Maser Luminosity Research Articles

Physical Environments of the Luminosity Outburst Source NGC 6334I Traced by Thermal and Maser Lines of Multiple Molecules

We have conducted a systematic line survey, primarily focused on transitions of the methanol and ammonia molecules, and monitoring observations of masers toward the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I. These observations were undertaken between 2019 and 2022 in the C, K, Ka, and Q bands with the Tianma Radio Telescope. In total, 63 CH3OH (including 11 class I and nine class II maser or maser candidate), 18 13CH3OH, and 34 NH3 (including seven maser or maser candidate) transitions were detected. The emission is likely associated with the luminosity outburst source MM1. Rotation diagram analysis of multiple ammonia transitions shows that the gas temperature in the molecular core was a factor of 2 higher than that measured in previous observations in the pre-burst stage. This suggests that the molecular core has likely been heated by radiation originating from the luminosity outburst. Maser variability in the methanol and excited-state OH masers shows a general trend that the maser components associated with the luminosity outburst have decreased in their intensity since 2020. The decay in the maser luminosity indicates that the outburst is possibly declining, and as a result, the duration of the MM1 luminosity outburst may be shorter than the predicted 40 yr duration. Compared to the masers detected toward another luminosity outburst source, G358.93-0.03, abundant class I methanol masers and strong water maser flares were also detected toward NGC 633I, but masers from rare class II methanol transitions and new molecules were absent toward NGC 6334I. The large number of detections of maser transitions toward the two burst sources provided a database for further maser modeling to explore the physical environments associated with accretion burst events.

Water megamasers and the central black hole masses in a large sample of galaxies

Extragalactic water maser emissions at 22 GHz have been playing vital roles in astrophysics. The limited detection rate of these masers has been motivating researchers to find clues that can help characterise them. The physical environments 22 GHz masers formed in are still ambiguous. Accordingly, statistical studies have been thoroughly used to resolve these favourable environments. This work goes through the essential parameter of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), namely, the mass of the central supermassive black hole (MBH) of the maser host galaxy. We study the correlation between maser luminosity (LH2O) and MBH in sub-samples of megamasers (MMs), kilomasers (KMs), and disc masers. The regression line of the relation is also calculated for these sub-samples. Unlike the results of previous works, dividing the maser sample into MMs and KMs gives no privilege to MM galaxies. Contrary to expectation, KMs have weak and low significant LH2O - MBH correlation, while MMs show no correlation. The positive correlation in KMs can be explained by the role of AGN therein, while the diversity of MMs types, with some of which are not strongly related to AGN, may explain the correlation missing. Surprisingly, the 28 disc maser sample, where tight correlation is expected, shows a very weak and low significant LH2O-MBH correlation. Future VLBI studies will eventually lead to a specific classification of a good number of maser galaxies, which is essential to establishing the LH2O-MBH relation.

A 12.2 GHz Methanol Maser Survey toward the 6.7 GHz Counterparts Associated with/without UC H ii Regions

Abstract We report a new survey of the 12.2 GHz Class II methanol masers toward a sample of 367 sources with the 6.7 GHz methanol masers conducted with the Shanghai 65 m Tianma Radio Telescope. This sample has been previously made with observations of the radio continuum emission of UC H ii regions by the VLA. A total of 176 sources were detected with the 12.2 GHz methanol maser, with a detection rate of 48%, including 8 new detections. A lower detection rate (<10%) was determined toward the sources in the Galactic longitude ranges of 60°–180°, revealing that the physical environments from those sources in the Local arm or the tails of Galactic arms do not easily excite the 12.2 GHz masers. In addition, two detections of highly excited-state OH masers at the 13.4 GHz transition were made, one of which is a new detection. Compared to previous surveys, one-third of the detected 12.2 GHz masers show considerable flux variations, implying the possible changes of their physical environments associated with variable radiation fields from their host high-mass young stellar objects. A positive log–log correlation is found between the luminosities of the 6.7 and 12.2 GHz masers in our observed sample, suggesting that both the transition masers have similar excitation conditions. The statistical analysis for the relationships between the methanol maser luminosity and UC H ii region spatial size indicates that the maser luminosities of both the 6.7 and 12.2 GHz transitions have a decreasing trend with the spatial sizes of the associated UC H ii regions, indicating that the Class II methanol masers might fade away with the H ii region evolution.

