Examinando por Autor "Rico Villas, F."

Mostrando 1 - 7 de 7

Acceso Abierto
A proto-pseudobulge in ESO 320-G030 fed by a massive molecular inflow driven by a nuclear bar
(EDP Sciences, 2021-01-07) González Alfonso, E.; Pereira Santaella, M.; Fischer, J.; García Burillo, S.; Yang, C.; Alonso Herrero, A.; Colina, L.; Ashby, M. L. N.; Smith, H. A.; Rico Villas, F.; Martín Pintado, J.; Cazzoli, S.; Stewart, F. P.; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Comunidad de Madrid; European Commission (EC); 0000-0001-5285-8517; 0000-0001-6697-7808; 0000-0003-0444-6897; 0000-0002-8117-9991; 0000-0001-6794-2519; 0000-0002-7705-2525; 0000-0001-8266-8298; Centros de Excelencia Severo Ochoa, INSTITUTO DE ASTROFISICA DE ANDALUCIA (IAA), SEV-2017-0709; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Galaxies with nuclear bars are believed to efficiently drive gas inward, generating a nuclear starburst and possibly an active galactic nucleus. We confirm this scenario for the isolated, double-barred, luminous infrared galaxy ESO 320-G030 based on an analysis of Herschel and ALMA spectroscopic observations. Herschel/PACS and SPIRE observations of ESO 320-G030 show absorption or emission in 18 lines of H2O, which we combine with the ALMA H2O 4(23)-3(30) 448 GHz line (E-upper similar to 400 K) and continuum images to study the physical properties of the nuclear region. Radiative transfer models indicate that three nuclear components are required to account for the multi-transition H2O and continuum data. An envelope, with radius R similar to 130-150 pc, dust temperature T-dust approximate to 50 K, and N-H2 similar to 2x10(23) cm(-2), surrounds a nuclear disk with R similar to 40 pc that is optically thick in the far-infrared (tau (100 mu m)similar to 1.5-3, N-H2 similar to 2x10(24) cm(-2)). In addition, an extremely compact (R similar to 12 pc), warm (approximate to 100 K), and buried (tau (100 mu m)> 5, N-H2 greater than or similar to 5x10(24) cm(-2)) core component is required to account for the very high-lying H2O absorption lines. The three nuclear components account for 70% of the galaxy luminosity (SFR similar to 16-18 M-circle dot yr(-1)). The nucleus is fed by a molecular inflow observed in CO 2-1 with ALMA, which is associated with the nuclear bar. With decreasing radius (r=450-225 pc), the mass inflow rate increases up to M-inf similar to 20 M yr(-1), which is similar to the nuclear star formation rate (SFR), indicating that the starburst is sustained by the inflow. At lower r, similar to 100-150 pc, the inflow is best probed by the far-infrared OH ground-state doublets, with an estimated M-inf similar to 30 M yr(-1). The inferred short timescale of similar to 20 Myr for nuclear gas replenishment indicates quick secular evolution, and indicates that we are witnessing an intermediate stage (< 100 Myr) proto-pseudobulge fed by a massive inflow that is driven by a strong nuclear bar. We also apply the H2O model to the Herschel far-infrared spectroscopic observations of H218O, OH, 18OH, OH+, H2O+, H3O+, NH, NH2, NH3, CH, CH+, 13CH+, HF, SH, and C3, and we estimate their abundances.
Acceso Abierto
Discovery in space of ethanolamine, the simplest phospholipid head group
(National Academy of Sciences, 2021-06-01) Rivilla, V. M.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Martín Pintado, J.; Briones, C.; Rodríguez Almeida, L. F.; Rico Villas, F.; Tercero, B.; Zeng, S.; Colzi, L.; De Vicente, P.; Martín, S.; Requena Torres, Miguel Angel; European Commission (EC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Comunidad de Madrid; Rivilla, V. M. [0000-0002-2887-5859]; Tercero, B. [0000-0002-4782-5259]; Martín, S. [0000-0001-9281-2919]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Cell membranes are a key element of life because they keep the genetic material and metabolic machinery together. All present cell membranes are made of phospholipids, yet the nature of the first membranes and the origin of phospholipids are still under debate. We report here the presence of ethanolamine in space, NH2CH2CH2OH, which forms the hydrophilic head of the simplest and second-most-abundant phospholipid in membranes. The molecular column density of ethanolamine in interstellar space is N = (1.51 +/- 0.07) x 1013 cm-2, implying a molecular abundance with respect to H2 of (0.9 - 1.4) x 10-10. Previous studies reported its presence in meteoritic material, but they suggested that it is synthesized in the meteorite itself by decomposition of amino acids. However, we find that the proportion of the molecule with respect to water in the interstellar medium is similar to the one found in the meteorite (10-6). These results indicate that ethanolamine forms efficiently in space and, if delivered onto early Earth, could have contributed to the assembling and early evolution of primitive membranes.
