Ultra-high-resolution observations of CH in Southern Molecular Cloud envelopes

We present a mini-survey of ultrahigh-resolution spectroscopy (UHRS) of CH towards three southern molecular cloud envelopes. The sightlines are selected to probe physically similar gas in different Galactic environments. With a velocity resolution of ∼0.5 km s⁻¹  ( R =575 000)  these observations resolve most kinematic components of the absorption lines. We do, however, detect one line component in the Lupus region, which is not resolved and for which an upper limit of   b <0.3 km s^-1  is found. We find a correlation between distance of the absorbing gas from the Galactic mid-plane and the fractional abundance of CH. We show that this correlation can be explained as being a result of a fall-off in the ultraviolet radiation field intensity and propose that CH observations in carefully selected sightlines might allow a mapping of the variations in the interstellar radiation field.     

A search for propylene oxide and glycine in Sagittarius B2 (LMH) and Orion

We have used the Mopra Telescope to search for glycine and the simple chiral molecule propylene oxide in the Sgr B2 (LMH) and Orion KL, in the 3-mm band. We have not detected either species, but have been able to put sensitive upper limits on the abundances of both molecules. The 3σ upper limits derived for glycine conformer I are  3.7 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻²  in both Orion-KL and Sgr B2 (LMH), comparable to the reported detections of conformer I by Kuan et al. However, as our values are 3σ upper limits rather than detections we conclude that this weighs against confirming the detection of Kuan et al. We find upper limits for the glycine II column density of  7.7 × 10¹² cm⁻²  in both Orion-KL and Sgr B2 (LMH), in agreement with the results of Combes et al. The results presented here show that glycine conformer II is not present in the extended gas at the levels detected by Kuan et al. for conformer I. Our ATCA results have ruled out the detection of glycine (both conformers I and II) in the compact hot core of the LMH at the levels reported, so we conclude that it is unlikely that Kuan et al. have detected glycine in either Sgr B2 or Orion-KL. We find upper limits for propylene oxide abundance of  3.0 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻²  in Orion-KL and  6.7 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻²  in Sgr B2 (LMH). We have detected fourteen features in Sgr B2 and four features in Orion-KL which have not previously been reported in the interstellar medium, but have not been able to plausibly assign these transitions to any carrier.     

A search for absorption of Mg and Ca compounds in molecular clouds towards Galactic continuum sources

Absorption lines of MgH and CaH N  = 1 − 0 transitions were searched for in foreground molecular clouds towards the continuum sources associated with Sgr B2 (M) and W49A (N). None of these lines was detected with our sensitivity level of ∼20 mK. Millimetric absorption lines of MgO, MgOH, CaO and CaOH were also searched for towards Sgr B2 (M) without success. The fractional abundances relative to molecular hydrogen are ≲ 1.0 × 10⁻¹¹ for MgH, ≲ 7.9 × 10⁻¹³ for MgO, ≲ 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ for MgOH, ≲ 1.6 × 10⁻⁹ for CaH, ≲ 2.0 × 10⁻¹² for CaO, and ≲ 2.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ for CaOH, respectively. The low abundances measured in absorption indicate that a significant fraction of interstellar magnesium and calcium cannot be tied up in their monohydrides, monoxides and monohydroxides. The low abundance of MgH also implies that grain-surface chemistry involving magnesium is not efficient and that magnesium is depleted on to grains to a factor of ≳ 10^2.5 in well-shielded molecular clouds.     

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.     

Complex organic molecules in an early stage of protostellar evolution

We have detected the rotational lines of HCOOCH₃ toward a Class 0 low-mass protostar, NGC1333 IRAS4B, which is reported to be extremely young according to the dynamical age of the molecular outflow (a few 100 yr). This suggests that the complex organic molecules appear from the very early stage of protostellar evolution. On the other hand, the complex organic molecules are not detected in a more evolved protostar, L1527. We have also found a similar trend in a massive star forming region, NGC2264. The HCOOCH₃ emission is almost absent toward IRS1, whereas it is concentrated near MMS3, which is younger than IRS1. In addition, the HCOOCH₃ intensity peak is slightly shifted from the dust emission peak, as is seen in the Orion KL Compact Ridge, giving an important clue to solve its origin.     

