Expanding shells in low and high density environments

The gravitational instability of expanding shells evolving in a homogeneous and static medium is discussed. In the low density environment (n = 1 cm^-3), the fragmentation starts in shells with diameters of a few 100 pc and fragment masses are in the range of 5 × 10³ - 10⁶ M _⊙. In the high density environment (n = 10⁵ - 10⁷ cm^-3), shells fragment at diameters of pc producing clumps of stellar masses. The mass spectrum in both environments is approximated by a power law dN/dm ∼ m ^-2.3. This is close to the slope of the stellar IMF. To reproduce the observed mass spectrum of clouds (the spectral index close to ∼ -2.0) we have to assume, that the cloud formation time is independent of the cloud size, similarly to the Jeans unstable medium. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the origin of the wide HI absorption line towards Sgr A*

We have imaged a region of ∼ 5′ extent surrounding Sgr A* in the HI 21 cm-line absorption using the Very Large Array. A Gaussian decomposition of the optical depth spectra at positions within ∼ 2′ (∼ 5 pc at 8.5 kpc) of Sgr A* detects a wide line underlying the many narrow absorption lines. The wide line has a mean peak optical depth of 0.32 ± 0.12 centered at a mean velocity of V_1sr = −4 ± 15 km s{−1}. The mean full width at half maximum is 119 ± 42 km s⁻¹. Such a wide line is absent in the spectra at positions beyond ∼ 2′ from Sgr A*. The position-velocity diagrams in optical depth reveal that the wide line originates in various components of the circumnuclear disk (radius ∼ 1.3′ ) surrounding Sgr A*. These components contribute to the optical depth of the wide line in different velocity ranges. The position-velocity diagrams do not reveal any diffuse feature which could be attributed to a large number of HI clouds along the line of sight to Sgr A*. Consequently, the wide line has no implications either to a global population of shocked HI clouds in the Galaxy or to the energetics of the interstellar medium as was earlier thought.     

Radio Observations of Sgr B2

1 INTRODUCTIONFor the behavior of a molecular cloud in subsonic collision with another, Mao et al. (1992)have obtained simplified one-dimension traveling wave solutions for a plane-parallel s1ab. Chang-ing the sign in the transformation of variables in their case, we have the fOllowing results,1 rP = 2 l W op -- 1, (1)1 r =v = -- j W -- ry 1. (2)2 {V(N M)' 2z 2t -- W 1. (2)In Eq. (1), p increases with increasing t. Instability is expected to occur in strongly perturbedmolecular…     

CO J=2-1 and J=3-2 Line Observations of Molecular Clouds toward the Directions of 59 EGOs in the Northern Sky

In order to investigate the differences between the molecular clouds which are associated with the massive star forming regions and those which are not, we have performed the single-dish simultaneous observations of ¹²CO J=2-1 and J=3-2 lines toward a sample of 59 Spitzer Extended Green Objects (EGOs) as the massive star forming regions in the northern sky. Combining our results with the data of the ¹²CO J=1-0 observations toward the same sample EGOs in the literature, we have made the statistical comparisons on the intensities and linewidths of multiple ¹²CO lines between the molecular clouds associated with EGOs (EGO molecular clouds, in brief) and other non-EGO molecular clouds. On this basis, we have discussed the effects of the gas temperature, density, and velocity field distributions on the statistical characteristics of the two kinds of molecular clouds. It is found that both the EGO molecular clouds and non-EGO molecular clouds have similar mass ranges, hence we conclude that for the formation of massive stars, the key-important factor is probably not the total mass of a giant molecular cloud (GMC), but the volume filling factor of the molecular clumps in the GMC (or the compression extent of the molecular gas in the cloud).     

