A computer program for fast non-LTE analysis of interstellar line spectra-With diagnostic plots to interpret observed line intensity ratios

FFS Van der Tak, JH Black, FL Schöier… - Astronomy & …, 2007 - aanda.org
FFS Van der Tak, JH Black, FL Schöier, DJ Jansen, EF van Dishoeck
Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2007aanda.org
Aims. The large quantity and high quality of modern radio and infrared line observations
require efficient modeling techniques to infer physical and chemical parameters such as
temperature, density, and molecular abundances. Methods. We present a computer program
to calculate the intensities of atomic and molecular lines produced in a uniform medium,
based on statistical equilibrium calculations involving collisional and radiative processes
and including radiation from background sources. Optical depth effects are treated with an …
Aims
The large quantity and high quality of modern radio and infrared line observations require efficient modeling techniques to infer physical and chemical parameters such as temperature, density, and molecular abundances.
Methods
We present a computer program to calculate the intensities of atomic and molecular lines produced in a uniform medium, based on statistical equilibrium calculations involving collisional and radiative processes and including radiation from background sources. Optical depth effects are treated with an escape probability method. The program is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.sron.rug.nl/~vdtak/radex/index.shtml. The program makes use of molecular data files maintained in the Leiden Atomic and Molecular Database (LAMDA), which will continue to be improved and expanded.
Results
The performance of the program is compared with more approximate and with more sophisticated methods. An Appendix provides diagnostic plots to estimate physical parameters from line intensity ratios of commonly observed molecules.
Conclusions
This program should form an important tool in analyzing observations from current and future radio and infrared telescopes.
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