Water maser variability in a high-mass YSO outburst

Context. Clarifying the relationship between mass accretion and ejection history is one of the key issues in understanding high-mass star formation processes. Aims. We aim to investigate the possible relationship between the mass accretion burst event in mid-June 2015 and the jet ejection in the high-mass protostar S255 NIRS 3. Methods. The Very Long Baseline Interferometer (VLBI) monitoring observations of the 22 GHz H2O masers were carried out using VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) to reveal the 3D velocity and spatial structure of the outflow/jet traced by the H2O masers in S255 NIRS 3. In addition, we conducted follow-up observations of the submillimeter continuum and the 321 GHz H2O masers with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) at Band 7. Results. We successfully measured the proper motions of the 22 GHz H2O masers associated with a bipolar outflow. The structure is almost the same as was observed in 2005 and 2010. The expansion velocity of the blueshifted bow shock traced by the 22 GHz H2O masers was measured to be 28 km s−1, corresponding to a dynamical timescale of 60 yr. The direction of the maser outflow is slightly tilted compared with the radio jet, which could suggest a more recent ejection episode during the accretion burst event. The total flux density of the 22 GHz H2O masers gradually increases from the beginning of the VLBI monitoring in early 2017 and becomes almost constant in subsequent single-dish monitoring in 2018. The brightening of the H2O masers is more prominent in the northeast outflow lobe. For the first time, we revealed extended H2O maser emission at 22 GHz in a star-forming region, which is partly resolved out by VERA and even by the most extended Very Large Array (VLA) configurations. We find that the flux variation of such an extended component is similar to that of the unresolved maser emission. The ALMA Band 7 continuum emission did not show significant variations compared with the previous observations performed five months before. We mapped the 321 GHz H2O masers in S255 NIRS 3 providing the fourth example, for this maser, of the spatial distribution in a high-mass star-forming region. Conclusions. We conclude that the bow shock structure traced by the 22 GHz H2O maser features is unlikely to originate at the interface between the radio jet powered by the recent accretion outburst and the surrounding medium. The brightening of the 22 GHz H2O masers could be due to radiative excitation by photons form the (declining) infrared (IR) outburst escaping along the cavity created by the newly ejected material. The lower ratio of the 22 GHz/321 GHz maser luminosity in the blueshifted bow shock suggests a temperature ( >1000 K), higher than for the other maser features in this region.

Evidence for coupling of evolved star atmospheres and spiral arms of the Milky Way

ABSTRACT It is imperative to map the strength and distribution of feedback in galaxies to understand how feedback affects galactic ecosystems. H2O masers act as indicators of energy injection into the interstellar medium. Our goal is to measure the strength and distribution of feedback traced by water masers in the Milky Way. We identify optical counterparts to H2O masers discovered by the HOPS survey. The distribution and luminosities of H2O masers in the Milky Way are determined using parallax measurements derived from the second Gaia Data Release. We provide evidence of a correlation between evolved stars, as traced by H2O masers, and the spiral structure of the Milky Way, suggesting a link between evolved stars and the Galactic environment.

Protostellar Outflows at the EarliesT Stages (POETS)

