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# Helium and Hydrogen Line Ratios and The Stellar Content of Compact HII Regions

## 1 Introduction

This is the last paper in a series discussing the near infrared hydrogen and helium recombination lines in photoionised nebulae. In the previous two papers (Lumsden, Puxley & Hoare 2001a,b; hereafter Paper 1 and 2) we discussed the properties as measured in planetary nebulae. We showed that the ratio of pure hydrogen and helium recombination lines are a good measure of the hardness of the exciting radiation field from the central star. This is as expected from simple photoionisation models, since the volume of the He+ zone relative to the volume of the H+ zone is simply related to the hardness of the radiation field in the 504–912Å region of the spectrum of the exciting star. In turn this depends on the stellar effective temperature as well as more specific details of the stellar spectrum as related to stellar evolution (ie stellar winds, luminosity, surface gravity etc). For young stars, this ratio is also therefore clearly a constraint on the upper end of the stellar initial mass function (IMF).

The use of near infrared hydrogen and helium lines as probes of the underlying radiation field was suggested by Thompson & Tokunaga (1980) in the study of heavily embedded compact HII regions. With early infrared instruments the near infrared pure recombination HeI lines were too weak to be useful. Considerable attention was given instead to the HeI 21P–21S line at 2.058$`\mu `$m. Unfortunately this line is largely pumped by the resonance in the HeI 21P–11S transition, and can be influenced by collisional excitation from the metastable 21S level as well as from the triplet series. At first it was believed that the complexity of this transition could be modelled in a simple fashion. Doyon, Puxley & Joseph (1992) suggested that the HeI 21P–21S to HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio was ideal for studying the initial mass function in starburst galaxies. They tried to take account of the competing factors that led to emission in the 2.058$`\mu `$m line using an analytical approach. However, Shields (1993) showed from a full photoionisation treatment that this approach was a poor approximation to the actual predicted line strength. More recent updates to the atomic data used in the prediction of the HeI 21P–21S line strength have also been presented by Ferland (1999).

In the previous two papers in this series we were able to show that the observed near infrared HeI and HI line strengths did largely follow the predictions of the photoionisation models for planetary nebulae. This is encouraging since the planetary nebulae are at least simple in the sense that the objects we observed only had a single central exciting star, and could be modelled reasonably as expanding spheres. If the model predictions for such simple systems deviated significantly from the observations, then the method of using near infrared HeI and HI line strengths as a constraint on the hardness of the stellar radiation field would have been invalidated almost completely. The aim of this paper is to study how well the line ratios compare between model and observation for compact HII regions.

HII regions provide a more challenging test of these models for several reasons. They probably contain a central star cluster rather than a single star, so the cumulative effect of the stellar output needs to be estimated. This in turn requires knowledge of the IMF. Of course, this is the parameter that Doyon et al. (1992) sought to estimate from the HeI to HI line ratios. However, in our case, where we are testing the models, we are forced to make some simple assumptions regarding the form of the initial mass function. Compact HII regions are also rather more diverse morphologically than the simple planetary nebulae we were considering. Finally, there is considerable uncertainty about the form of the stellar radiation field in massive stars. Models diverge markedly depending on whether line blanketing due to metals is included or not, whether the effects of a stellar wind are included, and whether a non-LTE treatment is applied. Martins, Schaerer & Hillier (2002) give a useful summary of the properties of the currently available models for dwarfs. In addition to this overall uncertainty, there is also some doubt as to whether very young massive stars have the same effective radiation field as they would if they were on the main sequence. We know that massive young stellar objects tend to have very dense, slow moving, stellar winds (eg. Bunn, Drew & Hoare 1995). These winds may reprocess much of the ionising radiation from the young stars into non-ionising radiation. The objects studied by Bunn et al. do not have substantial HII regions despite having the bolometric luminosity equivalent to OB stars. The aim of this paper therefore is to determine how well we can reproduce the HeI/HI line ratios used in Papers 1 and 2 using realistic models of compact HII regions.

## 2 The observational sample

### 2.1 Near infrared spectroscopy

All of our target HII regions are drawn from the compilation of ultracompact HII regions presented by Wood & Churchwell (1989) and Kurtz, Churchwell & Wood (1994). The objects were chosen to be sufficiently bright in the near infrared to allow high signal-to-noise low resolution spectroscopy to be obtained. The sources have a variety of morphologies, at least as seen in the radio continuum images.

The line ratios presented in this paper were taken from spectroscopic data acquired for other purposes. Most of the data were obtained using the facility near infrared spectrograph CGS4 at the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope. The high spectral resolution data from which we draw the 2.16475$`\mu `$m HeI 73,1G–43,1F/HI Br$`\gamma `$ line ratio comes from a project to map the kinematics of compact HII regions (eg. Lumsden & Hoare 1996, 1999). The original data have a spectral resolution of $`20000`$, sufficient to easily distinguish the satellite HeI lines from Br$`\gamma `$ itself. Full details of the observations and data reduction can be found in the cited papers.

The lower resolution data comes from a project to study the near infrared extinction law (Ridge et al. in preparation). Here observations of the 1.6–2.2$`\mu `$m region were acquired at low spectral resolution ($`R`$400). All of the data were acquired with CGS4 with the exception of that for G45.45+0.06, where we have used data acquired with the near infrared imager/spectrograph IRIS on the AAT. The raw data were processed, corrected for atmospheric absorption and flux calibrated in the usual fashion (see, eg, Paper 2 which discusses data acquired on planetary nebulae using CGS4, or Lumsden & Puxley 1996 which deals with similar IRIS data). We measured the fluxes of the HI Br series lines, in order to determine the extinction, as well as 2.058$`\mu `$m HeI 21P–21S and 1.7007$`\mu `$m HeI 43D–33P from the low resolution data. Unfortunately, the H band data for G45.07+0.13 are of insufficient signal-to-noise to detect the HI Br12 or HeI 43D–33P lines. The limits that can be placed are consistent with other data for this object, without actually adding any extra constraints.

For both high and low resolution data, we measured the line fluxes from the spectrum summed over the whole object. There was no evidence for a variation in line ratio along the slit in any of our sources. Since we are only interested in line ratios with HI Br$`\gamma `$, we have combined the low and high resolution data in our analysis. The line ratios from the high resolution data are not corrected for extinction. The small wavelength range involved implies a correction of less than 1% for all our sources. The low resolution data were corrected by comparing the HI lines of Br$`\gamma `$, Br10, Br11 and Br12 (the latter 3 lines lie at 1.737$`\mu `$m, 1.681$`\mu `$m and 1.644$`\mu `$m). These line ratios vary by less than 5% over the expected range of electron temperatures and densities (eg Wood & Churchwell 1989). We assumed a power law dependence for the extinction so that $`\tau \lambda ^{1.85}`$ (Landini et al. 1984). The error in the HeI 1.7007$`\mu `$m/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio is then largely set by the derived error in this extinction correction.

The HeI 21P–21S line must also be corrected for a high frequency component in the atmospheric absorption that is not removed by standard techniques (see Paper 1 for full details). The adopted correction values are given to allow the raw line ratios to be estimated. Table 1 presents these values, all the observed line ratios after correction for extinction and the adopted values of $`\tau _{\mathrm{Br}\gamma }`$.

Finally we also use data on the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio previously published by Doherty et al. (1994) for G5.97–1.17 and G43.89–0.78. The extinction corrections applied there are derived from a comparison of radio continuum and Br$`\gamma `$ flux density. We give the values as taken from the original source.

### 2.2 Radio and Far Infrared Data

We used the data given in Wood & Churchwell (1989) and Kurtz et al. (1994) in order to constrain the IMF for the exciting stars in these sources. Table 2 gives the basic observational properties of our sample. The radio data gives a measure of the flux of hydrogen ionising photons, whereas IRAS data gives a measure of the total luminosity. The comparison of radio and far infrared data therefore gives us information as to whether the exciting source in an HII region is a single star or a cluster of stars since the two observable properties depend on stellar mass (and the IMF) in a slightly different way (see Section 3.2).

The radio data actually provides a lower limit to the flux of hydrogen ionising photons. The interferometric data presented in Wood & Churchwell and Kurtz et al. are not sensitive to emission on scales much larger than 10–30 arcseconds. Therefore such extended flux is missed. This is clearly true for G19.61–0.23A where we have instead used the fluxes presented by Garay et al. (1998). Kurtz et al. (1999) demonstrate that such extended emission is commonplace in compact HII regions. Such ‘compact’ HII regions tend to show a compact dense core, which is what was detected by Wood & Churchwell (1989) and Kurtz et al. (1994), surrounded by low density extended ionised gas emission. We also do not correct for any dust present in the HII region, which also acts to depress the derived flux of hydrogen ionising photons. The work of Hoare, Roche & Glencross (1991) suggests this is a reasonable approximation. Finally we note that we have used the distance estimates given by Wood & Churchwell (1989) and Kurtz et al. (1994). There is evidence that these are on average too large (see, eg, Araya et al. 2002, which gives distances for six of our targets). However, the effect of a slightly too large distance more or less compensates for any missing radio emission, so the actual net effect is small when considering the radio data.