An interesting nebular object in LDN 288

In this paper the results of multiwavelength investigation of an unusual nebular object SNO 85 are presented. In 2MASS images this object looks like a star with a jet. In DSS2 R image the end of the jet is connected with an interesting symmetric structure, consisting of arcs and loops. Such a structure is seen also in the opposite direction from the central star; it favors the existence of two opposite jets, which repeat the rotation and precession movements of the central star. The results of ¹²CO observations of the dark nebula LDN 288, connected with SNO 85, are also given. From these observations the following results were obtained: SNO 85 is situated in a dense condensation and the neighbor B type star GSC 0625400181 is surrounded by a hollow cavity. The velocity of the dark cloud is ∼2.5 km/s and its distance is estimated as (380–990) pc. The object SNO 85 itself is associated with an IRAS point source IRAS 17547-1832, the infrared colors of this source are typical for a non-evolved source embedded in the dense dark cloud. This region is perhaps a star formation one because there is also another star with a straight jet in the vicinity of B type star GSC 0625400181. Published in Astrofizika, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 621–629 (August 2006).     

An Observational Study of the Molecular Cloud Core Toward IRAS 23133+6050

This paper reports ¹³CO, C¹⁸O, HCO⁺ (J = 1−0) spectral observations toward IRAS 23133+6050 with the 13.7 m millimeter-wave telescope at Qinghai Station of PMO. Corresponding to the ¹³CO, C¹⁸O, HCO⁺ line emissions, the size of the observed molecular cloud core is 4.0 pc, 2.1 pc and 2.3 pc, the virial mass is 2.7 × 10³ M_⊙, 0.9 × 10³ M_⊙ and 2.3 × 10³ M_⊙, and the volume density of H₂ is 2.7 × 10³ cm⁻³, 5.1 × 10³ cm⁻³ and 4.6 × 10³ cm⁻³, respectively. Using the power-law function n(r) ∼r^−p, the spatial density distribution of the cloud core was analyzed, the obtained exponent p is respectively 1.75, 1.56 and 1.48 for the ¹³CO, C¹⁸O and HCO⁺ cores, and it is found that the density distribution becomes gradually flatter from the outer region to the inner region of the core. The HCO⁺ abundance is 4.6 × 10⁻¹⁰, one order of magnitude less than the value for dark clouds, and slightly less than that for giant molecular clouds. The ¹³CO/C¹⁸O relative abundance ratio is 12.2, comparable with the value 11.8 for dark clouds, and the value 9.0 ∼ 15.6 for giant molecular clouds. A ¹³CO bipolar outflow is found in this region. The IRAS far-infrared luminosity and the virial masses give the luminosity-mass ratios 18.1, 51.1 and 21.2 from the three lines.     

On the distance to the Ophiuchus star‐forming region

The Ophiuchus molecular cloud complex has produced in Lynds 1688 the richest known embedded cluster within ∼300 pc of the Sun. Unfortunately, distance estimates to the Oph complex vary by nearly ∼40% (∼120–165 pc). Here I calculate a new independent distance estimate of 135±8 pc to this benchmark star‐forming region based on Hipparcos trigonometric parallaxes to stars illuminating reflection nebulosity in close proximity to Lynds 1688. Combining this value with recent distance estimates from reddening studies suggests a consensus distance of 139±6 pc (4% error), situating it within ∼11 pc of the centroid of the ∼5 Myr old Upper Sco OB subgroup of Sco OB2 (145 pc). The velocity vectors for Oph and Upper Sco are statistically indistinguishable within ∼1 km s^–1 in each vector component. Both Oph and Upper Sco have negligible motion (<1 km s^–1) in the Galactic vertical direction with respect to the Local Standard of Rest, which is inconsistent with the young stellar groups having formed via the high velocity cloud impact scenario. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Molecular cores of the high-latitude cloud MBM 40

Towards the high-latitude cloud MBM 40, we identify 3 dense molecular cores of M0.2–0.5 M, and sizes of 0.2 pc in diameter embedded in the H I cloud of 8 M which is observed to be extended along the northeast–southwest direction. The molecular cloud is located almost perpendicularly to the H I emission. We confirm the previous result of Magnani et al. that MBM 40 is not a site for new star formations. We found a very poor correlation between the H I and the IRAS 100 μm emissions, but the CO (1–0) and 100 μm emissions show a better correlation of W_CO/I₁₀₀=1±0.2 K km s⁻¹ (MJy sr⁻¹)⁻¹. This ratio is larger by a factor of ≥5 than in dense dark clouds, which may indicate that the CO is less depleted in MBM 40 than in dense dark clouds.     

