CADRE: The CArma Data REduction pipeline

The Combined Array for Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) data reduction pipeline (CADRE) has been developed to give investigators a first look at a fully reduced set of their data. It runs automatically on all data produced by the telescope as they arrive in the CARMA data archive. CADRE is written in Python and uses Python wrappers for MIRIAD subroutines for direct access to the data. It goes through the typical reduction procedures for radio telescope array data and produces a set of continuum and spectral line maps in both MIRIAD and FITS format. CADRE has been in production for nearly two years and this paper presents the current capabilities and planned development.

Complex Organic Molecules at High Spatial Resolution Toward Orion-KL I: Spatial Scales

Here we present high spatial resolution (<1 arcsecond) observations of molecular emission in Orion-KL conducted using the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-Wave Astronomy (CARMA). This work was motivated by recent millimeter continuum imaging studies of this region conducted at a similarly high spatial resolution, which revealed that the bulk of the emission arises from numerous compact sources, rather than the larger-scale extended structures typically associated with the Orion Hot Core and Compact Ridge. Given that the spatial extent of molecular emission greatly affects the determination of molecular abundances, it is important to determine the true spatial scale for complex molecules in this region. Additionally, it has recently been suggested that the relative spatial distributions of complex molecules in a source might give insight into the chemical mechanisms that drive complex chemistry in star-forming regions. In order to begin to address these issues, this study seeks to determine the spatial distributions of ethyl cyanide [C2H5CN], dimethyl ether [(CH3)2O], methyl formate [HCOOCH3], formic acid [HCOOH], acetone [(CH3)2CO], SiO, methanol [CH3OH], and methyl cyanide [CH3CN] in Orion-KL at lambda = 3 mm. We find that for all observed molecules, the molecular emission arises from multiple components of the cloud that include a range of spatial scales and physical conditions. Here we present the results of these observations and discuss the implications for studies of complex molecules in star-forming regions.

Complex Organic Molecules at High Spatial Resolution Toward Orion-KL II: Kinematics

It has recently been suggested that chemical processing can shape the spatial distributions of complex molecules in the Orion-KL region and lead to the nitrogen-oxygen chemical differentiation seen in previous observations of this source. Orion-KL is a very dynamic region, and it is therefore also possible that physical conditions can shape the molecular distributions in this source. Only high spatial resolution observations can provide the information needed to disentangle these effects. Here we present millimeter imaging studies of Orion-KL at various beam sizes using the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-Wave Astronomy (CARMA). We compare molecular images with high spatial resolution images that trace the temperature, continuum column density, and kinematics of the source in order to investigate the effects of physical conditions on molecular distributions. These observations were conducted at lambda = 3 mm and included transitions of ethyl cyanide [C2H5CN], methyl formate [HCOOCH3], formic acid [HCOOH], acetone [(CH3)2CO], SiO, and methanol [CH3OH]. We find differences in the molecular distributions as a function of each of these factors. These results indicate that acetone may be produced by chemical processing and is robust to large changes in physical conditions, while formic acid is readily destroyed by gas-phase processing in warm and dense regions. We also find that while the spatial distributions of ethyl cyanide and methyl formate are not distinct as is suggested by the concept of chemical differentiation, local physical conditions shape the small-scale emission structure for these species.

A High Spatial Resolution Study of the &lambda;=3 mm Continuum of Orion-KL

Recent interferometric observations have called into question the traditional view of the Orion-KL region, which displays one of the most well-defined cases of chemical differentiation in a star-forming region. Previous, lower-resolution images of Orion-KL show emission signatures for oxygen-bearing organic molecules toward the Orion Compact Ridge, and emission for nitrogen-bearing organic molecules toward the Orion Hot Core. However, more recent observations at higher spatial resolution indicate that the bulk of the molecular emission is arising from many smaller, compact clumps that are spatially distinct from the traditional Hot Core and Compact Ridge sources. It is this type of observational information that is critical for guiding astrochemical models, as the spatial distribution of molecules and their relation to energetic sources will govern the chemical mechanisms at play in star-forming regions. We have conducted millimeter imaging studies of Orion-KL with various beam sizes using CARMA in order to investigate the continuum structure. These lambda;=3mm observations have synthesized beam sizes of ~0.5-5.0. These observations reveal the complex continuum structure of this region, which stands in sharp contrast to the previous structural models assumed for Orion-KL based on lower spatial resolution images. The new results indicate that the spatial scaling previously used in determination of molecular abundances for this region are in need of complete revision. Here we present the results of the continuum observations, discuss the sizes and structures of the detected sources, and suggest an observational strategy for determining the proper spatial scaling to accurately determine molecular abundances in the Orion-KL region.

The Search for Extragalactic Lithium Hydride

We have conducted Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) observations of LiH, in absorption, toward three quasars. These quasars, B0218+357, PKS1830-211, and PKS0201+113, have redshifts of z = 0.685 - 3.387$, and shift the LiH J=1-0 transition to the 1 mm and 3mm wavelength bands, where atmospheric absorption is sharply reduced from that predominating near the rest frequency of 443 GHz. We report a 3$sigma$ detection of LiH toward B0218+357 with a column density of 1.4x10^{12} cm^{-2} and place an upper limit on the ^6Li/^7Li ratio of <0.16. LiH was not detected toward any other source.

High Resolution $lambda$=1mm CARMA Observations of Large Molecules in Orion-KL

We present high resolution, Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-Wave Astronomy (CARMA), $lambda$=1mm observations of several molecular species toward Orion-KL. These are the highest spatial and spectral resolution 1mm observations of these molecules to date. Our observations show that ethyl cyanide [C$_2$H$_5$CN] and vinyl cyanide [C$_2$H$_3$CN] originate from multiple cores near the Orion hot core and IRc7. Additionally we show that dimethyl ether [(CH$_3$)$_2$O] and methyl formate [HCOOCH$_3$] originate from IRc5 and IRc6 and that acetone [(CH$_3$)$_2$CO] originates only from areas where both N-bearing and O-bearing species are present.