SCUBA polarization observations of the magnetic fields in the pre-stellar cores L1498 and L1517B

We have mapped linearly polarized dust emission from the pre-stellar cores L1498 and L1517B with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) using the Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) and its polarimeter (SCUBAPOL) at a wavelength of 850 μm. We use these measurements to determine the plane-of-sky magnetic field orientation in the cores. In L1498, we see a magnetic field across the peak of the core that lies at an offset of ∼19°± 12° to the short axis of the core. This is similar to the offsets seen in previous observations of pre-stellar cores. To the south-east of the peak, in the filamentary tail of the core, we see that the magnetic field has rotated to lie almost parallel to the long axis of the filament. We hypothesize that the field in the core may have decoupled from the field in the filament that connects the core to the rest of the cloud. We use the Chandrasekhar–Fermi (CF) method to measure the plane-of-sky field strength in the core of L1498 to be ∼10 ± 7 μG.
In L1517B, we see a more gradual turn in the field direction from the northern part of the core to the south. This appears to follow a twist in the filament in which the core is buried, with the field staying at a roughly constant ∼25°± 6° offset to the short axis of the filament, consistent with previous observations of pre-stellar cores. Hence these two clouds in an apparently similar evolutionary state, that exhibit similar masses, morphologies and densities, have very different magnetic field configurations. We again use the CF method and calculate the magnetic field strength in L1517B to be ∼30 ± 10 μG. Both cores appear to be roughly virialized. Comparison with our previous work on somewhat denser cores shows that, for the denser cores, thermal and non-thermal (including magnetic) support are approximately equal, while for the lower density cores studied here, thermal support dominates.     

Confirmation of three candidate Galactic supernova remnants from GMRT observations

We report 327-MHz observations of three large (>15 arcmin) candidate supernova remnants (SNRs) at high Galactic latitudes using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). These objects were proposed by Duncan et al. as candidate SNRs in the Parkes 2.4-GHz survey. We detect extended 327-MHz emission in all three fields. G356.2+4.5 has a well-resolved shell of emission. This field also contains a 32-mJy pulsar situated at a distance of 1.4 kpc as derived from the dispersion measure of the pulsar. The field of G358.0+3.8 is highly confused and, although we confirm the presence of a partial ring, it has a lower signal-to-noise ratio detection. G004.8+6.2 (formerly G4.5+6.2) is located approximately 40 arcmin away from Kepler's SNR. Apart from GMRT observations of this field, this SNR lies in the field of view of a Very Large Array (VLA) D-array observation at 325 MHz and we detect a 17×18 arcmin SNR, possibly of shell morphology. All these fields show clear, well-resolved shells in the National Radio Astronomy Observatory/ VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) maps, which are also presented.     

A study of interstellar Na i D absorption lines towards the Lupus molecular clouds

Intermediate-resolution (60 000 R 120 000) observations of interstellar Na  i lines towards 29 stars in the general direction of the Lupus molecular clouds (330°≲ l ≲350°; 0°≲ b ≲25°) are presented. Previously published spectra towards an additional seven stars are also included. Based on the Hipparcos distances to these stars, and the minimum distance at which strong interstellar Na  i lines appear in the spectra, I obtain a distance of ~150±10 pc to the Lupus molecular complex. While in agreement with a number of other independent estimates, this result is at odds with the value of 100 pc recently obtained by Knude & Høg from a Hipparcos -based study of interstellar extinction. A possible explanation for this discrepancy is discussed, and it is concluded that the value of 150±10 pc obtained here is to be preferred. In addition, these observations have some other implications for the structure of the interstellar medium in this direction, and these are briefly considered.     

Dense cores in the L1630 molecular cloud: discovering new protostars with SCUBA

Maps of the 450- and 850-μm dust continuum emission from three star-forming condensations within the Lynds 1630 molecular cloud, made with the SCUBA bolometer array, reveal the presence of four new submillimetre sources, each of a few solar masses (two of which are probably class I and two of which are class 0), as well as several sources the existence of which was previously known. The sources are located in filaments and appear elongated when observed at 450 μm. They probably have dust temperatures in the range 10 to 20 K, in good agreement with previous ammonia temperature estimates. Attempts to fit their structures with power-law and Gaussian density distributions suggest that the central distribution is flatter than expected for a simple singular isothermal sphere.
Although the statistics are poor, our results suggest that the ratio of 'protostellar core' mass to total virial mass may be similar for both large and small condensations.