NGC 6334I Research Articles

First Results of an ALMA Band 10 Spectral Line Survey of NGC 6334I: Detections of Glycolaldehyde (HC(O)CH2OH) and a New Compact Bipolar Outflow in HDO and CS

Abstract We present the first results of a pilot program to conduct an Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) band 10 spectral line survey of the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I. The observations were taken in exceptional weather conditions (0.19 mm precipitable water) with typical system temperatures T sys < 950 K at ∼890 GHz. A bright, bipolar north–south outflow is seen in HDO and CS emission, driven by the embedded massive protostar MM1B. This has allowed, for the first time, a direct comparison of the thermal water in this outflow to the location of water maser emission from prior 22 GHz Very Large Array observations. The maser locations are shown to correspond to the sites along the outflow cavity walls, where high-velocity gas impacts the surrounding material. We also compare our new observations to prior Herschel Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-infrared (HIFI) spectral line survey data of this field, detecting an order of magnitude more spectral lines (695 versus 65) in the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) data. We focus on the strong detections of the complex organic molecule glycolaldehyde (HC(O)CH2OH) in the ALMA data that is not detected in the heavily beam-diluted HIFI spectra. Finally, we stress the need for dedicated THz laboratory spectroscopy to support and exploit future high-frequency molecular line observations with ALMA.

Low levels of methanol deuteration in the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I

Context. The abundance of deuterated molecules in a star-forming region is sensitive to the environment in which they are formed. Deuteration fractions, in other words the ratio of a species containing D to its hydrogenated counterpart, therefore provide a powerful tool for studying the physical and chemical evolution of a star-forming system. While local low-mass star-forming regions show very high deuteration ratios, much lower fractions are observed towards Orion and the Galactic centre. Astration of deuterium has been suggested as a possible cause for low deuteration in the Galactic centre. Aims. We derive methanol deuteration fractions at a number of locations towards the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I, located at a mean distance of 1.3 kpc, and discuss how these can shed light on the conditions prevailing during its formation. Methods. We use high sensitivity, high spatial and spectral resolution observations obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array to study transitions of the less abundant, optically thin, methanol-isotopologues: 13CH3OH, CH318OH, CH2DOH and CH3OD, detected towards NGC 6334I. Assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and excitation temperatures of ~120–330 K, we derive column densities for each of the species and use these to infer CH2DOH/CH3OH and CH3OD/CH3OH fractions. Results. We derive column densities in a range of (0.8–8.3) × 1017 cm−2 for 13CH3OH, (0.13–3.4) × 1017 cm−2 for CH318OH, (0.03–1.63) × 1017 cm−2 for CH2DOH and (0.15–5.5) × 1017 cm−2 for CH3OD in a ~1″ beam. Interestingly, the column densities of CH3OD are consistently higher than those of CH2DOH throughout the region by factors of 2–15. We calculate the CH2DOH to CH3OH and CH3OD to CH3OH ratios for each of the sampled locations in NGC 6334I. These values range from 0.03% to 0.34% for CH2DOH and from 0.27% to 1.07% for CH3OD if we use the 13C isotope of methanol as a standard; using the 18 O-methanol as a standard, decreases the ratios by factors of between two and three. Conclusions. All regions studied in this work show CH2DOH/CH3OH as well as CH2DOH/CH3OD values that are considerably lower than those derived towards low-mass star-forming regions and slightly lower than those derived for the high-mass star-forming regions in Orion and the Galactic centre. The low ratios indicate a grain surface temperature during formation ~30 K, for which the efficiency of the formation of deuterated species is significantly reduced. Therefore, astration of deuterium in the Galactic centre cannot be the explanation for its low deuteration ratio but rather the high temperatures characterising the region.

A masing event in NGC 6334I: contemporaneous flaring of hydroxyl, methanol, and water masers

As a product of the maser monitoring program with the 26m telescope of the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO), we present an unprecedented, contemporaneous flaring event of 10 maser transitions in hydroxyl, methanol, and water that began in 2015 January in the massive star-forming region NGC6334I in the velocity range -10 to -2 km/s. The 6.7 GHz methanol and 22.2 GHz water masers began flaring within 22 days of each other, while the 12.2 GHz methanol and 1665 MHz hydroxyl masers flared 80 and 113 days later respectively. The 1665 MHz, 6.7 GHz, and 22.2 GHz masers have all remained in their flared state for nearly 3 years. The brightest flaring components increased by factors of 66, 21, 26, and 20 in the 12.2 and 6.7 GHz methanol, 1665 MHz hydroxyl and 22.2 GHz water maser transitions respectively; some weaker components increased by up to a factor of 145. We also report new maser emission in the 1720, 6031, and 6035 MHz OH lines and the 23.1 GHz methanol line, along with the detection of only the fifth 4660 MHz OH maser. We note the correlation of this event with the extraordinary (sub)millimeter continuum outburst from the massive protostellar system NGC6334I-MM1 and discuss the implications of the observed time lags between different maser velocity components on the nature of the outburst. Finally, we identify two earlier epoch maser flaring events likely associated with this object, which suggest a recurring accretive phenomenon that generates powerful radiative outbursts.

