Open AccessA comprehensive search for extragalactic 6.7‐GHz methanol masers
Author(s) -
Chris Phillips,
R. P. Norris,
S. P. Ellingsen,
David Rayner
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1998.01134.x
Subject(s) - maser , megamaser , physics , galaxy , astrophysics , star formation , astronomy , telescope , methanol , line (geometry) , green bank telescope , chemistry , geometry , mathematics , organic chemistry
We have used the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) to search for 6.7‐GHz methanol maser emission towards 87 galaxies. We chose the target sources using several criteria, including far‐IR luminosities and the presence of known OH megamasers. In addition, we searched for methanol masers in the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253, making a full spectral‐line synthesis image. No emission was detected in any of the galaxies, with detection limits ranging from 25 to 75 mJy. This is surprising, given the close association of OH and methanol masers in Galactic star formation regions, and significantly constrains models of OH megamaser emission. This absence of maser emission may be a result of low methanol abundances in molecular clouds in starburst galaxies.