Diffuse 157-micron C II forbidden-line emission from the Galaxy

Abstract

The diffuse 157.74-micron C II forbidden-line emission from the Galaxy was sampled at several longitudes near the galactic plane including complete scans across the plane at l(II) = 2.16 deg and l(II) = 7.28 deg. The observed C II forbidden-line profiles closely follow the nearby C-12O (J = 1-0) emission profiles. The C II forbidden-line emission probably arises in neutral photodissociation regions near the edges of giant molecular clouds. The total C II forbidden-line luminosity of the Galaxy is 6 x 10 to the 7th solar luminosities. It is estimated that the C II forbidden-line emitting regions consist of 4 x 10 to the 8th solar masses of hydrogen with a volume filling factor of 0.001.