Context. 22 GHz water masers are the most intense and widespread masers in star-forming regions. They are commonly associated with protostellar winds and jets emerging from low- and high-mass young stellar objects (YSO). Aims. We wish to perform for the first time a statistical study of the location and motion of individual water maser cloudlets, characterized by typical sizes that are within a few au, with respect to the weak radio thermal emission from YSOs. Methods. For this purpose, we have been carrying out the Protostellar Outflows at the EarliesT Stages survey of a sample (38) of high-mass YSOs. The 22 GHz water maser positions and three-dimensional (3D) velocities were determined through multi-epoch Very Long Baseline Array observations with accuracies of a few milliarcsec (mas) and a few km s−1, respectively. The position of the ionized core of the protostellar wind, marking the YSO, was determined through sensitive radio continuum, multi-frequency Jansky Very Large Array observations with a typical error of ≈20 mas. Results. The statistic of the separation of the water masers from the radio continuum shows that 84% of the masers are found within 1000 au from the YSO and 45% of them are within 200 au. Therefore, we can conclude that the 22 GHz water masers are a reliable proxy for locating the position of the YSO. The distribution of maser luminosity is strongly peaked towards low values, indicating that about half of the maser population is still undetected with the current Very Long Baseline Interferometry detection thresholds of 50–100 mJy beam−1. Next-generation, sensitive (at the nJy level) radio interferometers will have the capability to exploit these weak masers for an improved sampling of the velocity and magnetic fields around the YSOs. The average direction of the water maser proper motions provides a statistically-significant estimate for the orientation of the jet emitted by the YSO: 55% of the maser proper motions are directed on the sky within an angle of 30° from the jet axis. Finally, we show that our measurements of 3D maser velocities statistically support models in which water maser emission arises from planar shocks with propagation direction close to the plane of the sky.

Simultaneous 22 GHz Water and 44 GHz Methanol Maser Survey of Ultracompact H ii Regions

We have carried out a multi-epoch simultaneous survey of 22 GHz H$_2$O and 44 GHz Class I CH$_3$OH masers toward 103 ultracompact HII regions (UCHIIs) between 2010 and 2017. We detected H$_2$O and CH$_3$OH maser emission in 74 (72%) and 55 (53%) UCHIIs, respectively. Among them, 3 H$_2$O and 27 CH$_3$OH maser sources are new detections. These high detection rates suggest that the occurrence periods of both maser species are significantly overlapped with the UCHII phase of massive star formation. The CH$_3$OH maser lines always have small (< 10 km s$^{-1}$) relative velocities with respect to the natal molecular cores, while H$_2$O maser lines often show larger relative velocities. Twenty four H$_2$O maser-detected sources have maser lines at relative velocities > 30 km s$^{-1}$, and thirteen of them show extremely high-velocity (> 50 km s$^{-1}$) components. The appearance and disappearance of H$_2$O maser lines are quite frequent over six-month or one-year time intervals. In contrast, CH$_3$OH maser lines usually do not exhibit significant variations in the line intensity, velocity, or shape for the same periods. The isotropic luminosities of both masers appear to correlate with the bolometric luminosities of the central stars. This correlation becomes much stronger in the case that data points in the low- and intermediate-mass regimes are added. The maser luminosities also tend to increase with the radio continuum luminosities of UCHIIs and the submillimeter continuum luminosities of the associated dense cores.

A highly variable methanol maser in G111.256–0.770

G111.256-0.770 is a high-mass young stellar object associated with a weak 6.7 GHz methanol maser showing strong variability. We present results of a multi-epoch monitoring program of the target, conducted with the Torun 32 m telescope for more than a decade. We found that the isotropic maser luminosity varied by a factor 16 on a timescale of 5-6 yr and individual features showed small amplitude short-lived (about 0.2 yr) bursts superimposed on higher amplitude slow (>5 yr) variations.

Protostellar Outflows at the EarliesT Stages (POETS)

