Kinematic and Thermal Structure at the onset of high-mass star formation

We want to understand the kinematic and thermal properties of young massive gas clumps prior to and at the earliest evolutionary stages of high-mass star formation. Do we find signatures of gravitational collapse? Do we find temperature gradients in the vicinity or absence of infrared emission sources? Do we find coherent velocity structures toward the center of the dense and cold gas clumps? To determine kinematics and gas temperatures, we used ammonia, because it is known to be a good tracer and thermometer of dense gas. We observed the NH$_3$(1,1) and (2,2) lines within seven very young high-mass star-forming regions with the VLA and the Effelsberg 100m telescope. This allows us to study velocity structures, linewidths, and gas temperatures at high spatial resolution of 3-5$$, corresponding to $sim$0.05 pc. We find on average cold gas clumps with temperatures in the range between 10 K and 30 K. The observations do not reveal a clear correlation between infrared emission peaks and ammonia temperature peaks. We report an upper limit for the linewidth of $sim$1.3 km s$^{-1}$, at the spectral resolution limit of our VLA observation. This indicates a relatively low level of turbulence on the scale of the observations. Velocity gradients are present in almost all regions with typical velocity differences of 1 to 2 km s$^{-1}$ and gradients of 5 to 10 km s$^{-1}$ pc$^{-1}$. These velocity gradients are smooth in most cases, but there is one exceptional source (ISOSS23053), for which we find several velocity components with a steep velocity gradient toward the clump centers that is larger than 30 km s$^{-1}$ pc$^{-1}$. This steep velocity gradient is consistent with recent models of cloud collapse. Furthermore, we report a spatial correlation of ammonia and cold dust, but we also find decreasing ammonia emission close to infrared emission sources.

The dynamics and star-forming potential of the massive Galactic centre cloud G0.253+0.016

The massive infrared dark cloud G0.253+0.016 projected 45pc from the Galactic centre contains ~10^5Msun of dense gas whilst being mostly devoid of observed star-formation tracers. To scrutinise the physical properties, dynamics and structure of this cloud with reference to its star-forming potential, we have carried out a concerted SMA and IRAM 30m study of this cloud in dust continuum, CO isotopologues, shock tracing molecules, as well as H$_2$CO to trace the gas temperature. We detect and characterise the dust cores within G0.253+0.016 at ~1.3 mm and find that the kinetic temperature of the gas is >320K on size-scales of ~0.15 pc. Analysis of the position-velocity diagrams of our observed lines show broad linewidths and strong shock emission in the south of the cloud, indicating that G0.253+0.016 is colliding with another cloud at v(LSR)~70 km/s. We confirm via an analysis of the observed dynamics in the CMZ that it is an elongated structure, orientated with Sgr B2 closer to the Sun than Sgr A*, however our results suggest that the actual geometry may be more complex than an elliptical ring. We find that the column density PDF of G0.253+0.016 is log-normal with no discernible power-law tail, consistent with little star formation, and that its width can be explained in the framework of theory predicting the density structure of clouds created by supersonic, magnetised turbulence. We also present the delta-variance spectrum of this region, and show it is consistent with that expected for clouds with no star formation. Using G0.253+0.016 as a test-bed of the conditions required for star formation in a different physical environment to that of nearby clouds, we also conclude that there is not one column density threshold for star formation, but instead this value is dependant on the local physical conditions. [Abbrv.]

Fragmentation and dynamical collapse of the starless high-mass star-forming region IRDC18310-4

Aims: We study the fragmentation and dynamical properties of a massive starless gas clump at the onset of high-mass star formation. Methods: Based on Herschel continuum data we identify a massive gas clump that remains far-infrared dark up to 100mum wavelengths. The fragmentation and dynamical properties are investigated by means of Plateau de Bure Interferometer and Nobeyama 45m single-dish spectral line and continuum observations. Results: The massive gas reservoir fragments at spatial scales of ~18000AU in four cores. Comparing the spatial extent of this high-mass region with intermediate- to low-mass starless cores from the literature, we find that linear sizes do not vary significantly over the whole mass regime. However, the high-mass regions squeeze much more gas into these similar volumes and hence have orders of magnitude larger densities. The fragmentation properties of the presented low-to high-mass regions are consistent with gravitational instable Jeans fragmentation. Furthermore, we find multiple velocity components associated with the resolved cores. Recent radiative transfer hydrodynamic simulations of the dynamic collapse of massive gas clumps also result in multiple velocity components along the line of sight because of the clumpy structure of the regions. This result is supported by a ratio between viral and total gas mass for the whole region <1. Conclusions: This apparently still starless high-mass gas clump exhibits clear signatures of early fragmentation and dynamic collapse prior to the formation of an embedded heating source. A comparison with regions of lower mass reveals that the linear size of star-forming regions does not necessarily have to vary much for different masses, however, the mass reservoirs and gas densities are orders of magnitude enhanced for high-mass regions compared to their lower-mass siblings.

