excess FUV emission sources and their relation to hydrogen and H-alpha emissions.

Findings

Diffuse UV background ranges from 1300 to 3700 photons/cm²/s/sr in FUV.

Excess FUV emission is attributed to H₂ fluorescence, ion lines, and two-photon continuum.

Saturation occurs in high optical depth regions with high hydrogen column density.

Abstract

We present a multi-wavelength correlation study of diffuse ultraviolet radiation using GALEX observations towards the Aquila Rift. Apart from airglow and zodiacal emissions, we find a diffuse background of 1300 - 3700 \photu\ in the far-ultraviolet (FUV: 1350 - 1750 \AA) band and 1300 - 2800 \photu\ in the near-ultraviolet (NUV: 1750 - 2850 \AA) band. The observed diffuse UV emissions are saturated with total as well as neutral hydrogen column density in the region due to high optical depth in UV ($\tau$: 0.91-23.38). Higher values of FUV/NUV ratio in the region, greater than the threshold value of 0.6, along with the positive correlation between the ratio and FUV intensity are due to excess emission in the FUV band which is absent in the NUV band. We estimated the excess emission to be in the range $\sim$ 400 - 2700 \photu, plausibly due to H$_2$ fluorescence, ion line emissions and two-photon continuum emissions from the region in the FUV band, which also shows saturation in optically thick regions with N(H$_{2}$) as well as H$\alpha$ emissions. Since N(H$_{2}$) and H$\alpha$ emissions spread all over the region, the excess emission from the field is composite in nature and a detailed spectroscopic analysis is needed to disentangle the contribution from individual components.