Fig. 3: Total ionized hydrogen profile from ionization models.
Ionized hydrogen column density as a function of LMC impact parameter, ρLMC, for each of three gas phases at approximately 104 K (photoionized; low ions; a), approximately 104.9 K (interfaces; C IV and Si IV; b) and approximately 105.5 K (corona; O VI; c). The photoionized results are from Cloudy models (blue crosses). Collisional ionization equilibrium (grey circles) and non-equilibrium isochoric models (brown squares) are used for the approximately 104.9 K and approximately 105.5 K gases based on C IV and O VI measurements, respectively16. Linear regression fits and 68% confidence intervals are shown in the same colour lines, with the roughly 104.9 K fit made only to data at ρLMC > 7 kpc and the approximately 104 K and approximately 105.5 K fits made to all data. The slope of the approximately 105.5 K fit is only considered within the bounds of our observations. Error bars represent standard deviations.
