Neutral Hydrogen Absorption in Three Virgo Galaxies

  • Published : 2012.10.17

Abstract

The HI absorption against bright continuum source provides a unique opportunity to measure spin temperature of the neutral hydrogen gas. We find three cases among the sample of the VIVA (VLA Imaging of Virgo galaxies in Atomic gas) study with self absorption of strong central continuum by galactic HI gas. Using the HI flux ratio of emission and absorption, we constrain the spin temperature of the neutral hydrogen gas on their disk. The HI absorption is marginally resolved in these galaxies, which also allows us to probe the kinematics of the absorbing gas. All three galaxies are severely stripped in HI due to the intra cluster medium (ICM). We discuss the influence of environmental processes on the temperature and kinematics of HI in these galaxies.

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