Characterization of Infrared Dark Clouds -- NH$_3$ Observations of an Absorption-contrast Selected IRDC Sample

Despite increasing research in massive star formation, little is known about its earliest stages. Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) are cold, dense and massive enough to harbour the sites of future high-mass star formation. But up to now, mainly small samples have been observed and analysed. To understand the physical conditions during the early stages of high-mass star formation, it is necessary to learn more about the physical conditions and stability in relatively unevolved IRDCs. Thus, for characterising IRDCs studies of large samples are needed. We investigate a complete sample of 218 northern hemisphere high-contrast IRDCs using the ammonia (1,1)- and (2,2)-inversion transitions. We detected ammonia (1,1)-inversion transition lines in 109 of our IRDC candidates. Using the data we were able to study the physical conditions within the star-forming regions statistically. We compared them with the conditions in more evolved regions which have been observed in the same fashion as our sample sources. Our results show that IRDCs have, on average, rotation temperatures of 15 K, are turbulent (with line width FWHMs around 2 km s$^{-1}$), have ammonia column densities on the order of $10^{14}$ cm$^{-2}$ and molecular hydrogen column densities on the order of $10^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$. Their virial masses are between 100 and a few 1000 M$_odot$. The comparison of bulk kinetic and potential energies indicate that the sources are close to virial equilibrium. IRDCs are on average cooler and less turbulent than a comparison sample of high-mass protostellar objects, and have lower ammonia column densities. Virial parameters indicate that the majority of IRDCs are currently stable, but are expected to collapse in the future.

Kinematics of Ionized Gas at 0.01 AU of TW Hya

We report two-dimensional spectroastrometry of Br gamma emission of TW Hya to study the kinematics of the ionized gas in the star-disk interface region. The spectroastrometry with the integral field spectrograph SINFONI at the Very Large Telescope is sensitive to the positional offset of the line emission down to the physical scale of the stellar diameter (~0.01 AU). The centroid of Br gamma emission is displaced to the north with respect to the central star at the blue side of the emission line, and to the south at the red side. The major axis of the centroid motion is P.A.= -20 degrees, which is nearly equal to the major axis of the protoplanetary disk projected on the sky, previously reported by CO sub millimeter spectroscopy (P.A.= -27 degrees) The line-of-sight motion of the Br gamma emission, in which the northern side of the disk is approaching toward us, is also consistent with the direction of the disk rotation known from the CO observation. The agreement implies that the kinematics of Br gamma emission is accounted for by the ionized gas in the inner edge of the disk. A simple modeling of the astrometry, however, indicates that the accretion inflow similarly well reproduces the centroid displacements of Br gamma, but only if the position angles of the centroid motion and the projected disk ellipse is a chance coincidence. No clear evidence of disk wind is found.

Chemistry in Infrared Dark Clouds

Massive stars play an important role in shaping the structure of galaxies. Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs), with their low temperatures and high densities, have been identified as the potential birthplaces of massive stars. In order to understand the formation processes of massive stars the physical and chemical conditions in infrared dark clouds have to be characterized. The goal of this paper is to investigate the chemical composition of a sample of southern infrared dark clouds. One important aspect of the observations is to check, if the molecular abuncances in IRDCs are similar to the low-mass pre-stellar cores, or whether they show signatures of more evolved evolutionary stages. We performed observations toward 15 IRDCs in the frequency range between 86 and 93 GHz using the 22-m Mopra radio telescope. We detect HNC, HCO$^+$ and HNC emission in all clouds and N$_2$H$^+$ in all IRDCs except one. In some clouds we detect SiO emission. Complicated shapes of the HCO$^+$ emission line profile are found in all IRDCs. Both signatures indicates the presence of infall and outflow motions and beginning of star formation activity, at least in some parts of the IRDCs. Where possible, we calculate molecular abundances and make a comparison with previously obtained values for low-mass pre-stellar cores and high-mass protostellar objects (HMPOs). We show a tendency for IRDCs to have molecular abundances similar to low-mass pre-stellar cores rather than to HMPOs abundances on the scale of our single-dish observations.