Star formation region in Vela

A star formation region connected with SNO 41 is investigated. The observations of this region were carried out in the ¹²CO (1-0) line and in the 1.2-mm (with SIMBA) with the 15-m SEST mm telescope (Cerro La Silla, Chile). A blue shifted outflow is revealed from the ¹²CO(1-0) observations, while a bipolar outflow is apparent from the 1.2-mm SIMBA image. In CO it seems that a very faint dust envelope around SNO 41 probably exists, which is expanding with a velocity of ∼10.5 km/s. The distance to SNO 41 is estimated as ∼1500 pc. There are outflows also present in 2MASS images. A spiral jet has a condensation (resembling a HH object) at the end. Another jet has a discontinuity and a bow-shock-like structure on it. In 2MASS images there are also spots resembling HH objects. In this region there is also a rather luminous point source (IRAS 08546-4254), which has IR colors typical for an YSO connected with a water maser. The detection of a strong CS (2-1) line emission toward IRAS 08546-4254, with the same velocity as the CO line, shows the existence of a high density core of molecular gas associated to this source. A methanol maser is also associated with that IRAS source. The existence of CS line emission and a methanol maser (at 6.669 Ghz) is an indication of the presence of a very young massive star. It is not excluded that this IRAS source is the center of outflows mentioned above, because this source coincides with the center of the 1.2-mm SIMBA image and also with the place of origin of the jet with bow-shock-like structure. Published in Astrofizika, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 5–15 (February 2007).     

Three-dimensional simulations of molecular cloud fragmentation regulated by magnetic fields and ambipolar diffusion

We employ the first fully three-dimensional simulation to study the role of magnetic fields and ion–neutral friction in regulating gravitationally driven fragmentation of molecular clouds. The cores in an initially subcritical cloud develop gradually over an ambipolar diffusion time while the cores in an initially supercritical cloud develop in a dynamical time. The infalling speeds on to cores are subsonic in the case of an initially subcritical cloud, while an extended (≳0.1 pc) region of supersonic infall exists in the case of an initially supercritical cloud. These results are consistent with previous two-dimensional simulations. We also found that a snapshot of the relation between density (ρ) and the strength of the magnetic field ( B ) at different spatial points of the cloud coincides with the evolutionary track of an individual core. When the density becomes large, both the relations tend to   B ∝ρ^0.5  .     

Equivalent width, shape and proper motion of the iron fluorescent line emission from molecular clouds as an indicator of the illuminating source X-ray flux history

Observations of the diffuse emission in the 8–22 keV energy range, elongated parallel to the Galactic plane, and detection of the strong 6.4-keV fluorescent line with ∼ 1 keV equivalent width from some giant molecular clouds (e.g. Sgr B2) in the Galactic Centre region suggest that the neutral matter of these clouds is (or was) illuminated by powerful X-ray radiation, which gave rise to the reprocessed radiation. The source of this radiation remains unknown. A transient source close to the Sgr B2 cloud, or a short outburst of the X-ray emission from a supermassive black hole at the Galactic Centre are the two prime candidates under consideration. We argue that a new generation of X-ray telescopes combining very high sensitivity and excellent energy and angular resolutions would be able to discriminate between these two possibilities when studying time-dependent changes of the morphology of the surface brightness distribution, the equivalent width and the shape of the fluorescent line in Sgr B2 and other molecular clouds in the region. We note also that detection of broad and complex structures near the 6.4-keV line in the spectra of distant AGNs, which are X-ray weak now, may prove the presence of violent activity in the central engines of these objects in the past. Accurate measurements of the line shape may provide information on the time elapsed since the outburst. Proper motion (super- or subluminal) of the fluorescent radiation wave front can give additional information on the location of the source. Observations of the described effects can provide unique information on the matter distribution inside Sgr B2 and other giant molecular clouds.     