Context. Weak and compact radio continuum and H2O masers are preferred tracers of the outflow activity nearby very young stars. Aims. We want to image the centimeter free–free continuum emission in the range 1–7 cm (26–4 GHz), which arises in the inner few 1000 au from those young stars also associated with bright H2O masers. We seek to study the radio continuum properties in combination with the H2O maser kinematics to quantify the outflow energetics powered by single young stars. Methods. We made use of the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in the B configuration at K band and the A configuration at both Ku and C bands in order to image the radio continuum emission toward 25 H2O maser sites with an angular resolution and thermal rms on the order of 0.′′1 and 10 μJy beam−1, respectively. These targets add to our pilot study of 11 maser sites previously presented. The sample of H2O maser sites was selected among those regions that have accurate distance measurements, obtained through maser trigonometric parallaxes, and H2O maser luminosities in excess of 10−6 L⊙. Results. We present high-resolution radio continuum images of 33 sources belonging to 25 star-forming regions. In each region, we detect radio continuum emission within a few 1000 au of the H2O masers’ position; 50% of the radio continuum sources are associated with bolometric luminosities exceeding 5 × 103 L⊙, including W33A and G240.32 + 0.07. We provide a detailed spectral index analysis for each radio continuum source, based on the integrated fluxes at each frequency, and produce spectral index maps with the multifrequency synthesis deconvolution algorithm of CASA. The radio continuum emission traces thermal bremsstrahlung in (proto)stellar winds and jets that have flux densities at 22 GHz below 3 mJy and spectral index values between − 0.1 and 1.3. We prove a strong correlation (r &gt; 0.8) between the radio continuum luminosity (Lrad) and the H2O maser luminosity (LH2O) of (L8 GHz∕mJy kpc2) = 103.8 × (LH2O L⊙)0.74. This power-law relation is similar to that between the radio continuum and bolometric luminosities, which confirms earlier studies. Since H2O masers are excited through shocks driven by (proto)stellar winds and jets, these results provide support to the idea that the radio continuum emission around young stars is dominated by shock ionization, and this holds over several orders of magnitude of stellar luminosites (1–105 L⊙).

Giant burst of methanol maser in S255IR-NIRS3

Context. High-mass young stellar objects (HMYSOs) can undergo accretion episodes that strongly affect the star evolution, the dynamics of the disk, and its chemical evolution. Recently reported extraordinary bursts in the methanol maser emission may be the observational signature of accretion events in deeply embedded HMYSOs. Aims. We analyze the light curve of 6.7 GHz methanol masers in S255IR-NIRS3 during the 2015–2016 burst. Methods. 8.5-yr monitoring data with an average sampling interval of 5 days were obtained with the Torun 32 m radio telescope. Archival data were added, extending the time series to ~27 yr. Results. The maser emission showed moderate (25–30%) variability on timescales of months to years over ~23 yr since its discovery. The main burst was preceded by a 1 yr increase of the total flux density by a factor of 2.5, then it grew by a factor of 10 over ~0.4 yr and declined by a factor of 8 during the consecutive 2.4 yr. The peak maser luminosity was a factor of 24.5 higher than the pre-burst quiescent value. The light curves of individual features showed considerable diversity but indicated a general trend of suppression of the maser emission at blueshifted (&lt;4.7 km s−1) velocities when the redshifted emission rapidly grew and new emission features appeared at velocities &gt;5.8 km s−1. This new emission provided a contribution of about 80% to the maser luminosity around the peak of the burst. The duration of the burst at the extreme redshifted velocities of 7.1–8.7 km s−1 was from 0.9 to 1.9 yr, and its lower limit for the other features was ~3.9 yr. Conclusions. The onset of the maser burst exactly coincides with that of the infrared burst estimated from the motion of the light echo. This strongly supports the radiative pumping scheme of the maser transition. The growth of the maser luminosity is the result of an increasing volume of gas where the maser inversion is achieved.

Simultaneous Survey of Water and Class I Methanol Masers toward Red MSX Sources

Abstract We report simultaneous single-dish surveys of 22 GHz H2O and 44 and 95 GHz class I CH3OH masers toward 299 Red Midcourse Space Experiment Sources in the protostellar stage. The detection rates are 45% at 22 GHz, 28% at 44 GHz, and 23% at 95 GHz. There are 15, 53, and 51 new discoveries at 22, 44, and 95 GHz, respectively. We detect high-velocity (&gt;30 km s−1) features in 27 H2O maser sources. The 95 GHz maser emission is detected only in 44 GHz maser sources. The two transitions show strong correlations in the peak velocity, peak flux density, and isotropic maser luminosity, indicating that they are likely generated in the same sites by the same mechanisms. The 44 GHz masers have much narrower distributions than 22 GHz masers in the relative peak velocity and velocity range, while 6.7 GHz class II CH3OH masers have distributions intermediate between the two. The maser luminosity significantly correlates with the parental clump mass, while it correlates well with the bolometric luminosity of the central protostar only when data of the low-mass regime from the literature are added. Comparison with the results of previous maser surveys toward massive star-forming regions suggests that the detection rates of 22 and 44 GHz masers tend to increase as the central objects evolve. This is contrary to the trends found in low- and intermediate-mass star-forming regions. Thus, the occurrence of both masers might depend on the surrounding environments as well as on the evolution of the central object.