By contrast with the radio data, the observed IRAS fluxes may well be too large, since the large IRAS beam can encompass emission from neighbouring sources given the high source density in the Galactic plane. Inspection of higher (18′′) resolution 21$`\mu `$m images from the MSX satellite mission (see, eg, Price et al 2001 for details of this mission) clearly shows the source multiplicity within the IRAS beam in many cases. The most discrepant are G5.89–0.39, G19.61–0.23A, G35.20–1.74 and G45.07+0.13, where the observed MSX 21$`\mu `$m flux densities are only 53%, 65%, 63% and 65% respectively of the IRAS 25$`\mu `$m flux density. In addition, W51d is only a small part of the W51 HII region (and merges with other sources even in the MSX beam). Therefore, under the assumption that most of the bolometric luminosity is reprocessed by dust, the far infrared luminosity as seen by IRAS gives an upper limit to the true bolometric luminosity. In addition, the likely overestimate in the distances should be borne in mind since this also inflates the estimated IRAS luminosity (by a factor of $`2`$ typically if the distances in Araya et al. 2002 are correct).

## 3 HII Region Models

### 3.1 Stellar Models

Any photoionisation model of a HII region requires some assumption as to the form of the spectral energy distribution of the exciting star(s). We used the CoStar model stellar atmospheres as our main input (Schaerer et al. 1996a,b). These have the advantage of being widely available and used in such photoionisation modelling, and therefore provide a benchmark against which we can test the observations. The CoStar models were placed on a physical luminosity-effective temperature scale by Schaerer & de Koter (1997) using the calibrations of Vacca, Garmany & Shull (1996) who presented the fundamental relations between observational properties of O stars. We used the predicted values for $`N_{LyC}`$ from Schaerer & de Koter to normalise our model set.

The Vacca et al. calibration may be inaccurate however (see, eg, the discussion in Herrero 2003, Martins, Schaerer & Hillier 2002, or Smith, Norris & Crowther 2002). The Vacca et al. calibration relied on results from pure hydrogen and helium non-LTE models and is likely to overestimate the effective temperature for a given spectral type by as much as 10–15% (see, eg, Herrero 2003 for an overview). Martins et al. (2002) show the likely effect for the models of most interest to us, the dwarfs, with the effective temperature being too hot by at least 1500K for all O types. Crowther et al. (2002) and Herrero (2003) show that the same effect holds for supergiants as well. There is also observational evidence that the assumed absolute V band magnitude (and hence luminosity) derived by Vacca et al. is overestimated slightly for the hotter dwarfs (compare Figure 1 in Smith et al. 2002 with Figure 6 in Vacca et al).

In order to estimate the extent of the effect that the use of the CoStar grid and the Vacca et al. calibration has on our results we also used data from a smaller grid of models presented by Smith et al. (2002). These are based on the WM-basic models of Pauldrach, Hoffmann & Lennon (2001), but use the Smith et al. luminosity calibration. We adopted these models since they span the range of effective temperature we are interested in as well as being readily available, though other similar models are now available (see, eg, Herrero 2003 for a summary). Smith et al. (2002) show that the hard ultraviolet flux in the CoStar models is enhanced compared to the WM-basic models (eg see their Figure 4). This is likely due to a fuller treatment of the line blanketing in the WM-basic models (see also the discussion in Section 4.2 of Giveon et al. 2002 regarding the comparison of WM-basic models with simple LTE models).

We have also included an extension to the effective temperature sequence for stars with masses $`<20`$$`\mathrm{M}_{}`$. These are taken from Puxley (1988) and approximate the behaviour of lower mass stars. The stellar atmospheres used in these models are the LTE models from Kurucz (1979). These models are known to be incorrect to within a factor of a few. Therefore we only use these models to demonstrate why we can largely ignore the lower mass stars in our analysis, and do not use them in any detailed photoionisation modelling.

### 3.2 Observable Properties

If there is a cluster present, then we need to know the form of the stellar IMF before we can compare models with observations. Scalo (1998) reviews our current understanding of the IMF in depth. For our purposes however we adopted the relatively simple IMF proposed by Salpeter (1955), where the IMF is described solely by a power law,

$$\psi (M)M^{2.35}.$$

This is sufficiently close to our present knowledge of the upper end of the IMF that it is still a reasonable approximation. The fact that it is a poor approximation to the lower end of the IMF is unimportant because the steepness of the dependence of the ionising photon flux on stellar mass means we need only consider massive stars in any event. The number of hydrogen ionising photons for a given stellar cluster is then

$$N_{LyC}=n_{LyC}(M)\psi (M)𝑑M$$

where $`n_{LyC}`$ is the number of hydrogen ionising photons at a given stellar mass. A similar relation holds for the total luminosity, $`L_{tot}`$.

Figure 1 shows how the combinations $`n_{LyC}(M)\psi (M)`$ and $`L(M)\psi (M)`$ behave as a function of stellar mass for the CoStar models. This clearly demonstrates why we can use the comparison of IRAS and radio data to constrain the form of the IMF. The former has a much steeper dependence on $`M`$ than the latter, so that $`L_{tot}`$ is much more sensitive to the presence of lower mass stars. Although the details of the functional form differ slightly, the same is true for the WM-basic models presented in Smith et al. (2002) as well.

In Figure 2 we plot the actual comparison of $`N_{LyC}`$ and $`L_{tot}`$ for our sample. The lower solid curve represents the track followed by a single star of increasing mass. The points marked are for (a) the dwarf CoStar models listed in Table 3 of Schaerer & de Koter (1997) and (b) the hottest 9 dwarf models listed in Table 1 of Smith et al. (2002). The upper curve presents the track of a stellar cluster. The points marked here represent the same spectral types as for the single stars, but here these are the most massive stars present in the cluster. We have normalised these curves so that there is exactly one star with that spectral type. Other possible combinations such as a steeper IMF (as perhaps indicated by the review of Scalo), or a truncated IMF at both upper and lower mass limits lie somewhere between the two curves shown. The WM-basic models presented by Smith et al. (2002), using their luminosity calibration, largely overlie the tracks shown for the CoStar models, but with the points offset approximately 1.5 sub-types towards lower luminosity than the CoStar models.

We have also plotted the direction in which the observational errors described in Section 2.2 move the observed luminosity and $`N_{LyC}`$ points in Figure 2. The plotted tracks show the effect of a decrease in the bolometric luminosity by a factor of two (the extreme suggested by the comparison of the IRAS and MSX data above), an increase in $`N_{LyC}`$ by a factor of three (roughly the case presented by the example of G19.61–0.34A), and a decrease in distance by a factor of two as suggested by Araya et al. (2002). The distance errors move the observed data approximately parallel with the model tracks, so any large discrepancy between the observed data and the models is unlikely to be due to this source. Most of the observed data cluster around or above either the cluster line or single star line in Figure 2. Errors of the magnitude shown are certainly sufficient to move all of the sources onto either cluster or single star tracks.

We have estimated two characteristic effective temperatures for each of our sources for both CoStar and WM-basic stellar models. These are estimated simply by locating the nearest model that lies directly below the observed data point. We have not interpolated these temperatures. The results are given in Table 2. The first value given in Table 2 is that for the single star required to match the radio data. The second is the hottest star in the cluster that provides a best match to the observed radio and far infrared data. Since none of the errors move the objects from significantly below the cluster track to above it, we assume that sources below the cluster track are powered by single stars only. For these cases therefore we do not give a type for the most massive star in a cluster. The likely observational errors imply that a given source may actually be up to two sub-types hotter than this and as many as five sub-types cooler.

Note that although the CoStar and WM-basic model sequences in Figure 2 do not overlie each other in terms of the actual O sub-type, the same effective temperatures tend to lie in the same place in these diagrams. This explains the rough equivalence between the temperatures of the two model sets given in Table 2. Any differences are likely due to the coarseness of the model grids, especially for the Smith et al. models. In the actual plots of the observed data we therefore use only the effective temperatures derived from the CoStar models because the sampling is better.

### 3.3 Photoionisation Models

We used Cloudy version 94.0 (Ferland 2000) to calculate the emission line properties for our model HII regions. We ran a grid of models covering the full range of available stellar effective temperature ($`T_{eff}`$) for the CoStar model grid, for all three luminosity classes. Although we are interested in young massive stars, there have been suggestions previously that supergiant models are actually a better match to the observational data. This is probably in line with the known properties of some massive young stellar objects, since there is evidence that their spectra bear a resemblance to hypergiants (eg Hamann & Persson 1989). In addition, we also ran a smaller set of dwarf and supergiant models using the WM-basic set from Smith et al. (2002).

We adopt a ‘standard’ model where we compare the different stellar inputs, with a flat electron density of $`n_e=6000`$cm-3, a turbulent velocity of 5kms-1, inner and outer radii to the nebulae of 0.01 pc and 0.5 pc respectively (see below) and input stellar models appropriate to solar metallicity. Where we vary a given parameter, we kept the other parameters fixed at the values for this standard unless otherwise noted. We assume throughout that the helium abundance is 10% by number when computing the models, but allow the metal abundance to vary in line with the stellar model for the WM-basic model set.

We also varied three other physical parameters in the models we considered in order to determine which factors were important in influencing the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio. These were the electron density (and density structure), the turbulent velocity within the ionised gas and the metallicity of the exciting star. We used the the CoStar model set when considering the effect of density and the microscopic velocity field, and the WM-basic set when considering metallicity. The first two parameters are independent of the nature of the stellar model, whilst only the WM-basic model set spans sufficient metallicity range to be worth considering. We constructed models spanning all five of the metallicities considered by Smith et al. (2002).

