Temperature variation of the warm H2 outflow beyond 450 pc from the southern nucleus

Ascertain the radial temperature change of the outflowing warm molecular hydrogen gas at distances greater than 450 pc from the southern nucleus of NGC 3256, quantifying how the H2 temperature distribution evolves beyond the JWST/MIRI channel 1 field of view.

Background

The paper maps the temperature distribution of the warm molecular hydrogen outflow in NGC 3256 using the H2 S(7)/S(1) flux ratio. Higher ratios indicate a larger fraction of warmer gas, which the authors find to be highest near the southern nucleus and decreasing with radius. However, the outflow extends beyond the MIRI channel 1 field of view, limiting the analysis of the temperature trend at larger distances.

Understanding the temperature gradient at larger radii is important for characterizing heating mechanisms and energy deposition in the interstellar medium by the outflow and for distinguishing nuclear heating sources as the outflow propagates.