High-mass Star-forming Region IRAS Research Articles

Characterizing the high-mass star forming region IRAS 18144–1723 through methanol maser observations

ABSTRACT We introduce a study of the massive star forming region IRAS 18144–1723 using observations of the 6.7 GHz methanol maser line. Such regions are opaque at short wavelengths but can be observed through radio emission lines. In this study, we traced the kinematics of the source on milliarcsecond scales using the Multi-Element-Radio-Interferometer-Network (MERLIN). We found 52 maser spots in the LSR velocity range 45–52 km s−1, near the centre of the previously detected CO range of 21.3–71.3 km s−1, lying within ∼ 0${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$5 of IRAS 18144–1723 ‘B’, thought to be a young Class I protostar. Their distribution can be approximated as an ellipse, which, if it were rotating, would have its axis oriented south-east to north-west. The most probable morphology of the emitting regions is interaction between a disc and an outflow, possibly with a very large opening angle. The arcmin-scale CO outflow centred on source ‘B’ is oriented East–West, and the methanol masers do show the highest dispersion of velocity gradients in approximately this direction, so the kinematics are complex and suggest that more than one source may be responsible. We also tested kinematic models for a Keplerian disc or a simple bipolar outflow, but neither are compatible with the kinematics of the maser clumps and the characteristics of their internal velocities.

A Circumstellar Disk in IRAS 23151+5912?

AbstractWe present radio continuum and water maser observations toward the high-mass star-forming region IRAS 23151+5912 from the VLA and VLBA archive, respectively. We detected a continuum source, which seems to be a hypercompact HII region. In addition, a water maser group about 4″ south from the continuum source was detected. We present preliminary results of the analysis of three observations epochs of the water masers, which are tracing an arc-like structure. However, its kinematics is quite complex, since while one section of the structure seems to be moving away from one center, another section seems to be approaching.

Bipolar molecular outflow in IRAS 17233-3606

The high-mass star-forming region IRAS 17333-3606 has been mapped in the 13CO (J = 2–1) and C18O (J = 2–1) lines in the submillimeter wavelength range using the APEX (Chile) radio telescope. The analysis of the low-velocity part of the molecular outflow has been carried out, and the main parameters of the outflow have been determined. We have used a novel approach for calculating parameters of the low-velocity part of bipolar molecular outflows in molecular clouds. The approach excludes the influence of the surrounding cloud on the parameters of the outflow. The mass of the low-velocity part is much greater than that of the high-velocity part of the molecular outflow, while their energies are comparable. The core of the young stellar object is significantly deformed by the impact of the bipolar outflow.

Star and jet multiplicity in the high-mass star forming region IRAS 05137+3919

Context. We present a study of the complex high-mass star forming region IRAS 05137+3919 (also known as Mol8), where multiple jets and a rich stellar cluster have been described in previous works. Aims. Our goal is to determine the number of jets and shed light on their origin, and thus determine the nature of the young stars powering these jets. We also wish to analyse the stellar clusters by resolving the brightest group of stars. Methods. The star forming region was observed in various tracers and the results were complemented with ancillary archival data. The new data represent a substantial improvement over previous studies both in resolution and frequency coverage. In particular, adaptive optics provides us with an angular resolution of 80 mas in the near IR, while new mid- and far-IR data allow us to sample the peak of the spectral energy distribution and thus reliably estimate the bolometric luminosity. Results. Thanks to the near-IR continuum and millimetre line data we can determine the structure and velocity field of the bipolar jets and outflows in this star forming region. We also find that the stars are grouped into three clusters and the jets originate in the richest of these, whose luminosity is ~ 2.4 × 104 L ⊙ . Interestingly, our high-resolution near-IR images allow us to resolve one of the two brightest stars (A and B) of the cluster into a double source (A1+A2). Conclusions. We confirm that there are two jets and establish that they are powered by B-type stars belonging to cluster C1. On this basis and on morphological and kinematical arguments, we conclude that the less extended jet is almost perpendicular to the line of sight and that it originates in the brightest star of the cluster, while the more extended one appears to be associated with the more extincted, double source A1+A2. We propose that this is not a binary system, but a small bipolar reflection nebula at the root of the large-scale jet, outlining a still undetected circumstellar disk. The gas kinematics on a scale of ~0.2 pc seems to support our hypothesis, because it appears to trace rotation about the axis of the associated jet.

OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF THE CONTINUUM AND WATER MASER EMISSION IN THE IRAS 19217+1651 REGION

We report interferometric observations of the high-mass star-forming region IRAS 19217+1651. We observed the radio continuum (1.3 cm and 3.6 cm) and water maser emission using the Very Large Array (VLA-EVLA) in transition mode (configuration A). Two radio continuum sources were detected at both wavelengths, I19217-A and I19217-B. In addition, 17 maser spots were observed distributed mainly in two groups, M1 and M2, and one isolated maser. This latter could be indicating the relative position of another continuum source which we did not detect. The results indicate that I19217-A appears to be consistent with an ultracompact H II region associated with a zero-age main-sequence B0-type star. Furthermore, the 1.3 cm continuum emission of this source suggests a cometary morphology. In addition, I19217-B appears to be an H II region consisting of at least two stars, which may be contributing to its complex structure. It was also found that the H{sub 2}O masers of the group M1 are apparently associated with the continuum source I19217-A. These are tracing motions which are not gravitationally bound according to their spatial distribution and kinematics. They also seem to be describing outflows in the direction of the elongated cometary region. On the other hand, themore » second maser group, M2, could be tracing the base of a jet. Finally, infrared data from Spitzer, Midcourse Space Experiment, and IRIS show that IRAS 19217+1651 is embedded inside a large open bubble, like a broken ring, which possibly has affected the morphology of the cometary H II region observed at 1.3 cm.« less

SEARCH FOR CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS AND RADIO JETS IN THE MASSIVE STAR-FORMATION REGION IRAS 23033+5951

We present radio continuum (1.3 and 3.6 cm) and H2O maser observations toward the high-mass star-forming region IRAS 23033+5951 carried out with the VLA-EVLA (in transition phase) in the A configuration. Three radio continuum sources are detected at 3.6 cm, which are aligned in the east-west direction. However, no continuum emission is detected in the region at 1.3 cm. Based on the continuum information, we find that the two continuum sources detected in the region could be consistent with ultracompact H II regions harboring ZAMS B2 and B2.5 stars; however, we do not rule out that they could be associated with a radio jet. In addition, nine water maser spots are detected toward IRAS 23033+5951, which are clustered in two groups and located about 2'' to the south of the continuum sources. The spatio-kinematical distribution of the water masers suggests that they are tracing a circumstellar disk associated with a central star ZAMS B0, which could be the least evolved source in the region and has not developed an H II region yet. Moreover, as the circumstellar disk seems to be associated with the CO molecular outflow observed in the region, this conforms to a disk-YSO-outflow system, similar to that found in low-mass stars.

HIGH-RESOLUTION STUDY OF THE MASSIVE STAR-FORMING REGION IRAS 06061+2151

We present observations of 3.6 cm continuum and water maser emission toward the high-mass star-forming region IRAS 06061+2151 (AFGL 5182), made at ~03 and ~01 resolution, respectively, using the Very Large Array (VLA) in the A configuration. Continuum and maser emission are not detected toward the center of AFGL 5182. However, we detected two groups of continuum sources located ~12'' and ~3' to the west and northeast of AFGL 5182, respectively. The first group, labeled as the G188.79+1.03 complex, is composed of three continuum sources in a region of about 6'' × 10'', while the second group, associated with the source G188.77+1.07, is composed of at least two continuum sources in a region ~1'' in diameter. The physical parameters estimated, based on the morphology and the continuum emission, suggest that all the continuum sources in both groups are ultracompact H II regions, associated with ZAMS B-type stars. Water maser emission is only detected toward the compact source VLA N2, which is located in the G188.79+1.03 complex. Accuracy in the relative positions between the radio continuum source and the water masers is of the order of 15 mas. In addition, the observed spatial and kinematical distribution of the water maser features has remained stable for several years, and we confirm that they are tracing a bipolar outflow, where the best candidate of the source powering the water masers and the outflow is VLA 2N.

Linking pre- and proto-stellar objects in the intermediate-/high-mass star forming region IRAS 05345+3157

To better understand the initial conditions of the high-mass star formation process, it is crucial to study at high-angular resolution the morphology, the kinematics, and eventually the interactions of the coldest condensations associated with intermediate-/high-mass star forming regions. The paper studies the cold condensations in the intermediate-/high-mass proto-cluster IRAS 05345+3157, focusing the attention on the interaction with the other objects in the cluster. We have performed millimeter high-angular resolution observations, both in the continuum and several molecular lines, with the PdBI and the SMA. In a recent paper, we have already published part of these data. The main finding of that work was the detection of two cold and dense gaseous condensations, called N and S (masses ~2 and ~9 M_sun), characterised by high values of the deuterium fractionation (~0.1 in both cores). In this paper, we present a full report of the observations, and a complete analysis of the data obtained. The millimeter maps reveal the presence of 3 cores inside the interferometers primary beam, called C1-a, C1-b and C2. None of them are associated with cores N and S. C1-b is very likely associated with a newly formed early-B ZAMS star embedded inside a hot-core, while C1-a is more likely associated with a class 0 intermediate-mass protostar. The nature of C2 is unclear. Both C1-a and C1-b are good candidates as driving sources of a powerful CO outflow, which strongly interacts with N and S, as demonstrated by the velocity gradient across both condensations. Our major conclusion is that the chemical properties of these pre-stellar cores are similar to those observed in low-mass isolated ones, while the kinematics is dominated by the turbulence triggered by the CO outflow and can influece their evolution.