Observation and Study of the CO, CO, HCO and N2H Molecular Lines Towards IRAS 02232+6138

Using the 13.7 m millimeter-wave telescope at the Qinghai Station of Purple Mountain Observatory, we have made observations of ¹³CO, C¹⁸O, HCO⁺ and N₂H⁺ molecular lines towards IRAS 02232+6138. As the excitation density of the probe molecule increases from ¹³CO to HCO⁺, the size of the cloud core associated with IRAS 02232+6138 decreases from 2.40 pc to 0.54 pc, and the virial mass of the cloud core decreases from 2.2 × 10³M to 5.1 × 10²M. A bipolar molecular outflow is found towards IRAS 02232+6138. Using the power function n(r) ∝ r⁻ to fit the spatial density structure of the cloud core, we obtain the power-law index  = 2.3 − 1.2; and we find that, as the probed density increases, the power function becomes more flat. The abundance ratio of ¹³CO to C¹⁸O is 12.4 ± 6.9, comparable with the values 11.8 ± 5.9 for dark clouds and the values 9.0–15.6 for massive cores. The abundance of N₂H⁺ molecules is 3.5 ± 2.5 × 10⁻¹⁰, consistent with the value 1.0 − 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ for dark cloud cores and the value 1.2 − 12.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ for massive cores. The abundance of HCO⁺ molecules is 0.9 ± 0.5 × 10⁻⁹, close to the value 1.6 − 2.4 × 10⁻⁹ for massive cores. An increase of HCO⁺ abundance in the outflow region was not found. Combining with the IRAS data, the luminosity-mass ratio of the cloud core is obtained in the range 37–163(L/M). Based on the IRAS luminosity, it is estimated that a main-sequence O7.5 star is probably embedded in the IRAS 02232+6138 cloud core.     

A Study on the CO Isotopic Lines of the Star Forming Region AFGL 5157

By the mapping observations simultaneously at the ¹²CO (J=1-0), ¹³CO (J=1-0), and C¹⁸O (J=1-0) lines on the area of 24’×24’ (12 pc×12 pc) of the star forming region AFGL 5157, we have obtained the distribution and averaged physical parameters for the respective ¹³CO and C¹⁸O cores of this molecu- lar cloud. At the edge of the molecular cloud, the isotopic abundance ratio is X [(¹³CO)/(C¹⁸O)] ≈ 10, close to the ratio of a giant molecular cloud. The viral masses of the ¹³CO and C¹⁸O cores are less than the masses of the molecu-lar cloud cores, so the molecular cloud cores are gravitationally unstable, and the C¹⁸O molecular cloud core is more easy to collapse. The column density distributions of the C¹⁸O molecular cloud core in the northeast and southwest directions are, respectively, 1.1 × 10²³× z^−0.43 and 4.6 × 10²⁵× z^−0.58, where z is the distance from the center of the molecular cloud core. The high velocity molecular out?ow has been con?rmed from our ¹²CO spectra, the mass loss rate of the out?ow has been estimated, and the mass-velocity relation of the out?ow is ?tted by a power-law function of m ∝ v^−1.8. The star formation rate of the ¹³CO molecular cloud core is as high as 23%, probably, under the in?uence of     