We considered a range of turbulent velocities, from 0 to 15kms-1. The HeI 21P–21S line is expected to be sensitive to local velocity broadening (hence turbulence) because of the resonance pumping from the 21P–11S transition (see Paper 1 for more details). The range chosen matches the typical range seen in compact HII regions. For the WM-basic models we only used a value of 5kms-1 throughout.

We considered two possible density models for the HII regions in the CoStar models: a flat constant density model, with $`n_e`$ varying between 1000 and 50000cm-3, and a model with a flat baseline density $`n_e=1000`$cm-3 with a superposed radial Gaussian density profile, with peak density again varying up to 50000cm-3. In both cases the inner surface of the cloud was 0.01 pc from the exciting source, and a nominal 0.5 pc outer radius was adopted. The latter matched the observed radii of our sources to within a factor of a few in all cases, though the actual model results are relatively insensitive to this parameter. We adopted a full width at half maximum of 0.3 pc for the Gaussian component. The radii were the same in the WM-basic models, but we only considered the flat density law with $`n_e=6000`$cm-3.

We also considered two sets of models with a larger inner radius. In the first, we set the inner radius to the cloud from the exciting star of 0.3 pc, but otherwise used the same set of parameters as the flat density models. This radius is actually larger than the total size of many of the objects being considered, and so this is not a realistic physical model of these sources. It can be thought of as a crude way to approximate the effect of using stellar models with a lower ionisation parameter since the net effect is to reduce the ionising flux at the HII region. We define this parameter as the dimensionless ratio of the photon flux to the hydrogen density at the inner surface of the HII region (note, not the Stromgren radius as in the usual definition: our definition agrees with that used in Cloudy), so that

$$U=\frac{N_{LyC}}{4\pi r^2n_Hc},$$

where $`r`$ is the inner radius of the HII region, and $`n_H`$ the total hydrogen density. Trials showed that we had to increase this radius to $`0.3`$ pc before an effect was seen in the results (models with inner radius of 0.1 pc are similar to the models with inner radius of 0.01 pc). This corresponds to a drop of $`1000`$ in the ionisation parameter. The outer radius for these models was increased to 2 pc. The second large inner radius set we considered used CoStar models with an inner radius of 1 pc and an outer radius of 5 pc. This model assumed a flat electron density profile, and only a model with $`n_e=50000`$cm-3 and turbulent velocity of 5kms-1 was calculated.

### 3.4 Model Results

Figure 3 and 4 show the results from our Cloudy simulations for the different sets of stellar inputs (luminosity class and model type) for the key HeI 21P–21S (Figure 3) and HeI 43D–33P (Figure 4) to HI Br$`\gamma `$ line ratios. In both Figure 3(a) and 4(a) the results are presented for our standard model for dwarf, giant and supergiant CoStar model atmospheres, and for dwarf and supergiant WM-basic model atmospheres. The sampling of the WM-basic models is coarser than for the CoStar models which may partly explain the shift in the peak between the CoStar and WM-basic dwarf models. The CoStar models as a whole show greater variance with type than the WM-basic models for both line ratios however. As noted in Section 3.1 this is probably a reflection of the fact that the CoStar models have insufficient line blanketing, which is of greater importance in stars with larger mass loss rate (eg supergiants as opposed to dwarfs). The net result is a spectrum that is ‘harder’ at a given effective temperature than it should be, particularly in the far ultraviolet. By comparison, the dwarf and supergiant WM-basic models give very similar predictions (identical in Figure 4(a), so only the dwarf models are actually plotted).

In Figures 3(b) and 4(b) we consider the effect of having a cluster of stars rather than a single star. We again used the standard model and the CoStar dwarf model atmospheres. The cluster was constructed so that one star with the spectral type of the maximum effective temperature was present, and the normalisation for the other stars was then set by matching the observed $`N_{LyC}`$ and $`L`$ for a cluster as in Figure 2. There is clearly little difference in the HeI/HI ratios between the single-star and the cluster case. This is in line with Figure 1, which clearly shows that the number of helium ionising photons drops sharply as the stellar mass decreases below 40$`\mathrm{M}_{}`$(equivalent to $`T_{eff}<42000`$K for the CoStar dwarf models). These results suggest a prior understanding of the IMF is not required in order to place a constraint on the hottest star present using these ratios.

In Figure 5 we show the results from our standard model for a different line ratio to show that large differences do exist between the dwarf and supergiant Cloudy models and the WM-basic models. The line ratio plotted is that of 15.6$`\mu `$m \[NeIII\] with 12.8$`\mu `$m \[NeII\]. This ratio is commonly obtained from spectroscopy obtained by the ISO satellite of compact HII regions (eg Morisset et al. 2002, Giveon et al. 2002). These model results clearly show much wider variation in behaviour than any of the HeI/HI line ratios. We have also shown how metallicity can effect such line ratios as well by examining the variation with metallicity for the WM-basic dwarf models. The result is largely as expected if higher metallicity leads to more line blanketing in the far ultraviolet, and hence a softening of the spectral energy distribution (the difference occurs at energies larger than 2.5 Rydberg, due to the change in the species causing the line blanketing: see the extended discussion of this issue in Giveon et al. 2002 for fuller details). These results highlight both a strength and weakness of the HeI/HI ratios in placing constraints on the effective temperatures of the stars present. The main strength is that the results you would obtain are largely independent of the stellar model chosen and metallicity (since the helium fraction alters with metallicity by a much smaller amount than any of the metals). The main weakness is that it can place only weak constraints on the spectral energy distribution of the stellar atmosphere itself.

Figure 6 shows how the metallicity of the underlying star effects the results. Again we show both the HeI 21P–21S (a) and HeI 43D–33P (b) to HI Br$`\gamma `$ line ratios. There is a weak metallicity dependence in the former, probably as a result of the increase of the neutral helium fraction in the nebula due to the softening of the ultraviolet flux with increasing metallicity. The resonance of the 21P–11S transition is crucially dependent on this neutral helium fraction as first noted by Shields (1993). By contrast the changes are relatively small in the pure recombination line ratio.

Figure 7 shows how the ratio varies as a function of the turbulent velocity. Increasing the turbulent velocity depresses the ratio, as was seen for the models for the PN presented in Paper 1. This is simply due to the fact that the resonance scattering of the 21P–11S HeI line is more likely to lead to capture by dust or atomic hydrogen if the line is much broader than the thermal value. The differences seen are of the same order of magnitude here as in Paper 1, as expected given that this is a test of the physics in Cloudy and not really of the form of the input stellar models.

Figure 8 shows the effect on the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio of changing the electron density (the pure recombination line ratio is independent of density). Figure 8(a) shows the data for a flat density distribution, and Figure 8(b) the data for the Gaussian density distribution. There is clearly little difference between the two, and little apparent dependence on density. This is perhaps surprising since it is well known that the 21S level of helium can be pumped by collisional excitation from the triplet 23S ‘ground-state’ (see, eg, Doherty et al. 1994). In practice these Cloudy models predict the 23S level is primarily depopulated by photoionisation instead (see also the discussion in Clegg & Harrington 1989) however.

Figure 9 shows the results for a flat model with a larger inner nebular radius. The solid lines show the result of increasing the radius to 0.3 pc, with the same densities as those shown in Figure 8(a), whilst the dashed line shows the result for an inner radius of 1 pc for a single electron density. It must be stressed that these models should only be appropriate for older more extended HII regions. However, it is clear that a reduction in the ionisation parameter at the inner edge of the nebula does have a striking effect on the line ratio. The most obvious feature is the enhanced density dependence of the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio, clearly indicating the growing importance of collisional excitation of the 21S level. This is a reflection of the much higher ultraviolet photon density at the inner surface of the HII region in our other models. The effect seen in the models with a larger inner radius should in principle be seen in our ‘normal’ models if we increased the density significantly beyond 105cm-3 since the collisional rate may then dominate the photoionisation rate. Such densities are not in agreement with the published estimates from radio data however. It is also worth noting the fact that the very extended HII region model shows a much shallower decline of the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio with increasing effective temperature.

The overall trends seen in the models can be summarised fairly simply. There are weak variations in the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio with almost all the parameters considered, but only the increase of the inner radius combined with changes in the electron density have a significant impact. By contrast, the pure recombination line ratios are largely independent of most of the factors we have considered.

## 4 Observational results

### 4.1 General Trends

Figure 10 shows the observed HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio together with a representative sample of the CoStar models from Section 3. We have not plotted the WM-basic model here since it is very close in appearance to the CoStar dwarf model (Figure 3). The behaviour seen is almost completely at variance with the models. One of the two lowest temperature sources plotted here (G5.97–1.17) lie well above the predicted curve. The nature of this source is not entirely clear, since it lies very near the exciting star of M8, Herschel 36. Stecklum et al. (1998) have speculated that the emission actually arises in material near a young, but much less massive, star which is being photo-evaporated by the radiation of Herschel 36. If true, the actual effective temperature of the exciting star is that of Herschel 36 (an O7V star), and the point should be shifted to higher $`T_{eff}`$ on the figure. The other key point to note from Figure 10 is that the observed ratio at $`T_{eff}>40000`$K is always higher than the theoretical prediction unless we adopt the lowest ionisation parameter model. There is also no downturn in the observed ratio as $`T_{eff}`$ increases beyond 40000K, as predicted in all the models. It must be noted however that the largest inner radius model declines more slowly than the others and is hence a better, though still poor, match to the data.