OH megamasers: dense gas &amp; the infrared radiation field

To investigate possible factors related to OH megamaser formation (OH MM, $$L_{H_{2}O}>10L_{\odot }$$), we compiled a large HCN sample from all well-sampled HCN measurements so far in local galaxies and identified with the OH MM, OH kilomasers ($$L_{H_{2}O}<10L_{\odot }$$, OH kMs), OH absorbers and OH non-detections (non-OH MM). Through comparative analysis on their infrared emission, CO and HCN luminosities (good tracers for the low-density gas and the dense gas, respectively), we found that OH MM galaxies tend to have stronger HCN emission and no obvious difference on CO luminosity exists between OH MM and non-OH MM. This implies that OH MM formation should be related to the dense molecular gas, instead of the low-density molecular gas. It can be also supported by other facts: (1) OH MMs are confirmed to have higher mean molecular gas density and higher dense gas fraction ($$L_{HCN}/L_{CO}$$) than non-OH MMs. (2) After taking the distance effect into account, the apparent maser luminosity is still correlated with the HCN luminosity, while no significant correlation can be found at all between the maser luminosity and the CO luminosity. (3) The OH kMs tend to have lower values than those of OH MMs, including the dense gas luminosity and the dense gas fraction. (4) From analysis of known data of another dense gas tracer $$\hbox {HCO}^+$$, similar results can also be obtained. However, from our analysis, the infrared radiation field can not be ruled out for the OH MM trigger, which was proposed by previous works on one small sample (Darling in ApJ 669:L9, 2007). On the contrary, the infrared radiation field should play one more important role. The dense gas (good tracers of the star formation) and its surrounding dust are heated by the ultra-violet (UV) radiation generated by the star formation and the heating of the high-density gas raises the emission of the molecules. The infrared radiation field produced by the re-radiation of the heated dust in turn serves for the pumping of the OH MM.

A survey for OH masers in H2O maser galaxies with the Effelsberg and Green Bank radio telescopes

AbstractWe present a search for OH maser emission in galaxies hosting H2O masers with the 100-m Effelsberg radio telescope and the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). This survey is aimed at investigating the apparent rarity and/or possible mutual exclusion of megamaser emission from OH and H2O in the same galaxy. Our study establishes new and better upper limits on the OH maser luminosity. Our work duplicates the number of H2O masers searched for OH emission. No new maser detections have been found. OH absorption, both in the 1667 and 1665 MHz transitions, is instead detected in two galaxies of the sample, IC342 and NGG5793.

Radio continuum of galaxies with H2O megamaser disks: 33 GHz VLA data

We investigate the nuclear environment of galaxies with observed 22 GHz water megamaser in their subparsec edge-on accretion disks, using 33 GHz (9mm) radio continuum data from VLA, with a resolution of ~ 0.2-0.5 arcsecs, and relate the maser and host galaxy properties to those of its radio continuum emission. Eighty-seven percent (21 out of 24) galaxies in our sample show 33 GHz radio continuum emission at levels of 4.5-240 $\sigma$. Five sources show extended emission, including one source with two main components and one with three main components. The remaining detected 16 sources exhibit compact cores within the sensitivity limits. Little evidence is found for extended jets (>300 pc) in most sources. Either they do not exist, or our chosen frequency of 33 GHz is too high for a detection of these supposedly steep spectrum features. In only one source among those with known maser disk orientation, NGC4388, we found an extended jet-like feature that appears to be oriented perpendicular to the water megamaser disk. Smaller 100-300 pc sized jets might also be present, as is suggested by the beam-deconvolved morphology of our sources. Whenever possible, central positions with accuracies of 20-280 mas are provided. A correlation analysis shows that the 33 GHz luminosity weakly correlates with the infrared luminosity. The 33 GHz luminosity is anticorrelated with the circular velocity of the galaxy. The black hole masses show stronger correlations with water maser luminosity than with 1.4 GHz, 33 GHz, or hard X-ray luminosities. Furthermore, the inner radii of the disks show stronger correlations with 1.4 GHz, 33 GHz, and hard X-ray luminosities than their outer radii, suggesting that the outer radii may be affected by disk warping, star formation, or peculiar density distributions.

