SOFIA/upGREAT far-infrared spectroscopy of bright rimmed pillars in IC 1848

¹ Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Drove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
² Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hügel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany
³ I. Physikalisches Institut, Universitätzu Köln, Zülpicher Straße 77, 50937 Köln, Germany

^★ Corresponding author; dariusz.c.lis@jpl.nasa.gov

Received: 1 August 2024
Accepted: 24 September 2024

Abstract

Using the upGREAT instrument on SOFIA, we imaged the [C II] 158 µm fine structure line emission in bright-rimmed pillars located at the southern edge of the IC 1848 H II region, and carried out pointed observations of the [O I] 63 and 145 µm fine structure lines toward selected positions. The observations are used to characterize the morphology, velocity field, and the physical conditions in the G1–G3 filaments. The velocity-resolved [C II] spectra show evidence of a velocity shift at the head of the brightest G1 filament, possibly caused by radiation pressure from the impinging UV photons or the rocket effect of the evaporating gas. Archival Herschel PACS and SPIRE observations imply H₂ column densities in the range 10²¹ –10²² cm⁻² , corresponding to maximum visual extinction A_V ≃ 10 mag, and average H₂ volume density of ≃4500 cm⁻³ in the filaments. The [C II] emission traces ∼17% of the total H₂ column density, as derived from dust SED fits. Photon-dominated region models are unable to explain the observed line intensities of the two [O I] fine structure lines in IC 1848, with the observed [O I] 145 µm line being too strong compared to the model predictions. The [O I] lines in IC 1848 are overall weak and the signal-to-noise ratio is limited. However, our observations suggest that the [O I] 63/145 µm intensity ratio is a sensitive probe of the physical conditions in photon-dominated regions such as IC 1848. These lines are thus excellent targets for future high-altitude balloon instruments, less affected by telluric absorption.