Acceso Abierto
Prebiotic Precursors of the Primordial RNA World in Space: Detection of NH2OH
(The Institute of Physics (IOP), 2020-08-19) Rivilla, V. M.; Martín Pintado, J.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Martín, S.; Rodríguez Almeida, L. F.; Requena Torres, Miguel Angel; Rico Villas, F.; Zeng, S.; Briones, C.; European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Comunidad de Madrid; Briones, C. [0000-0003-2213-8353]; Martín Ruiz, S. [0000-0001-9281-2919]; Rico Villas, F. [0000-0002-5351-3497]; Rivilla, V. M. [0000-0002-2887-5859]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
One of the proposed scenarios for the origin of life is the primordial RNA world, which considers that RNA molecules were likely responsible for the storage of genetic information and the catalysis of biochemical reactions in primitive cells, before the advent of proteins and DNA. In the last decade, experiments in the field of prebiotic chemistry have shown that RNA nucleotides can be synthesized from relatively simple molecular precursors, most of which have been found in space. An important exception is hydroxylamine, NH2OH, which, despite several observational attempts, it has not been detected in space yet. Here we present the first detection of NH2OH in the interstellar medium toward the quiescent molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027 located in the Galactic Center. We have targeted the three groups of transitions from the J = 2−1, 3−2, and 4−3 rotational lines, detecting five transitions that are unblended or only slightly blended. The derived molecular abundance of NH2OH is (2.1 ± 0.9) × 10−10. From the comparison of the derived abundance of NH2OH and chemically related species, with those predicted by chemical models and measured in laboratory experiments, we favor the formation of NH2OH in the interstellar medium via hydrogenation of NO on dust grain surfaces, with possibly a contribution of ice-mantle NH3 oxidation processes. Further laboratory studies and quantum chemical calculations are needed to completely rule out the formation of NH2OH in the gas phase.
Acceso Abierto
Propargylimine in the laboratory and in space: millimetre-wave spectroscopy and its first detection in the ISM
(EDP Sciences, 2020-08-20) Bizzocchi, L.; Prudenzano, D.; Rivilla, V. M.; Pietropolli Charmet, A.; Giuliano, B. M.; Caselli, P.; Martín Pintado, J.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Martín, S.; Requena Torres, M. A.; Rico Villas, F.; Guillemin, J. C.; Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES); European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Rico Villas, F. [0000-0002-5351-3497]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Context. Small imines containing up to three carbon atoms are present in the interstellar medium (ISM). As alkynyl compounds are abundant in this medium, propargylimine (2-propyn-1-imine, HC ≡C−CH =NH) thus represents a promising candidate for a new interstellar detection. Aims. The goal of the present work is to perform a comprehensive laboratory investigation of the rotational spectrum of propargylimine in its ground vibrational state in order to obtain a highly precise set of rest frequencies and to search for it in space. Methods. The rotational spectra of E and Z geometrical isomers of propargylimine have been recorded in the laboratory in the 83–500 GHz frequency interval. The measurements have been performed using a source-modulation millimetre-wave spectrometer equipped with a pyrolysis system for the production of unstable species. High-level ab initio calculations were performed to assist the analysis and to obtain reliable estimates for an extended set of spectroscopic quantities. We searched for propargylimine at 3 mm and 2 mm in the spectral survey of the quiescent giant molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027 located in the central molecular zone, close to the Galactic centre. Results. About 1000 rotational transitions have been recorded for the E- and Z-propargylimine, in the laboratory. These new data have enabled the determination of a very accurate set of spectroscopic parameters including rotational, quartic, and sextic centrifugal distortion constants. The improved spectral data allowed us to perform a successful search for this new imine in the G+0.693-0.027 molecular cloud. Eighteen lines of Z-propargylimine were detected at level >2.5σ, resulting in a column-density estimate of N = (0.24 ± 0.02) × 1014 cm−2. An upper limit was retrieved for the higher energy E isomer, which was not detected in the data. The fractional abundance (with respect to H2) derived for Z-propargylimine is 1.8 × 10−10. We discuss the possible formation routes by comparing the derived abundance with those measured in the source for possible chemical precursors.
