GBT02A-022

Search for formaldehyde absorption of the CMB by cold molecular gas in M31

Abstract

We propose observations of the 6 and 2 cm lines of gaseous formaldehyde in absorption against the cosmic microwave background in the nearby spiral galaxy M31. The primary aim is to detect and characterize cold molecular gas associated with dust clouds in the quiescent inner disk of M31. We also look for molecular gas in the outer reaches of the galaxy where wide-spread and ongoing star formation has recently been discovered. These observations will provide important clues to the poorly-understood physical conditions existing in these regions and possibly establish formaldehyde measurements as a tool to probe the ISM of nearby galaxies.

**Investigators**
Name	Other *	Institution	Email	Phone
Ron Allen	PI	Space Telescope Science Instit	rjallen@stsci.edu	410 338 4575
Jayadev Rajagopal		Raman Research Institute	jayadev@stsci.edu	410 338 2618
N. Panagia		Space Telescope Science Instit	panagia@stsci.edu	410 338 4916

* PI = Principal Investigator; T = Thesis observations; S = Student

Front Ends

Gregorian C(3.95 to 5.85 GHz)
Gregorian Ku  U(12.4 to 15.4 GHz)

Back Ends

Spectral Processor

Type of Observing

Spectroscopy

Switching Type

Position switching

Allocated time: 20.00 hours.

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