University of
Notre Dame
College of
Science
Department of
Physics

Astrophysics Seminar

 

Observations of High Velocity Clouds Toward the Inner Galaxy: Evidence for a Galactic Wind?

 

Will Zech
University of Notre Dame

 

 

Tuesday, September 18, 2007   12:30 pm   
NSH 124 (Nuclear Seminar Room)


High velocity clouds (HVCs) are clouds of gas at velocities inconsistent with the general rotation of the Galaxy. Found at high Galactic latitudes with velocities >90 km/s, these clouds likely play an important role in the evolution of the Milky Way.  If they originate from within the Galaxy, HVCs may redistribute metals throughout the Galaxy and pollute the Galactic halo; if they originate from metal deficient extragalactic environments, they can provide pristine material for new generations of stars.  To date most HVCs have been associated with intergalactic matter or tidally interacting gas, although their true nature is the subject of on-going debate.  I will discuss our work on Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and Hubble Space Telescope observations of unique HVCs discovered toward the globular cluster M5 in the inner Galaxy. These clouds clearly have a Galactic origin, and they appear to be part of a galactic fountain or possibly a galactic wind from the center of the Milky Way.

 

 

 


All interested persons are cordially invited to attend.
-3