Abstract Detail
13 January, 2006 - 11:20 AM CO line SEDs of high-z QSOs and submm GalaxiesA. Weiss (MPIfR Bonn), D. Downes, C. Henkel, & F. Walter Observations of multiple CO transitions provide a
unique tool to constrain the excitiation conditions
of the molecular gas in high redshift objects.
We present first results of our ongoing multi CO
transitions study in six QSOs host galaxies and
four submm-galaxies at redshifts between z=1.4 and 4.7 obtained at the IRAM 30m telescope and the IRAM Plateau
de Bure interferometer. Observed CO lines typically
include transitions between CO(3-2) and CO(8-7) but
range up to the CO(11-10) line in the BAL QSO APM0827
(z=3.9). This unique set of rest frame mm/submm
transitions provides, for the first time, information
on the full CO ladder in ultra luminous infrared galaxies
at any redshift. Using Large Velocity Gradient
(LVG) models we conclude that, surprisingly, all CO line SEDs (CO flux density vs. rotational quantum number) can
be explained by single temperature/density models. We
will discuss variations of the CO line SEDs and of the
underlying physical conditions within the massive
molecular gas reservoirs found in these high-z objects.
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