A Search for Water Maser Emission from Brown Dwarfs and Low-luminosity Young Stellar Objects

Abstract We present a survey for water maser emission toward a sample of 44 low-luminosity young objects, comprising (proto-)brown dwarfs, first hydrostatic cores (FHCs), and other young stellar objects (YSOs) with bolometric luminosities lower than 0.4 L ⊙. Water maser emission is a good tracer of energetic processes, such as mass-loss and/or accretion, and is a useful tool to study these processes with very high angular resolution. This type of emission has been confirmed in objects with L bol ≳ 1 L ⊙. Objects with lower luminosities also undergo mass-loss and accretion, and thus, are prospective sites of maser emission. Our sensitive single-dish observations provided a single detection when pointing toward the FHC L1448 IRS 2E. However, follow-up interferometric observations showed water maser emission associated with the nearby YSO L1448 IRS 2 (a Class 0 protostar of L bol ≃ 3.6–5.3 L ⊙) and did not find any emission toward L1448 IRS 2E. The upper limits for water maser emission determined by our observations are one order of magnitude lower than expected from the correlation between water maser luminosities and bolometric luminosities found for YSOs. This suggests that this correlation does not hold at the lower end of the (sub)stellar mass spectrum. Possible reasons are that the slope of this correlation is steeper at L bol ≤ 1 L ⊙ or that there is an absolute luminosity threshold below which water maser emission cannot be produced. Alternatively, if the correlation still stands at low luminosity, the detection rates of masers would be significantly lower than the values obtained in higher-luminosity Class 0 protostars.

The Molecular Gas Environment in the 20 km s−1 Cloud in the Central Molecular Zone

Abstract We recently reported a population of protostellar candidates in the 20 km s−1 cloud in the Central Molecular Zone of the Milky Way, traced by H2O masers in gravitationally bound dense cores. In this paper, we report molecular line studies with high angular resolution (∼3″) of the environment of star formation in this cloud. Maps of various molecular line transitions as well as the continuum at 1.3 mm are obtained using the Submillimeter Array. Five NH3 inversion lines and the 1.3 cm continuum are observed with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. The interferometric observations are complemented with single-dish data. We find that the CH3OH, SO, and HNCO lines, which are usually shock tracers, are better correlated spatially with the compact dust emission from dense cores among the detected lines. These lines also show enhancement in intensities with respect to SiO intensities toward the compact dust emission, suggesting the presence of slow shocks or hot cores in these regions. We find gas temperatures of ≳100 K at 0.1 pc scales based on RADEX modeling of the H2CO and NH3 lines. Although no strong correlations between temperatures and linewidths/H2O maser luminosities are found, in high-angular-resolution maps we note several candidate shock-heated regions offset from any dense cores, as well as signatures of localized heating by protostars in several dense cores. Our findings suggest that at 0.1 pc scales in this cloud star formation and strong turbulence may together affect the chemistry and temperature of the molecular gas.

ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF UC H ii REGIONS AND CLASS II METHANOL MASERS. I. SOURCE CATALOGS

ABSTRACT We conducted Very Large Array C-configuration observations to measure positions and luminosities of Galactic Class II 6.7 GHz methanol masers and their associated ultra-compact H ii regions. The spectral resolution was 3.90625 kHz and the continuum sensitivity reached 45 μJy beam−1. We mapped 372 methanol masers with peak flux densities of more than 2 Jy selected from the literature. Absolute positions have nominal uncertainties of 0.″3. In this first paper on the data analysis, we present three catalogs; the first gives information on the strongest feature of 367 methanol maser sources, and the second provides information on all detected maser spots. The third catalog presents derived data of the 127 radio continuum counterparts associated with maser sources. Our detection rate of radio continuum counterparts toward methanol masers is approximately one-third. Our catalogs list properties including distance, flux density, luminosity, and the distribution in the Galactic plane. We found no significant relationship between luminosities of masers and their associated radio continuum counterparts, however, the detection rate of radio continuum emission toward maser sources increases statistically with the maser luminosities.