The ‘pure’ recombination line ratios are shown in Figure 11. We have also shown a representative spread of the stellar models in Figures 11(a) and (b), with dwarf CoStar models in (a) and dwarf WM-basic models in (b). Since the 73,1G–43,1F/43D–33P ratio is effectively constant, the WM-basic model for (a) would look the same as in (b) but with the plateau value the same as for the CoStar models (and vice-versa for the CoStar models not shown in (b)). The low ionisation parameter/large inner radius models shown in Figure 10 are not shown in Figure 11 since they given essentially the same results as the dwarf models plotted.

In general, these models agree reasonably well with the dwarf models at $`T_{eff}>38000`$K. There is some discrepancy between dwarf models and observation at lower effective temperature. Again, in part, this is due to G5.97–1.17. There is some evidence from the data however that the ‘plateau’ in these ratios arrives at a slightly cooler effective temperature than the models predict, though the difference is certainly within the errors on the adopted object effective temperatures given in Table 2. The other truly discrepant point is that for G5.89–0.39, which lies well below the predicted model curve for the HeI 73,1G–43,1F/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio. It may also lie below the model HeI 43D–33P/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio but the observational error for this ratio is too large to draw any conclusions. We discuss this source in more detail below. Overall, however, our results are in accord with the study of a large sample of optically visible, and hence more evolved HII regions, by Kennicutt et al. (2000). They found that the ratio of optical HeI and HI lines were in general agreement with the predictions from Cloudy using main sequence models for the exciting stars. Our results tend to indicate that the same is true regardless of the stellar model used.

It is worth briefly considering whether the data might match one of the CoStar supergiant models shown in Figures 3 and 4. There have been suggestions that such models sometimes give a better match between theory and observations to other line ratios in compact HII regions (see Section 4.2 below for an example). Note from Figures 3 and 4 there is no difference between dwarf and supergiant WM-basic models, so we do not consider these here. Of course the observational data as plotted in Figure 10 and 11 assume the exciting stars have effective temperatures compatible with the CoStar dwarf models. In practice, if we define the spectral type using CoStar supergiant models in the same fashion as Figure 2, then all of the sources fitted by a single exciting star actually lie well below the end of the CoStar model sequence. The others have types ranging from O7I/O8.5I downwards depending on whether a single star model or a cluster is used. Therefore the observational data should all be shifted to the left by $`10000`$K when comparing the observational data in Figures 10 and 11 with the supergiant models in Figures 3 and 4. This clearly makes most of the observational data disagree completely with the model. The problem is actually exacerbated if we consider a cluster of exciting stars. It seems clear that supergiant CoStar models are not a sensible match to the HeI/HI line ratio data in general.

Figure 12 shows the ratio of the HeI 21P–21S line with the two ‘pure’ HeI recombination lines. We showed in Paper 2 that this ratio helped remove any abundance effects when comparing observational data with the predictions from Cloudy assuming a single helium abundance. The data here however are actually more consistent with a flat line than the predicted curves. The results therefore show that the cause of the high HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio is not an abundance effect, but is intrinsic to the strength of the HeI 21P–21S line. Even the model with a 1 pc inner radius and high electron density fails to explain the observed data. These results are completely different from those for the planetary nebulae, where these HeI/HeI ratios generally showed reasonable agreement between model and observation.

We must stress however that these HII regions have electron densities that are generally a factor of $``$10 higher than in the planetary nebulae. It is worth noting that there is a small discrepancy between the observed and model HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ line ratio even in the planetary nebulae (see Figure 4 and 5 of Paper 2), in the sense that the HeI 21P–21S line is stronger than expected by 10–20% from the mean model trend. As noted above, we expect the HeI 21P–21S to be stronger if the collisional excitation rate from 23S exceeds the photoionisation rate. If the Cloudy estimation of these two rates is inaccurate (or equally if our assumed model inputs for inner cloud radius and electron density are too small), then it is possible that the collisional excitation rate actually dominates in these compact HII regions in reality. However, even allowing for this, it is notable that the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ line ratio does still decrease at higher effective temperatures for the planetary nebulae, and we do not see that effect here. It seems clear that at least one other factor must play a role in explaining the poor match between model and observed HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ line ratios for the compact HII regions.

The most important caveat in these general conclusions is that we rely on the data shown in Figure 2 to derive $`T_{eff}`$. We have used the data as presented in Wood & Churchwell (1989) and Kurtz et al. (1994). As noted in Section 2, there are reasons for believing that at least some of the distance estimates they use are too large. A lower distance estimate may help to explain some of the problem for those sources in Figure 10 which lie at $`T_{eff}>40000`$K, but which lie well above the model HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio, since it would move the observed points to lower $`T_{eff}`$. However, it cannot be too much lower, since Figure 11 shows reasonable agreement between model and data.

### 4.2 Individual Sources: G29.96–0.02

There are several parameters that we have not discussed so far that may affect our conclusions. These are best illustrated by considering specific examples. A useful example is G29.96–0.02. This object has been discussed at length in the literature. There are good arguments for believing that it may be at a distance of 6 kpc rather than the 9 kpc given in Wood & Churchwell (1989), or even the 7.4 kpc estimated by Churchwell, Walmsley & Cesaroni (1990) (see Pratap, Megeath & Bergin 1999 for a fuller discussion regarding the distance to this object). G29.96–0.02 is more extended in the radio than indicated by the radio map of Wood & Churchwell (1989). Fey et al. (1995) derive a value of $`N_{LyC}`$ which is $``$50% higher than Wood & Churchwell, largely compensating for any reduction in distance with regard to this indicator (see also the discussion in Section 2.2). Using the Fey et al. data and a distance of 6 kpc $`\mathrm{log}N_{LyC}=49.1`$s-1. The bolometric luminosity however does decrease to $`\mathrm{log}L=5.95\text{ }\mathrm{L}_{}`$. The net results is a drop of half a sub-type in the best fitting stellar dwarf models, with a cluster still being preferred over a single star (see Figure 2). The expected pure HeI/HI recombination line ratio for such a model is still on the plateau seen at high $`T_{eff}`$ in Figure 11, in agreement with observation.

There have been many previous indirect estimates of the spectral type of the exciting star(s) in this HII region, in the same spirit as this paper but primarily using mid-infrared forbidden line data. The most recent of these by Morisset et al. (2002), based on ISO data, concluded that the best matched exciting star was actually a relatively cool supergiant ($``$O9.5I, or $`T_{eff}30000`$K using CoStar models). This actually disagrees with our pure recombination line ratios (Figure 11, and see the discussion in Section 4.1), and hence we can rule that model out. Such a model can also probably be ruled out on the basis of other evidence. The presence of young hot cores (eg. Cesaroni et al. 1998, De Buizer et al. 2002) near the HII region strongly suggest that G29.96–0.02 is part of a complex of star formation taking place on a larger scale (also consistent with the complexity seen on larger scales at radio wavelengths by Kim & Koo 2001). Furthermore our own work on the kinematics of this object (Lumsden and Hoare 1996, 1999) indicate an evolved star travelling through a molecular cloud is not a good match to the data.

It is worth briefly considering why Morisset et al. reached the conclusion they did. There are several line ratios in the mid and far-infrared that are abundance independent. These include, limiting ourselves to the better studied mid-infrared ratios only, 6.99$`\mu `$m \[ArII\]/8.99$`\mu `$m \[ArIII\], 18.7$`\mu `$m \[SIII\]/10.5$`\mu `$m \[SIV\], and 12.8$`\mu `$m \[NeII\]/15.6$`\mu `$m \[NeIII\]. The latter two are of particular interest since S++ and Ne+ have approximately the same ionisation potential as He0. Therefore, in principle, these ratios add extra constraints on the form of the stellar spectral energy distribution beyond 504Å. Here we will only consider the 12.8$`\mu `$m \[NeII\]/15.6$`\mu `$m \[NeIII\] ratio in detail. Morisset et al. give an extinction corrected observed ratio of 3.75$`\pm 0.3`$ (the observed ratio is close to 2). As can be seen from the inspection of Figures 4 and 5 a ratio this low, together with the observed HeI/HI ratio actually rules out all CoStar models. Morisset et al. adopted a low value for the HeI/HI ratio, based on weak helium radio recombination line data from Kim and Koo (2001), allowing a fit to the data with cool CoStar supergiant models. Our result is certainly more reliable, and hence we can exclude this model as previously noted.

Indeed, it is not just G29.96–0.02 where the combination of our near infrared data and published mid-infrared data leads to problems for the CoStar models. If we accept the best matching CoStar models to the mid-infrared data all of G5.89–0.39, G29.96–0.02, G43.89–0.78, G45.07+0.13, G45.12+0.13, G45.45+0.06 and W51d would have temperatures inconsistent with the HeI/HI ratios presented in Figure 11 (see the ISO data presented in Giveon et al., or the IRAS LRS data in Simpson & Rubin 1990). There is a caveat here, since all of these data were acquired with a large beam and sample most if not all of any extended emission present, whereas our results are largely sensitive only to the dense cores of the HII regions observed. However, this overall trend does indicate a problem with the CoStar models, in the sense that the far ultraviolet spectral energy distribution is harder than observed.