Molecular gas associated with the IRAS-vela shell

We present a survey of molecular gas in theJ = 1 → 0 transition of¹²CO towards the IRAS Vela Shell. The shell, previously identified from IRAS maps, is a ring-like structure seen in the region of the Gum Nebula. We confirm the presence of molecular gas associated with some of the infrared point sources seen along the shell. We have studied the morphology and kinematics of the gas and conclude that the shell is expanding at the rate of ~ 13 km s^-1 from a common center. We go on to include in this study the Southern Dark Clouds seen in the region. The distribution and motion of these objects firmly identify them as being part of the shell of molecular gas. Estimates of the mass of gas involved in this expansion reveal that the shell is a massive object comparable to a GMC. From the expansion and various other signatures like the presence of bright-rimmed clouds with head-tail morphology, clumpy distribution of the gas etc., we conjecture that the molecular gas we have detected is the remnant of a GMC in the process of being disrupted and swept outwards through the influence of a central OB association, itself born of the parent cloud.     

The Gas to Dust Ratio in Three Star Forming Regionstwo

Gas to Dust Ratio (GDR) indicates the mass ratio of interstellar gas to dust. It is widely adopted that the GDR in our Galaxy is 100～150. We choose three typical star forming regions to study the GDR: the Orion molecular cloud — a massive star forming region, the Taurus molecular cloud — a low-mass star forming region, and the Polaris molecular cloud — a region with no or very few star formation activities. The mass of gas only takes account of the neutral gas, i.e. only the atomic and molecular hydrogen, because the amount of ionized gas is very small in a molecular cloud. The column density of atomic hydrogen is taken from the high-resolution and high-sensitivity all-sky survey EBHIS (Effelsberg-Bonn HI Survey). The CO J = 1 →0 line is used to trace the molecular hydrogen, since the spectral lines of molecular hydrogen which can be detected are rare. The intensity of CO J = 1 →0 line is taken from the Planck all-sky survey. The mass of dust is traced by the interstellar extinction based on the 2MASS (Two Micron All Sky Survey) photometric database in the direction of anti-Galactic center. Adopting a constant conversion coefficient from the integrated intensity of the CO line to the column density of molecular hydrogen, X_CO = 2.0 × 10²⁰ cm^?2 · (K · km/s)^?1, the gas to dust ratio N(H)/A_V is calculated, which is 25, 38, and 55 (in units of 10²⁰ cm^?2 · mag^?1) for the Orion, Taurus, and Polaris molecular clouds, respectively. These values are significantly higher than the previously obtained average value of the Galaxy. Adopting the WD01 interstellar dust model (when the V-band selective extinction ratio is R_V = 3.1), the derived GDRs are 160, 243, and 354 for the Orion, Taurus, and Polaris molecular clouds, respectively, which are apparently higher than 100～150, the commonly accepted GDR of the diffuse interstellar medium. The high N(H)/A_V values in the star forming regions may be explained by the growth of dust in the molecular clouds because of either the particle collision or accretion, which can lead to the reduction of extinction efficiency per unit mass in the V band, rather than the increase of the GDR itself.     

Properties of the infrared dark cloud G79.2+0.38

The MSX infrared dark cloud G79.2+0.38 has been observed over a 11′×′ region simultaneously in the J=1-0 rotational transition lines of the ¹²CO and its isotopic molecules ¹³CO and ¹⁸CO. The dense molecular cores defined by the C¹⁸O line are found to be associated with the two high-extinction patches shown in the MSX A-band image. The two dense cores have the column density N (H₂) (5 – 12) × 10²² cm⁻² and the mean number density n (3 ± 1) × 10⁴ cm⁻³. Their sizes are 1.7 and 1.2 pc in ¹³CO(1-0) line, 1.2 and 0.6 pc in C¹⁸O(1-0) line, respectively. The masses of these cloud cores are estimated to be in the range from 2 × 10² to 2 × 10³ M. The profile of radial mean density of the cloud core can be described by the exponential function ¯n(p) p^{−0.34±0.02}. Compared with the cases of typical optical dark clouds, the abundances of the CO isotopic molecules ¹³CO and C¹⁸O in this MSX infrared dark cloud appear to be depleted by a factor of 4–11, but at present there is no evidence for any obvious variation of the relative abundance ratio X_13/18 between ¹³CO and C¹⁸O with the column density.     

