The Exponential and Gaussian Density Profiles of HI and Fe II in the Gaseous Halo of the Milky Way

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the exponential and Gaussian density profiles of the gaseous halo of the Milky Way galaxy for scale heights of |z| ≤ 1000 pc. The density profile of the neutral hydrogen HI and that of the ionized iron Fe II is considered. The data of different values of scale heights and central number density from the literature have been used in order to determine the density profiles. More specifically, six density profiles of HI and two density profiles of Fe II have been determined. In addition, the average of both cases has been calculated and the results showed that the density of neutral hydrogen is significantly higher than that of the ionized iron.