By comparison, the WM-basic models allow a solution to both near and mid-infrared line ratios for $`T_{eff}3500037000`$K (the exact temperature is somewhat metallicity dependent). This range gives reasonable agreement between model and data for all three of the mid-infrared line ratios listed above for the case of G29.96–0.02. This is perhaps surprising considering we have not run a detailed physical model such as the one Morisset et al. use. However, the agreement is basically a reflection of the fact that at a given effective temperature the WM-basic models are softer in the far ultraviolet region of the spectrum than the CoStar models (see also Section 4.2 of Giveon et al. 2002), and appear to be a better match to the data for most HII regions (again see Giveon et al).

The most useful direct constraint for G29.96–0.02 lies in a spectrum of the main exciting star (Watson & Hanson 1997, Hanson 1998, Kaper et al. 2002). The published spectral type for the star varies significantly between these references (as hot as O3 in Kaper et al., as cool as O8 in Watson & Hanson), but the most likely range is O4–O6 from the strengths of the CIV, HeI and HeII lines present (Hanson, private communication). This range is consistent with the photometry of Watson et al. (1997), especially if we use a lower value for the extinction at $`K`$ of 1.6 (as proposed by Morisset et al. 2002, and as determined from a preliminary calibration of our own data for studying the extinction law). Although this would have an absolute magnitude at the limit for a main sequence O4 star (eg. Vacca et al. 1996 or Hanson, Howarth & Conti 1997), it is still just consistent with that type if the distance is only 6kpc (the cooler types are all consistent). It is worth noting that this range of spectral type is still hotter than expected from the photoionisation models. This is not surprising given the uncertainty over the effective temperature/spectral type relation however (and the implication from all of the more recent work that this scale needs to shift to cooler temperatures). It does however emphasise that we should still treat the existing stellar models with some caution.

### 4.3 Individual Sources: G5.89–0.39

Another useful individual example to consider is G5.89–0.39. The distance to this source may be slightly less than reported in Wood & Churchwell (1989) but the effect is small, and the accuracy of the distance measure for this particular source is good (see Acord, Churchwell & Wood 1998 for a fuller discussion of the distance). For either distance however, there is a deficit of helium ionising photons in this source, as is clear from Figure 11(a), where the observed HeI 73,1G–43,1F/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio is well below both any model prediction and the observed values for other sources with the same expected effective temperature. This discrepancy cannot be explained by errors in the assignment of a spectral type, since the distance is well known, and the radio emission compact. It is perhaps noteworthy that G5.89–0.39 may be the youngest source in this sample. The HII region has an age of only a 600 years from estimates of its rate of expansion (Acord et al. 1998). There is also a substantial molecular outflow (Acord, Walmsley & Churchwell 1997) and an infrared reflection nebulosity associated with it (Lumsden & Hoare in preparation), symptomatic of a rather young source.

For the case of G5.89–0.39 it is tempting to consider the possibility that the stellar models used are actually inappropriate, and its young age may be the clue here. As noted previously, there is some evidence that massive young stellar objects appear to share spectral characteristics with hypergiants (Hamann & Persson 1989, Bunn et al. 1995). Both classes of objects have dense slow moving stellar winds, giving rise to this similarity. It is also true that most massive young stellar objects do not show significant HII regions, although they are luminous enough to generate them. It is assumed that the winds act as sinks for much of the ultraviolet flux from the star, suppressing the ability to form an HII region, and probably also softening the spectral energy distribution over that seen in main sequence stars. If the same behaviour was also shown by the central stars of very young HII regions (perhaps because the atmosphere of the star has not fully attained its main sequence structure) then it might explain a case such as this. G5.89–0.39 is actually more luminous than the stars studied by Bunn et al., so even some leakage of ultraviolet photons could lead to a substantial HII region. Of course, we cannot prove this speculation from our current data.

## 5 Conclusions

We have presented models for the infrared helium and hydrogen recombination line ratios in compact HII regions. We fail to find any model that can accurately reproduce the HeI 21P–21S line strength as a function of effective temperature. We therefore would discourage anyone from using this ratio as a constraint on the IMF, and any evidence derived from the literature about the IMF in a particular system that relies on this ratio should largely be discounted.

Our results do show reasonable agreement between model and observation for pure recombination lines such as HeI 43D–33P or 73,1G–43,1F when ratioed with HI Br$`\gamma `$ as long as we use dwarf CoStar or WM-basic models. This indicates that these are in principle a useful measure of the stellar effective temperature of the hottest star present. The main drawback with these ratios is the relatively small range of effective temperature over which they are useful (approximately over the range B0 to O8 for main sequence CoStar models for example). However, at least some of the galaxies in which the 1.7007$`\mu `$m HeI 43D–33P line has been detected do have values of the ratio within this range (see, eg, Table 4 of Vanzi & Rieke 1997). It should certainly help to address the issue of whether there is evidence for an anomalous IMF from infrared data (see, eg, the review by Scalo 1998).

We have outlined possible reasons for the discrepancies seen between the observations and the models for the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio. The first, and perhaps most likely, is that the relative importance of photoionisation and collisional excitation from the $`2^3`$S HeI state may be incorrectly estimated by our HII region models. Clearly, from Figure 9, models in which the collisional depopulation of $`2^3`$S is dominant come closer to matching the observed data. However, it is still clear from Figure 12 that the HeI/HeI ratios are closer to a flat function of effective temperature than the declining function predicted by Cloudy (in agreement with the observations of the planetary nebulae in Papers 1 and 2). It seems likely that errors in the 23S de-population rate may give rise to part but not all of the discrepancy seen.

Perhaps, instead, the HeI 21P–21S line is telling us something about the nature of the ultraviolet spectral energy distribution of the exciting star? The current uncertainty in the model stellar atmospheres for massive stars (eg Martins et al. 2002) is unlikely to resolve this problem entirely however, since we have shown that the HeI/HI line ratios have a relatively weak dependence on model when comparing CoStar and WM-basic dwarf models. The effective reduction in luminosity given by any re-calibration of the spectral type/effective temperature relation to cooler temperatures may help to lessen the differences between the model HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio and the observed data however.

Models with a more realistic treatment of the stellar wind (such as the WM-basic set) also help to reduce the discrepancy between the pure HeI/HI recombination ratios and the mid-infrared forbidden line ratios, since the overall shape of the far ultraviolet continuum is clearly crucial in that regard. They also help in closing the gap between the direct spectral type seen in G29.96–0.02 and the inferred type from the photoionisation models. Similarly, consideration of changes in metallicity of the stellar model do not effect the HeI/HI ratios significantly, but can effect forbidden line ratios (eg Figure 5). There is evidence for a gradient of metallicity with Galactocentric radius, with metallicity increasing inwards and excitation correspondingly decreasing (eg Giveon et al. 2002). Many of our sources lie within the solar circle and are likely to have exciting stars with higher than solar metallicity.

The most discrepant data point for all three helium lines is probably the youngest of the HII regions in the sample used here. We have outlined the possibility for this case that the exciting star may actually resemble those massive young stellar objects studied by Bunn et al. (1995). In this case a considerable fraction of the emitted ultraviolet flux is actually reprocessed into non-ionising radiation by a dense stellar wind reducing the excitation in the nebular gas. For the moment this must remain purely speculative however.

The easiest way of testing whether our results indicate some residual problems within the photoionisation model that are not otherwise apparent from Papers 1 and 2 or a deficiency on the assumed stellar models would be to obtain $`K`$ band spectra of older, more evolved HII regions, such as those studied by Kennicutt et al. (2000). More evolved regions are less dense, and larger, and hence any residual uncertainty in the depopulation route from 23S should be removed. If the same effect as seen here were repeated then it would tend to indicate that even the latest stellar models are still not well matched to the actual ultraviolet continuum of OB stars.

## 6 Acknowledgments

SLL acknowledges the support of PPARC through the award of an Advanced Research Fellowship. We would like to thank the referee Paul Crowther for his helpful comments, Margaret Hanson for her comments on the likely spectra type of the exciting star in G29.96–0.02 and Richard Norris for making available his code to read the WM-basic models into Cloudy.

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Table 1: The observed HeI/HI line ratios after correction for extinction and atmospheric absorption. Ratios with HI Br$`\gamma `$ are shown. There are no suitable observational data for entries marked –. Note that Doherty et al. (1994) do not quote errors on $`\tau _{\mathrm{Br}\gamma }`$. The correction factors for the 2.058$`\mu `$m line represent the additional correction necessary to recover the ‘true’ 2.058$`\mu `$m line flux. The quoted ratios should be divided by this factor to derive the observed ratios.

