Description
Accurately determining the properties of the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) poses a complex challenge for astronomers due to significant contamination from the Galactic Spiral Arms, through which we observe.
In position-velocity space, the CMZ is characterised by high-velocity spatially compact signals, while the Spiral Arms show low-velocity spatial extended signals. Considering this, we have developed a method utilising Fourier transform and filtering techniques to effectively separate these signals.
We apply these methods to the 12CO & 13CO J = 3 - 2 data obtained as part of the CHIMPS2 survey. By transforming the data to the frequency domain and applying band-pass filtering techniques, we isolate the distinct frequency components associated with the CMZ and Spiral Arms.
We present preliminary results to demonstrate the efficacy of our method in distinguishing between the CMZ and Spiral Arm signals, showing promise for enhancing our understanding of the structure and dynamics of these regions and allowing for direct comparison of their properties from single datasets. We also present preliminary estimates for several physical properties of the newly isolated spiral arms.
This method shows potential as a robust tool for astronomers to analyse complex galactic environments with distinct velocity features, and facilitates more accurate interpretations of observational data.
