Galactic HCO+ Absorption toward Compact Extragalactic Radio Sources
  As part of the search for the "dark molecular gas (DMG)," we report on the
results of HCO$^+$ J = 1-0 absorption observations toward nine bright
extragalactic millimeter wave continuum sources. The extragalactic sources are
at high Galactic latitudes (|b| > 10$\deg$) and seen at small extinction
(E(B-V) $\lesssim$ 0.1 mag). We have detected the HCO$^+$ absorption lines
toward two sources, B0838+133 and B2251+158. The absorption toward B2251+158
was previously reported, while the absorption toward B0838+133 is a new
detection. We derive hydrogen column densities or their upper limits toward the
nine sources from our observations and compare them to those expected from CO
line emission and far-infrared dust continuum emission. Toward the seven
sources with no HCO$^+$ detection, CO emission has not been detected, either.
Thus the sight lines are likely to be filled with almost pure atomic gas.
Toward the two sources with HCO$^+$ detection, CO emission has been also
detected. Comparison of the H$_2$ column densities from HCO$^+$ absorption and
CO emission suggests a non-negligible amount of DMG toward B0838+133.