| Name | HeI/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio | | | $`\tau _{\mathrm{Br}\gamma }`$ | 2.058$`\mu `$m correction |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 21P–21S | 73,1G–43,1F | 43D–33P | factor |  |
| G5.89–0.39 | 0.757$`\pm `$0.017 | 0.024$`\pm `$0.005 | 0.092$`\pm `$0.051 | 3.80$`\pm `$0.18 | 1.06 |
| G5.97–1.17 | 0.688$`\pm `$0.032 | 0.030$`\pm `$0.008 |  | 1.72 | 1.28 |
| G19.61–0.23A |  | 0.045$`\pm `$0.005 |  |  |  |
| G28.29–0.36 |  | 0.008$`\pm `$0.003 |  |  |  |
| G29.96–0.02 | 0.938$`\pm `$0.007 | 0.040$`\pm `$0.007 | 0.103$`\pm `$0.009 | 1.86$`\pm `$0.07 | 1.09 |
| G35.20–1.74 | 1.046$`\pm `$0.005 | 0.039$`\pm `$0.003 | 0.101$`\pm `$0.017 | 2.50$`\pm `$0.03 | 0.95 |
| G43.89–0.78 | 0.788$`\pm `$0.052 | 0.041$`\pm `$0.004 |  | 2.45 | 1.11 |
| G45.07+0.13 | 0.820$`\pm `$0.027 | 0.046$`\pm `$0.010 |  | 4.83$`\pm `$0.16 | 0.99 |
| G45.12+0.13 | 1.166$`\pm `$0.003 | 0.037$`\pm `$0.006 | 0.109$`\pm `$0.007 | 1.19$`\pm `$0.01 | 1.05 |
| G45.45+0.06 | 0.790$`\pm `$0.050 | 0.046$`\pm `$0.007 | 0.083$`\pm `$0.030 | 2.31$`\pm 0.54`$ | 0.96 |
| K3-50a | 0.911$`\pm `$0.024 |  | 0.104$`\pm `$0.020 | 1.53$`\pm `$0.01 | 1.17 |
| W51d | 1.162$`\pm `$0.011 | 0.046$`\pm `$0.001 | 0.109$`\pm `$0.013 | 1.93$`\pm `$0.07 | 1.08 |

Table 2: Properties of our observational sample. The observed far infrared luminosities and ionising photon rates (from the radio) for our sample are taken from Wood & Churchwell (1989) and Kurtz, Churchwell & Wood (1994), except for G19.61–0.23A where we used the 22GHz flux from Garay et al. (1998). The stellar effective temperatures are taken from Figure 2 and represent the best matching CoStar and WM-basic models. The cluster temperature represents the temperature of the hottest star present. Where the cluster temperature is marked – the observed data are actually a better match to a single star model (ie they lie significantly below the cluster line), and we do not consider a cluster model for that source. The ‘best’ matching model is taken simply by dropping a vertical line down from the source onto the cluster and single star lines in Figure 2. Note we have chosen the nearest model in the set and not interpolated between models in deriving these values.

| Name | $`L`$ ($`10^4`$$`\mathrm{L}_{}`$) | $`N_{LyC}`$ (log$`{}_{10}{}^{}\gamma `$/s) | CoStar $`T_{eff}`$ (K) | | WM-basic $`T_{eff}`$ (K) | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  | Single star | Cluster | Single star | Cluster |
| G5.89–0.39 | 30.0 | 48.65 | 37170 |  | 37200 |  |
| G5.97–1.17 | 8.4 | 47.40 | 32060 |  | 28500 |  |
| G19.61–0.23A | 26.1 | 48.31 | 35900 |  | 34600 |  |
| G28.29–0.36 | 11.7 | 47.81 | 32060 |  | 32300 |  |
| G29.96–0.02 | 198.0 | 49.34 | 43560 | 39730 | 45700 | 40000 |
| G35.20–1.74 | 28.3 | 48.43 | 35900 |  | 34600 |  |
| G43.89–0.78 | 27.6 | 48.74 | 38450 |  | 37200 |  |
| G45.07+0.13 | 142.4 | 48.75 | 38450 | 35900 | 37200 | 34600 |
| G45.12+0.13 | 166.0 | 49.53 | 46120 | 41010 | 50000 | 40000 |
| G45.45+0.06 | 144.0 | 48.54 | 35900 | 34620 | 34600 | 32300 |
| K3-50a | 228.0 | 49.29 | 43560 | 39730 | 45700 | 40000 |
| W51d | 341.0 | 49.42 | 44840 | 39730 | 45700 | 40000 |

Figure 1: The dependence of $`\psi (M)n_\gamma (M)`$ (left) and $`\psi (M)L(M)`$ (right) as a function of stellar mass $`M`$ for the main sequence CoStar models. We have plotted curves representing both the helium and hydrogen ionising continuum. The data for masses $`<19`$$`\mathrm{M}_{}`$come from Puxley (1988), using Kurucz (1979) models, since there are no CoStar models for this range. There is a clear discontinuity at the transition as seen in the right hand panel, but the actual results with regard to the expected total luminosity and ionising photon rate for a cluster of stars are not particularly affected by this.

Figure 2: The observed properties of our sample as taken from Table 2. The model tracks represent single stars (lower) and clusters of stars (upper) from (a) the CoStar model set and (b) the WM-basic model set. The location of the specific models given in Table 3 of Schaerer & de Koter (1997) are marked by $`+`$ in (a). These span the range B0.5V to O3V. Cluster models were also constructed spanning this range. These were normalised so that at any upper mass cut-off, there was exactly one star of that spectral type. The locations of these cluster models are marked by $``$. The solid line for the single stars shows the extension to lower masses assuming the use of the Kurucz (1979) models as described in the text. The locations of the WM-basic models given in Table 1 of Smith et al. (2002) are similarly indicated in (b). Note that the Smith et al. grid has coarser sampling than the CoStar set. The arrows indicate the magnitude and direction of the likely error in the observational data.

Figure 3: Models of the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio as (a) a function of the luminosity class of the exciting star, and of the input stellar model set, and (b) a model stellar cluster. In (a) the CoStar models are shown as solid lines, and the WM-basic models as dotted lines. Note that the WM-basic grid is coarser than the CoStar grid, so the significance of the shift in temperature of the peak in the line ratio between CoStar and WM-basic dwarf models is not clear. The larger line ratio at high effective temperature seen with the WM-basic models may in part be due to the lower luminosity of the dwarf models given in Smith et al. (2002). In (b) the comparison is between the results for the CoStar dwarf models when considered as a single star (dotted line) and a cluster with standard IMF. Clearly this line ratio depends on the temperature of the hottest star present more than any other feature of the IMF.

Figure 4: The same models as shown in Figure 3 but for the HeI 43D–33P/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio. Note the relatively small offset between the CoStar and WM-basic dwarf models in (a), indicating that the comparison of HeI/HI line ratios is not a good test of the detailed shape of the spectral energy distribution of the exciting star(s). Clearly (b) shows there are no differences for this ratio between a single star and a cluster.

Figure 5: A similar comparison to Figure 3 and 4 but using the mid-infrared 15.6$`\mu `$m \[NeIII\] to 12.8$`\mu `$m \[NeII\] line ratio. This plot shows that there are significant detectable differences between the stellar models with forbidden metal lines. It also shows the role that metallicity plays in determining such a line ratio, with a difference of a factor of two or more in the final ratio.

Figure 6: The dependence of (a) the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio and (b) the HeI 43D–33P/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio as a function of metallicity using the WM-basic model set. Clearly, metallicity has a weak effect on determining these line ratios.

Figure 7: Variation of the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio as a function of turbulent velocity. The models shown use CoStar dwarf models and the turbulent velocity has values of 0, 5, 10 and 15kms-1. The result is very similar to that obtained for planetary nebulae in Paper 1.

Figure 8: Models of the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio for a variety of electron densities. In (a), the density is constant throughout the HII region, with values of $`n_e=`$1000, 3000, 6000, 10000 and 50000cm-3. In (b), a constant density of $`n_e=`$1000cm-3 is superposed on a Gaussian radial distribution with peak density of $`n_e=`$1000, 3000, 6000, 10000 and 50000cm-3. The Gaussian has a full width at half maximum of 0.3 pc. Some of the specific models are indicated on the plot. All models use CoStar dwarf stellar atmospheres.

Figure 9: Models of the HeI 21P–21S/HI Br$`\gamma `$ ratio for an extended HII region excited by a single CoStar dwarf stellar atmosphere. We assume a flat electron density. The solid lines show the same densities as in Figure 8(a) with an inner nebular radius of 0.3 pc. The dashed line shows a single density but with an inner radius of 1 pc. These models correspond to a progressive decline in the ionisation parameter at the inner surface of the nebula. The peak in the ratio clearly shifts to higher effective temperature, and the role of collisional de-excitation of the 23S level must also increase with decreasing ionisation parameters to explain these results.

Figure 10: Observed ratios of HeI 21P–21S and HI Br$`\gamma `$. Vertical error bars are actual observed errors. Horizontal error bars represent the likely span in the effective temperature of the hottest star present. The extreme right point of the error bar represents $`T_{eff}`$ for a single exciting star, the extreme left point represents $`T_{eff}`$ for a cluster as outlined in Section 2. Therefore the observed data point should be thought of as lying at either extreme of the error bar, but not the central position. Real observational error in our indirect spectral typing from Figure 2 can shift these points as much as 4000K. The models are a selection of those from Figures 7, 8 and 9, showing the range given by varying electron density, turbulent velocity and ionisation parameters for the CoStar dwarf model set. The solid lines show models with $`n_e=50000`$cm-3 and turbulent velocity of 0kms-1 (upper curves) and $`n_e=1000`$cm-3 and turbulent velocity of 15kms-1 (lower curves). The dotted lines show the same models but with inner nebular radius of 0.3 pc. The dashed line shows a model with inner nebular radius of 1 pc, $`n_e=50000`$cm-3 and turbulent velocity of 5kms-1. The observed ratio is not a good fit to any of these curves, though the models in which collisional de-excitation dominates photoionisation of HeI 23S are a better match.

Figure 11: Observed ratios of (a) HeI 73,1G–43,1F and (b) HeI 43D–33P with HI Br$`\gamma `$. Vertical error bars are again actual observed errors, and horizontal error bars have the same meaning as in Figure 10. The models shown in (a) are for CoStar dwarfs, and in (b) for WM-basic dwarfs. There is essentially no variation of these curves with density, turbulent velocity or radial density profile. The observed data are mostly a reasonable match to both CoStar and WM-basic dwarf models. The match argues that our indirect spectral typing is also reasonable.