Acceso Abierto
Spectral Line Identification and Modelling (SLIM) in the MAdrid Data CUBe Analysis (MADCUBA) package Interactive software for data cube analysis
(EDP Sciences, 2019-11-13) Martín, S.; Martín Pintado, J.; Blanco Sánchez, C.; Rivilla, V. M.; Rodríguez Franco, A.; Rico Villas, F.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); European Research Council (ERC); Rivilla, V. M. [0000-0002-2887-5859]; Martín Ruiz, S. [0000-0001-9281-2919]; Rico Villas, F. [0000-0002-5351-3497]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Context. The increase in bandwidth and sensitivity of state-of-the-art radio observatories is providing a wealth of molecular data from nearby star-forming regions up to high-z galaxies. Analysing large data sets of spectral cubes requires efficient and user-friendly tools optimised for astronomers with a wide range of backgrounds. Aims. In this paper we present the detailed formalism at the core of Spectral Line Identification and Modelling (SLIM) within the MAdrid Data CUBe Analysis (MADCUBA) package and their main data-handling functionalities. These tools have been developed to visualise, analyse, and model large spectroscopic data cubes. Methods. We present the highly interactive on-the-fly visualisation and modelling tools of MADCUBA and SLIM, which includes a stand-alone spectroscopic database. The parameters stored therein are used to solve the full radiative transfer equation under local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). The SLIM package provides tools to generate synthetic LTE model spectra based on input physical parameters of column density, excitation temperature, velocity, line width, and source size. It also provides an automatic fitting algorithm to obtain the physical parameters (with their associated errors) better fitting the observations. Synthetic spectra can be overlayed in the data cubes/spectra to ease the task of multi-molecular line identification and modelling. Results. We present the Java-based MADCUBA and its internal module SLIM packages which provide all the necessary tools for manipulation and analysis of spectroscopic data cubes. We describe in detail the spectroscopic fitting equations and make use of this tool to explore the breaking conditions and implicit errors of commonly used approximations in the literature. Conclusions. Easy-to-use tools like MADCUBA allow users to derive physical information from spectroscopic data without the need for simple approximations. The SLIM tool allows the full radiative transfer equation to be used, and to interactively explore the space of physical parameters and associated uncertainties from observational data.
Restringido
Thiols in the Interstellar Medium: First Detection of HC(O)SH and Confirmation of C2H5SH
(IOP Science Publishing, 2021-04-30) Rodríguez Almeida, L. F.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Rivilla, V. M.; Martín Pintado, J.; Zeng, S.; Tercero, B.; De Vicente, P.; Colzi, L.; Rico Villas, F.; Martín, S.; Requena Torres, Miguel Angel; Comunidad de Madrid; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Research Council (ERC); European Commission (EC); Rodríguez Almeida, L. F. [0000-0002-9785-703X]; Jiménez Serra, I. [0000-0003-4493-8714]; Rivilla, V. M. [0000-0002-2887-5859]; Martín Pintado, J. [0000-0003-4561-3508]; Tercero, B. [0000-0002-4782-5259]; Martín, S. [0000-0001-9281-2919]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
The chemical compounds carrying the thiol group (-SH) have been considered essential in recent prebiotic studies regarding the polymerization of amino acids. We have searched for this kind of compound toward the Galactic Center quiescent cloud G+0.693–0.027. We report the first detection in the interstellar space of the trans-isomer of monothioformic acid (t-HC(O)SH) with an abundance of ~1 × 10−10. Additionally, we provide a solid confirmation of the gauche isomer of ethyl mercaptan (g-C2H5SH) with an abundance of ~3 × 10−10, and we also detect methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) with an abundance of ~5 × 10−9. Abundance ratios were calculated for the three SH-bearing species and their OH analogs, revealing similar trends between alcohols and thiols with increasing complexity. Possible chemical routes for the interstellar synthesis of t-HC(O)SH, CH3SH, and C2H5SH are discussed, as well as the relevance of these compounds in the synthesis of prebiotic proteins in the primitive Earth.
Restringido
Vibrationally excited HC3N emission in NGC 1068: tracing the recent star formation in the starburst ring
(Oxford Academics: Oxford University Press, 2021-01-25) Rico Villas, F.; Martín Pintado, J.; González Alfonso, E.; Rivilla, V. M.; Martín, S.; García Burillo, S.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Sánchez García, M.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Research Council (ERC); Rivilla, V. M. [0000-0002-2887-5859]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Using the ALMA data, we have studied the HC3N and continuum emission in the starburst pseudo-ring (SB pseudo-ring) and the circumnuclear disc (CND) of the SB/active galactic nucleus (AGN) composite galaxy NGC 1068. We have detected emission from vibrationally excited HC3N (HC3N*) only towards one star-forming region of the SB pseudo-ring. Remarkably, HC3N* was not detected towards the CND despite its large HC3N v = 0 column density. From local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE modelling of HC3N*, we obtained a dust temperature (Tdust) of ∼250 K and a density (nH2) of 6×105 cm−3 for this star-forming region. The estimated infrared (IR) luminosity of 5.8 × 108 L⊙ is typical of proto-superstar clusters (proto-SSCs) observed in the SB galaxy NGC 253. We use the continuum emissions at 147 and 350 GHz, along with CO and Pa α, to estimate the ages of other 14 SSCs in the SB pseudo-ring. We find the SSCs to be associated with the region connecting the nuclear bar with the SB pseudo-ring, supporting the inflow scenario. For the CND, our analysis yields Tdust ≤ 100 K and nH2∼(3−6)×105 cm−3. The very different dust temperatures found for the CND and the proto-SSC indicate that, while the dust in the proto-SSC is being efficiently heated from the inside by the radiation from massive protostars, the CND is being heated externally by the AGN, which in the IR optically thin case can only heat the dust to 56 K. We discuss the implications of the non-detection of HC3N* near the luminous AGN in NGC 1068 on the interpretation of the HC3N* emission observed in the SB/AGN composite galaxies NGC 4418 and Arp 220.