Molecular Clouds Toward a New OB Association in Pup-CMa

We have mapped 16 molecular clouds toward a new OB association in the Pup-CMa region to derive their physical properties. The observations were carried out in the ¹²CO (J = 1 – 0) line with the Southern millimetre-wave Telescope at Cerro Tololo, Chile. Distances have been determined kinematically using the rotation curve of Brand with R_⊙ = 8.5 kpc and V_⊙ = 220 km/s. Masses have been derived adopting a CO luminosity to H₂ conversion factor X = 3.8 . 10²⁰ molecules cm^-2 (K km/s)^-1. The observed mean radial velocity of the clouds is comparable with the mean radial velocity of stars composing an OB association in Pup-CMa; it is in favor of the close connection of clouds with these stars. __________ Published in Astrofizika, Vol. 48, No. 4, pp. 491–501 (October–December, 2005).     

Interaction between the north-eastern boundary of Sgr A East and giant molecular clouds

We have detected the   v = 1 → 0 S(1) (λ= 2.1218 μm)  and   v = 2 → 1 S(1) (λ= 2.2477 μm)  lines of H₂ in the Galactic Centre, in a  90 × 27 arcsec²  region between the north-eastern boundary of the non-thermal source Sgr A East, and the giant molecular cloud (GMC)  M−0.02 − 0.07  . The detected  H₂ v = 1 → 0  S(1) emission has an intensity of  1.6–21 × 10⁻¹⁸ W m⁻² arcsec⁻²  and is present over most of the region. Along with the high intensity, the large linewidths  (FWHM = 40–70 km s⁻¹)  and the  H₂ v = 2 → 1 S(1)  to   v = 1 → 0 S(1)  line ratios (0.3–0.5) can be best explained by a combination of C-type shocks and fluorescence. The detection of shocked H₂ is clear evidence that Sgr A East is driving material into the surrounding adjacent cool molecular gas. The H₂ emission lines have two velocity components at ∼+50 and  ∼0 km s⁻¹  , which are also present in the NH₃(3, 3) emission mapped by McGary, Coil & Ho. This two-velocity structure can be explained if Sgr A East is driving C-type shocks into both the  GMC M−0.02 − 0.07  and the northern ridge of McGary et al.     

Polarization of X-ray emission from the Sgr B2 cloud

The Sgr B2 giant molecular cloud is claimed to be an 'X-ray reflection nebula'– the reprocessing site of a powerful flare of the Sgr A* source, which occurred a few hundred years ago. The shape of the X-ray spectrum and the strength of the iron fluorescent line support this hypothesis. We argue that the cleanest test of the origin of X-rays from Sgr B2 would be a detection of polarized emission from this source.     

A Collimated Stellar Wind Emanating from a Massive Protostar

We report multi-wavelength observations towards IRAS 16547–4247, a luminous infrared source with a bolometric luminosity of 6.2 × 10⁴ L _⊙. Dust continuum observations at 1.2-mm indicate that this object is associated with a dust cloud with a size of about 0.4 pc in diameter and a mass of about 1.3 × 10³ M _⊙. Radio continuum observations show the presence of a triple radio source consisting of a compact central object and two outer lobes, separated by about 0.3 pc, symmetrically located from the central source. Molecular hydrogen line observations show a chain of knots that trace a collimated flow extending over 1.5 pc. We suggest that IRAS 16547–4247 corresponds to a dense massive core which hosts near its central region a high-mass star in an early stage of evolution. This massive YSO is undergoing the ejection of a collimated stellar wind which drives the H₂ flow. The radio emission from the lobes arises in shocks resulting from the interaction of the collimated wind with the surrounding medium. We conclude that the thermal jets found in the formation of low-mass stars are also produced in high-mass stars.