Figure 12: Observed ratios of HeI 21P–21S with (a) HeI 43D–33P and (b) HeI 73,1G–43,1F. The models plotted are the same as in Figure 10, and the error bars have the same meaning as there. Again high density low ionisation parameter models are the best match.


text:
# Removing Ambiguities in the Neutrino Mass Matrix

## 1 Introduction

Neutrino masses and mixings are most likely described by a Majorana mass matrix which naturally arises in the context of the standard electroweak gauge theory, with the implicit assumption that $`BL`$ is violated at a high-energy scale. The smallness of neutrino masses is then elegantly explained by the seesaw mechanism . The $`3\times 3`$ complex symmetric Majorana neutrino mass matrix $`M_\nu `$ contains nine physical parameters, while realistic experiments can determine only seven independent quantities. This leads to the wretched situation that no set of feasible experiments can fully determine the neutrino mass matrix. This basic observation has encouraged Frampton, Glashow and Marfatia  to propose that the neutrino mass matrix $`M_\nu `$ contains texture zeros, in order to reduce the number of free parameters. However, the presence of zeros in $`M_\nu `$ crucially depends on the weak basis one chooses. Therefore, it is desirable to consider basis-independent constraints on the neutrino mass matrix.

In this letter we address the question of whether it is possible to achieve an appropriate reduction of parameters through the introduction of a weak-basis independent condition. We propose the basis independent condition that the determinant of the neutrino mass matrix vanishes, that is $`det(M_\nu )=0`$. Since this condition gives two constraints on the parameters, the neutrino mass matrix has now just 7 parameters which can be fully determined by future feasible experiments. We note that the fact that $`det(M_\nu )=0`$ implies the elimination of two parameters has to do with the assumed Majorana nature of neutrinos. In contrast, if one imposes the condition $`det(M_u)=0`$ in the quark sector, one looses only one parameter in the electroweak sector, since the CKM matrix continues having four parameters even in the limit $`m_u=0`$. On the other hand, the condition $`m_u=0`$ allows to remove another parameter from the theory, since it implies $`\overline{\theta }=0`$ ($`\overline{\theta }`$ is the coefficient of $`F_{\mu \nu }\stackrel{~}{F}_{\mu \nu }`$), thus providing a possible solution to the strong CP problem . It is also interesting that the Affleck-Dine scenario for leptogenesis  requires the mass of the lightest neutrino to be $`m_110^{10}`$ eV , which leads practically to our condition $`det(M_\nu )=0`$. Furthermore, such an extremely small mass may be explained by a discrete $`Z_6`$ family symmetry . Within the framework of the seesaw mechanism, the study of leptonic CP violation at high energies and its relation to the neutrino mass spectrum could have profound cosmological implications, for instance in the generation of the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe through leptogenesis . However, in this letter we will restrict ourselves to low energies and therefore our analysis remains valid independently of the high energy origin of the effective neutrino mass matrix.

In the framework where $`det(M_\nu )=0`$, we study the full reconstruction of $`M_\nu `$ with special emphasis on the correlation between the Majorana CP-violating phase and the various mixing angles. We also discuss how future neutrinoless double beta decay experiments could invalidate the assumed weak-basis independent condition.

## 2 Reconstruction of the neutrino mass matrix

Let us start by summarizing the present data on neutrino mass-squared differences and mixing angles, obtained from the evidence for neutrino oscillations in atmospheric, solar and reactor neutrino experiments. Assuming two-neutrino mixing and dominant $`\nu _\mu \nu _\tau (\overline{\nu }_\mu \overline{\nu }_\tau )`$ oscillations, the atmospheric neutrino data obtained from Super-Kamiokande experiments yields at 99.73 % C.L. :

$`1.5\times 10^3\text{eV }^2\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2`$ $`5.0\times 10^3\text{eV }^2,`$
$`\mathrm{sin}^22\theta _\mathrm{@}`$ $`>0.85,`$ (1)
with the best-fit values $`(\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2)_{BF}=2.5\times 10^3\text{eV }^2`$ and $`(\mathrm{sin}^22\theta _\mathrm{@})_{BF}=1`$. On the other hand, global neutrino analyses of the solar neutrino data  under the assumption of $`\nu _e\nu _{\mu ,\tau }`$ oscillations/transitions favors the LMA MSW solar solution with

$`2.2\times 10^5\text{eV }^2\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2`$ $`2.0\times 10^4\text{eV }^2,`$
$`0.18\mathrm{sin}^2\theta _{}`$ $`0.37,`$ (2)
and the best-fit values $`(\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2)_{BF}=5\times 10^5\text{eV }^2`$ and $`(\mathrm{sin}^2\theta _{})_{BF}=0.25`$. Finally, the reactor neutrino data obtained from the CHOOZ experiment  puts an upper bound on the leptonic mixing matrix element $`U_{e3}`$. The combined three-neutrino oscillation analyses of the solar, atmospheric and reactor data imply at 99.73 % C.L. :

$`|U_{e3}|<0.22,`$ (3)
with a best-fit value of $`(|U_{e3}|)_{BF}0.07`$ found in .

Another important input information comes from neutrinoless double $`\beta `$ decay experiments, which could provide us with evidence for non-vanishing CP-violating Majorana phases, and thus, for the Majorana nature of massive neutrinos . For Majorana neutrinos with masses not exceeding a few MeV, the amplitude of this process is proportional to the so-called effective Majorana mass parameter $`m_{ee}=|(M_\nu )_{11}|`$. Although no evidence for $`(\beta \beta )_{0\nu }`$ decay has been found so far, rather stringent upper bounds have been obtained. In particular, the 76Ge Heidelberg-Moscow experiment has reported the limit $`m_{ee}<0.35`$ eV at 90 % C.L. and the IGEX collaboration, $`m_{ee}<(0.331.35)`$ eV at 90 % C.L. . A considerable higher sensitivity is expected in future experiments. For instance, values of $`m_{ee}5.2\times 10^2`$ (EXO), $`m_{ee}3.6\times 10^2`$ (MOON) and $`m_{ee}2.7\times 10^2`$ (CUORE) are planned to be achieved .

As far as the CP-violating Dirac phase is concerned, there is at present no experimental information on its value. However, neutrino factories will in principle be able to measure $`\text{Im}(U_{e2}U_{\mu 3}U_{\mu 2}^{}U_{e3}^{})`$ and thus determine the Dirac phase in any specific parametrization of the leptonic mixing matrix $`U`$.

In our framework where $`det(M_\nu )=0`$, the neutrino mass matrix is characterized by seven parameters and therefore one can use the above described seven inputs from experiment to fully reconstruct $`M_\nu `$ in the weak basis where the charged lepton mass matrix is diagonal and real. In this basis, $`M_\nu `$ can be written as:

$`M_\nu =U^{}\text{diag}(m_1,m_2e^{i\alpha _2},m_3e^{i\alpha _3})U^{},`$ (4)
where $`m_i`$ are the moduli of the light neutrino masses, $`\alpha _i`$ are the two Majorana phases  and $`U`$ is the MNS neutrino mixing matrix, which we choose to parametrize in the form:

$`U=\left(\begin{array}{ccc}c_{12}c_{13}& s_{12}c_{13}& s_{13}\\ s_{12}c_{23}c_{12}s_{23}s_{13}e^{i\delta }& c_{12}c_{23}s_{12}s_{23}s_{13}e^{i\delta }& s_{23}c_{13}e^{i\delta }\\ s_{12}s_{23}c_{12}c_{23}s_{13}e^{i\delta }& c_{12}s_{23}s_{12}c_{23}s_{13}e^{i\delta }& c_{23}c_{13}e^{i\delta }\end{array}\right),`$ (8)
where $`c_{ij}\mathrm{cos}\theta _{ij}`$, $`s_{ij}\mathrm{sin}\theta _{ij}`$, $`0\theta _{ij}\pi /2`$ and $`\delta `$ is the CP-violating Dirac phase. The above parametrization turns out to be more convenient in the analysis of the effective mass parameter $`m_{ee}`$, since in this case this matrix element depends only on the Majorana phases $`\alpha _i`$ and not on the Dirac phase $`\delta `$. If one uses instead the standard parametrization , $`U_\nu =U\text{diag}(1,1,e^{i\delta })`$, then the phase $`\delta `$ would enter in the combination $`\alpha _32\delta `$.

The condition $`det(M_\nu )=0`$ together with the experimental constraints on $`\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2`$ imply that only one neutrino can have a vanishing mass. By identifying the indexes 12 and 23 with the solar and atmospheric neutrinos, respectively, two possible scenarios can be distinguished. In the first case, the diagonal matrix in Eq. (4) is of the form

$`\text{diag}(0,m_2e^{i\alpha },m_3)\text{(Case I)},`$ (9)
while in the second one, the above matrix is

$`\text{diag}(m_1,m_2e^{i\alpha },0)\text{(Case II)},`$ (10)
with the relevant Majorana phase given in both cases by $`\alpha =\alpha _2\alpha _3`$.

Since it is for the matrix element $`m_{ee}`$ that we have direct experimental access, from now on we will restrict our analysis to the implications of our assumptions in the determination of this parameter and, consequently, of the Majorana phase $`\alpha `$ .