Mid - infrared interferometry of massive young stellar objects II Evidence for a circumstellar disk surrounding the Kleinmann - Wright object

The formation scenario for massive stars is still under discussion. To further constrain current theories, it is vital to spatially resolve the structures from which material accretes onto massive young stellar objects (MYSOs). Due to the small angular extent of MYSOs, one needs to overcome the limitations of conventional thermal infrared imaging, regarding spatial resolution, in order to get observational access to the inner structure of these objects.We employed mid - infrared interferometry, using the MIDI instrument on the ESO /VLTI, to investigate the Kleinmann - Wright Object, a massive young stellar object previously identified as a Herbig Be star precursor. Dispersed visibility curves in the N- band (8 - 13 {mu}m) have been obtained at 5 interferometric baselines. We show that the mid - infrared emission region is resolved. A qualitative analysis of the data indicates a non - rotationally symmetric structure, e.g. the projection of an inclined disk. We employed extensive radiative transfer simulations based on spectral energy distribution fitting. Since SED - only fitting usually yields degenerate results, we first employed a statistical analysis of the parameters provided by the radiative transfer models. In addition, we compared the ten best - fitting self - consistent models to the interferometric observations. Our analysis of the Kleinmann - Wright Object suggests the existence of a circumstellar disk of 0.1Modot at an intermediate inclination of 76circ, while an additional dusty envelope is not necessary for fitting the data. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the combination of IR interferometry with radiative transfer simulations has the potential to resolve ambiguities arising from the analysis of spectral energy distributions alone.

Mapping far-IR emission from the central kiloparsec of NGC 1097

Using photometry of NGC 1097 from the Herschel PACS (Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer) instrument, we study the resolved properties of thermal dust continuum emission from a circumnuclear starburst ring with a radius ~ 900 pc. These observations are the first to resolve the structure of a circumnuclear ring at wavelengths that probe the peak (i.e. lambda ~ 100 micron) of the dust spectral energy distribution. The ring dominates the far-infrared (far-IR) emission from the galaxy - the high angular resolution of PACS allows us to isolate the rings contribution and we find it is responsible for 75, 60 and 55% of the total flux of NGC 1097 at 70, 100 and 160 micron, respectively. We compare the far-IR structure of the ring to what is seen at other wavelengths and identify a sequence of far-IR bright knots that correspond to those seen in radio and mid-IR images. The mid- and far-IR band ratios in the ring vary by less than +/- 20% azimuthally, indicating modest variation in the radiation field heating the dust on ~ 600 pc scales. We explore various explanations for the azimuthal uniformity in the far-IR colors of the ring including a lack of well-defined age gradients in the young stellar cluster population, a dominant contribution to the far-IR emission from dust heated by older (> 10 Myr) stars and/or a quick smoothing of local enhancements in dust temperature due to the short orbital period of the ring. Finally, we improve previous limits on the far-IR flux from the inner ~ 600 pc of NGC 1097 by an order of magnitude, providing a better estimate of the total bolometric emission arising from the active galactic nucleus and its associated central starburst.

Dust-temperature of an isolated star-forming cloud: Herschel observations of the Bok globule CB244

We present Herschel observations of the isolated, low-mass star-forming Bok globule CB244. It contains two cold sources, a low-mass Class 0 protostar and a starless core, which is likely to be prestellar in nature, separated by 90 arcsec (~ 18000 AU). The Herschel data sample the peak of the Planck spectrum for these sources, and are therefore ideal for dust-temperature and column density modeling. With these data and a near-IR extinction map, the MIPS 70 micron mosaic, the SCUBA 850 micron map, and the IRAM 1.3 mm map, we model the dust-temperature and column density of CB244 and present the first measured dust-temperature map of an entire star-forming molecular cloud. We find that the column-averaged dust-temperature near the protostar is ~ 17.7 K, while for the starless core it is ~ 10.6K, and that the effect of external heating causes the cloud dust-temperature to rise to ~ 17 K where the hydrogen column density drops below 10^21 cm^-2. The total hydrogen mass of CB244 (assuming a distance of 200 pc) is 15 +/- 5 M_sun. The mass of the protostellar core is 1.6 +/- 0.1 M_sun and the mass of the starless core is 5 +/- 2 M_sun, indicating that ~ 45% of the mass in the globule is participating in the star-formation process.

The structured environments of embedded star-forming cores. PACS and SPIRE mapping of the enigmatic outflow source UYSO 1

The intermediate-mass star-forming core UYSO 1 has previously been found to exhibit intriguing features. While deeply embedded and previously only identified by means of its (sub-)millimeter emission, it drives two powerful, dynamically young, molecular outflows. Although the process of star formation has obviously started, the chemical composition is still pristine. We present Herschel PACS and SPIRE continuum data of this presumably very young region. The now complete coverage of the spectral energy peak allows us to precisely constrain the elevated temperature of 26 - 28 K for the main bulge of gas associated with UYSO1, which is located at the interface between the hot HII region Sh 2-297 and the cold dark nebula LDN 1657A. Furthermore, the data identify cooler compact far-infrared sources of just a few solar masses, hidden in this neighbouring dark cloud.