AMMONIA AND CO OUTFLOW AROUND 6.7 GHz METHANOL MASERS

ABSTRACT Single point observations are presented in NH3 (1, 1) and (2, 2) inversion transitions using the Effelsberg 100 m telescope for a sample of 100 6.7 GHz methanol masers and mapping observations in the 12CO and 13CO (1 − 0) transitions using the Purple Mountain Observatory Delingha 13.7 m telescope for 82 sample sources with detected ammonia. A further 62 sources were selected for either 12CO or 13CO line outflow identification, producing 45 outflow candidates, 29 using 12CO and 16 using 13CO data. Twenty-two of the outflow candidates were newly identified, and 23 had trigonometric parallax distances. Physical properties were derived from ammonia lines and CO outflow parameters were calculated. Histograms and statistical correlations for ammonia, CO outflow parameters, and 6.7 GHz methanol maser luminosities are also presented. No significant correlation was found between ammonia and maser luminosity. However, weak correlations were found between outflow properties and maser luminosities, which may indicate that outflows are physically associated with 6.7 GHz masers.

A search for water masers associated with class II methanol masers – II. Longitude range 341° to 6°

This is the second paper in a series of catalogues of 22-GHz water maser observations towards the 6.7-GHz methanol masers from the Methanol Multibeam (MMB) Survey. In this paper we present our water maser observations made with the Australia Telescope Compact Array towards the masers from the MMB survey between l = 341$^{\circ}$ through the Galactic centre to l = 6$^{\circ}$. Of the 204 6.7-GHz methanol masers in this longitude range we found 101 to have associated water maser emission (~ 50 per cent). We found no difference in the 6.7-GHz methanol maser luminosities of those with and without water masers. In sources where both maser species are observed, the luminosities of the methanol and water masers are weakly correlated. Studying the mid-infrared colours from GLIMPSE we found no differences between the colours of those sources associated with both methanol and water masers and those associated with just methanol. Comparing the column density and dust mass calculated from the 870-micron thermal dust emission observed by ATLASGAL, we found no differences between those sources associated with both water and methanol masers and those with methanol only. Since water masers are collisionally pumped and often show emission further away from their accompanying YSO than the radiatively pumped 6.7-GHz methanol masers, it is likely water masers are not as tightly correlated to the evolution of the parent YSO and so do not trace such a well defined evolutionary state as 6.7-GHz methanol masers.

NEAR-INFRARED OBSERVATIONS OF SiO MASER-EMITTING ASYMPTOTIC GIANT BRANCH (AGB) STARS

ABSTRACT Near-infrared (NIR) monitoring observations of asymptotic giant branch stars exciting bright SiO masers have been made with the 1 m telescope of Kagoshima University. In order to investigate the properties of these stars and their envelopes, we combined our NIR photometric data with mid- and far-infrared flux data obtained by the IRAS satellite, SiO maser flux data provided by the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, visual magnitude data provided by the AAVSO, and the reported data on the expansion velocities of the circumstellar envelopes. The absolute magnitudes at the K-band and the distances are estimated using the period–luminosity relation of Mira variables determined by Feast et al. Then, mass-loss rates and isotropic luminosities of an SiO maser are estimated. The mass-loss rates range from approximately 10−8 M &CircleDot; yr &minus; 1 ?> to over 10−5 M &CircleDot; yr &minus; 1 ?> . We found that the NIR pulsation amplitudes are correlated with the pulsation periods and the observed wavelengths. We also found correlations of the isotropic luminosities of SiO masers with the mass-loss rates and absolute magnitudes at the K-band. These results will help us to understand the pumping mechanism of SiO masers. We measured, for the first time, the periods and/or NIR magnitudes of TX Cam, BW Cam, IRAS 06297+4045, IRAS 18387–0423, and RT Cep.