### 2.1 Case I: Standard hierarchy

In this case $`m_2=\sqrt{\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2}`$ and $`m_3=\sqrt{\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2+\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2}`$ and it follows from Eq. (4) that

$`m_{ee}^2|(M_\nu )_{11}|^2=`$ $`m_2^2|U_{12}|^4+m_3^2|U_{13}|^4`$
$`+`$ $`2m_2m_3|U_{12}|^2|U_{13}|^2\mathrm{cos}\alpha .`$ (11)
In the parametrization (8) we have then

$`m_{ee}^2=m_2^2c_{13}^4s_{12}^4+m_3^2s_{13}^4+2m_2m_3c_{13}^2s_{13}^2s_{12}^2\mathrm{cos}\alpha ,`$ (12)
with the upper and lower bounds given by

$`m_{ee}^{\mathrm{upper}}=|m_2s_{12}^2+s_{13}^2(m_3m_2s_{12}^2)|,`$ (13)
$`m_{ee}^{\mathrm{lower}}=|m_2s_{12}^2s_{13}^2(m_3+m_2s_{12}^2)|,`$ (14)
which correspond to $`\alpha =0`$ (same CP parity) and $`\alpha =\pi `$ (opposite CP parities), respectively. We notice from Eq. (14) that cancellations in $`m_{ee}`$ can occur if

$`\mathrm{tan}^2\theta _{13}={\displaystyle \frac{m_2s_{12}^2}{m_3}}{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2s_{}^2}{\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2}}.`$ (15)
Using the experimental ranges of Eqs. (2)-(3), we can get the limits on $`s_{13}`$ for such cancellations to occur. We find $`0.12U_{e3}0.22`$.

The Majorana phase $`\alpha `$ can be extracted from Eq. (12), leading to:

$`\mathrm{cos}\alpha ={\displaystyle \frac{m_{ee}^2m_3^2s_{13}^4m_2^2c_{13}^4s_{12}^4}{2m_2m_3c_{13}^2s_{13}^2s_{12}^2}}.`$ (16)
In Fig. 1 we present the contour plots of $`\alpha `$ as a function of $`s_{13}`$ for different values of the neutrinoless double $`\beta `$-decay parameter $`m_{ee}`$. We consider the best-fit values of $`\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2`$ and $`s_{12},\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2`$ for the LMA MSW solar solution (see Eqs. (2) and (2)).

### 2.2 Case II: Inverted hierarchy

In this case $`m_1=\sqrt{\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2}`$ and $`m_2=\sqrt{\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2+\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2}`$. For the effective mass parameter $`m_{ee}`$ we obtain from Eq. (4)

$`m_{ee}^2|(M_\nu )_{11}|^2=`$ $`m_1^2|U_{11}|^4+m_2^2|U_{12}|^4`$
$`+`$ $`2m_1m_2|U_{11}|^2|U_{12}|^2\mathrm{cos}\alpha ,`$ (17)
which in the parametrization (8) is equivalent to

$`m_{ee}^2=c_{13}^4(m_1^2c_{12}^4+m_2^2s_{12}^4+2m_1m_2s_{12}^2c_{12}^2\mathrm{cos}\alpha ).`$ (18)
The upper and lower bounds of $`m_{ee}`$ are given by

$`m_{ee}^{\mathrm{upper}}=c_{13}^2(m_1c_{12}^2+m_2s_{12}^2),\text{for}\alpha =0,`$ (19)
$`m_{ee}^{\mathrm{lower}}=c_{13}^2|m_1c_{12}^2m_2s_{12}^2|,\text{for}\alpha =\pi .`$ (20)
The vanishing of $`m_{ee}`$ requires $`\mathrm{tan}^2\theta _{12}=m_1/m_21.`$ Since values of $`\mathrm{tan}^2\theta _{12}1`$ are excluded by the present LMA solar data, such cancellations cannot occur in this case.

From Eq. (18) we find:

$`\mathrm{cos}\alpha ={\displaystyle \frac{m_{ee}^2m_1^2c_{12}^4c_{13}^4m_2^2s_{12}^4c_{13}^4}{2m_1m_2s_{12}^2c_{12}^2c_{13}^4}}.`$ (21)
We notice that the Majorana phase $`\alpha `$ is not very sensitive to the small values of $`U_{e3}=s_{13}`$ allowed by the present data. On the other hand, the value of $`\alpha `$ is more sensitive to the solar mixing angle $`\theta _{12}`$. In Fig. 2 we present the contour plots of the Majorana phase $`\alpha `$ as a function of $`s_{12}^2`$ for different values of the neutrinoless double $`\beta `$-decay parameter $`m_{ee}`$. The values of $`m_{ee}`$ are in this case at the reach of the future $`(\beta \beta )_{0\nu }`$-decay experiments. For comparison, the contours corresponding to the sensitivity of the future MOON, CUORE and EXO experiments are also plotted. We have used the best-fit values of $`s_{13},\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2`$.

In Fig. 3 we present the allowed regions for the effective mass parameter $`m_{ee}`$ in the cases of hierarchical (Case I) and inverted-hierarchical (Case II) neutrino mass spectra, assuming the weak-basis independent condition $`det(M_\nu )=0`$. We use the experimental ranges for solar, atmospheric and reactor neutrinos as given in Eqs. (2)-(3). The areas delimited by the solid lines correspond to the allowed regions if one uses the best-fit values of $`\mathrm{\Delta }m_{}^2`$, $`\mathrm{\Delta }m_\mathrm{@}^2`$ and $`\theta _{}`$. This figure also illustrates how future $`(\beta \beta )_{0\nu }`$-decay experiments could in principle distinguish the two cases considered, or even exclude one or both of them. In particular, it is seen from the figure that if $`m_{ee}10^3`$ and $`U_{e3}0.05`$ then the vanishing of the determinant of $`M_\nu `$ is not a viable assumption. It is also clear that a better knowledge on the mixing angles and $`\mathrm{\Delta }m^2`$’s is crucial to distinguish between the hierarchical and inverted-hierarchical cases.

To conclude our analysis let us briefly comment on the recent results reported by the Kamioka Liquid Scintillator Antineutrino Detector (KamLAND) . These results constitute the first terrestrial evidence of the solar neutrino anomaly. The observation of $`\overline{\nu }_e`$ disappearance reinforces the interpretation of the previous neutrino data through $`\nu _e\nu _{\mu ,\tau }`$ oscillations. The combined analysis of the KamLAND spectrum with the existent solar and terrestrial data already exclude some portions of the allowed region in the ($`\mathrm{\Delta }m_{12}^2,s_{12}^2`$)-plane for the LMA solution . One of the consequences of these global analyses is the splitting of the LMA region in two sub-regions. In Fig. 4 we plot the allowed regions for the effective neutrino mass parameter $`m_{ee}`$ under the initial assumption $`det(M_\nu )=0`$ and taking as an example the $`\pm 1\sigma `$ estimates $`\mathrm{\Delta }m_{12}^2(7.3\pm 0.8)\times 10^5\mathrm{eV}^2`$, $`s_{12}^20.315\pm 0.035`$ and $`s_{13}0.13`$ given in Ref. . In this case there is no overlap between the two regions corresponding to the hierarchical and inverse-hierarchical spectra of the light neutrinos. Moreover, it is noticeable that cancellations on $`m_{ee}`$ are no longer present. This example also reveals the importance of future neutrino data in removing the ambiguities of the neutrino mass matrix.

## 3 Conclusions

In order to remove the ambiguities in the reconstruction of the neutrino mass matrix from input data, we have proposed in this letter to use the weak-basis independent condition that the determinant of the effective neutrino mass matrix vanishes. Since the condition $`det(M_\nu )=0`$ gives two additional constraints on the parameters, the resulting mass matrix has only 7 independent quantities which can be fully determined by future feasible neutrino experiments.

One may wonder about the stability of our ansatz $`det(M_\nu )=0`$ under radiative corrections. In the basis where the neutrino mass matrix is diagonal, it is easy to show that the vanishing eigenvalue in $`M_\nu `$ remains zero as long as supersymmetry is exact (SUSY nonrenormalization theorem). Thus, a nonvanishing value for $`m_1`$ is generated only after SUSY-breaking effects are switched on. The leading contribution comes from two-loop diagrams with internal $`m_2`$ or $`m_3`$ insertions. One can show that this small induced mass has a negligible effect on our condition $`det(M_\nu )=0`$ unless $`\mathrm{tan}\beta `$ is very large.

We have focused our analysis on the correlation between the Majorana CP-violating phase and the various mixing angles. In particular, we have discussed how future neutrinoless double beta decay experiments could invalidate the above weak-basis independent condition. In this framework, we have also illustrated how one could determine the Majorana phases through “perfect experiments”, i.e. assuming that the values of all seven experimental input parameters are measured. However, we should remark that in the most general case, the determination of the Majorana phases through neutrinoless double beta decay experiments can be a difficult task  due to the uncertainties in the nuclear matrix elements involved in the extraction of $`m_{ee}`$ .

Finally, we have also discussed the impact of the recent KamLAND results on the effective neutrino mass parameter.

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) through the projects CERN/FIS/43793/2001 and CFIF - Plurianual (2/91). The work of R.G.F. and F.R.J. was supported by FCT under the grants SFRH/BPD/1549/2000 and PRAXISXXI/BD/18219/98, respectively.