The Extraordinary Outburst in the Massive Protostellar System NGC 6334I-MM1: Emergence of Strong 6.7 GHz Methanol Masers

Abstract We report the first sub-arcsecond VLA imaging of 6 GHz continuum, methanol maser, and excited-state hydroxyl maser emission toward the massive protostellar cluster NGC 6334I following the recent 2015 outburst in (sub)millimeter continuum toward MM1, the strongest (sub)millimeter source in the protocluster. In addition to detections toward the previously known 6.7 GHz Class II methanol maser sites in the hot core MM2 and the UCHII region MM3 (NGC 6334F), we find new maser features toward several components of MM1, along with weaker features ∼1″ north, west, and southwest of MM1, and toward the nonthermal radio continuum source CM2. None of these areas have heretofore exhibited Class II methanol maser emission in three decades of observations. The strongest MM1 masers trace a dust cavity, while no masers are seen toward the strongest dust sources MM1A, 1B, and 1D. The locations of the masers are consistent with a combination of increased radiative pumping due to elevated dust grain temperature following the outburst, the presence of infrared photon propagation cavities, and the presence of high methanol column densities as indicated by ALMA images of thermal transitions. The nonthermal radio emission source CM2 (2″ north of MM1) also exhibits new maser emission from the excited 6.035 and 6.030 GHz OH lines. Using the Zeeman effect, we measure a line-of-sight magnetic field of +0.5 to +3.7 mG toward CM2. In agreement with previous studies, we also detect numerous methanol and excited OH maser spots toward the UCHII region MM3, with predominantly negative line-of-sight magnetic field strengths of −2 to −5 mG and an intriguing south–north field reversal.

ALMA Detection of Interstellar Methoxymethanol (CH3OCH2OH)

Abstract We report the detection of interstellar methoxymethanol (CH3OCH2OH) in Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Bands 6 and 7 toward the MM1 core in the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I at ∼0.″1–1″ spatial resolution. A column density of 4(2) × 1018 cm−2 at T ex = 200 K is derived toward MM1, ∼34 times less abundant than methanol (CH3OH), and significantly higher than predicted by astrochemical models. Probable formation and destruction pathways are discussed, primarily through the reaction of the CH3OH photodissociation products, the methoxy (CH3O) and hydroxymethyl (CH2OH) radicals. Finally, we comment on the implications of these mechanisms on gas-phase versus grain-surface routes operative in the region, and the possibility of electron-induced dissociation of CH3OH rather than photodissociation.

An Extraordinary Outburst in the Massive Protostellar System NGC 6334I-MM1: Quadrupling of the Millimeter Continuum

Abstract Based on sub-arcsecond Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and Submillimeter Array (SMA) 1.3 mm continuum images of the massive protocluster NGC 6334I obtained in 2015 and 2008, we find that the dust emission from MM1 has increased by a factor of 4.0 ± 0.3 during the intervening years, and undergone a significant change in morphology. The continuum emission from the other cluster members (MM2, MM4, and the UCH ii region MM3 = NGC 6334F) has remained constant. Long-term single-dish maser monitoring at HartRAO finds that multiple maser species toward NGC 6334I flared beginning in early 2015, a few months before our ALMA observation, and some persist in that state. New ALMA images obtained in 2016 July–August at 1.1 and 0.87 mm confirm the changes with respect to SMA 0.87 mm images from 2008, and indicate that the (sub)millimeter flaring has continued for at least a year. The excess continuum emission, centered on the hypercompact H ii region MM1B, is extended and elongated (1.″6 × 1.″0 ≈ 2100 × 1300 au) with multiple peaks, suggestive of general heating of the surrounding subcomponents of MM1, some of which may trace clumps in a fragmented disk rather than separate protostars. In either case, these remarkable increases in maser and dust emission provide direct observational evidence of a sudden accretion event in the growth of a massive protostar yielding a sustained luminosity surge by a factor of 70 ± 20, analogous to the largest events in simulations by Meyer et al. This target provides an excellent opportunity to assess the impact of such a rare event on a protocluster over many years.

THE MASSIVE PROTOSTELLAR CLUSTER NGC 6334I AT 220 au RESOLUTION: DISCOVERY OF FURTHER MULTIPLICITY, DIVERSITY, AND A HOT MULTI-CORE

ABSTRACT We present Very Large Array and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array imaging of the deeply embedded protostellar cluster NGC 6334I from 5 cm to 1.3 mm at angular resolutions as fine as 0.″17 (220 au). The dominant hot core MM1 is resolved into seven components at 1.3 mm, clustered within a radius of 1000 au. Four of the components have brightness temperatures >200 K, radii ∼300 au, minimum luminosities ∼104 L ⊙, and must be centrally heated. We term this new phenomenon a “hot multi-core.” Two of these objects also exhibit compact free–free emission at longer wavelengths, consistent with a hypercompact H ii region (MM1B) and a jet (MM1D). The spatial kinematics of the water maser emission centered on MM1D are consistent with it being the origin of the high-velocity bipolar molecular outflow seen in CO. The close proximity of MM1B and MM1D (440 au) suggests a proto-binary or a transient bound system. Several components of MM1 exhibit steep millimeter spectral energy distributions indicative of either unusual dust spectral properties or time variability. In addition to resolving MM1 and the other hot core (MM2) into multiple components, we detect five new millimeter and two new centimeter sources. Water masers are detected for the first time toward MM4A, confirming its membership in the protocluster. With a 1.3 mm brightness temperature of 97 K coupled with a lack of thermal molecular line emission, MM4A appears to be a highly optically thick 240 L ⊙ dust core, possibly tracing a transient stage of massive protostellar evolution. The nature of the strongest water maser source CM2 remains unclear due to its combination of non-thermal radio continuum and lack of dust emission.

Mass accretion flows in the high-mass star forming complex NGC 6334

The formation of high-mass stars is one of the major topics of astrophysical research, in particular the process of accretion from large-scale clouds down to small-scale cores. We have selected the nearby, filamentary, high-mass star forming complex NGC 6334 to study the gas velocity at different scales and probe the infall rates onto the protostellar cores embedded in the NGC 6334-I and I(N) clusters. This study makes use of single-dish and interferometric submillimeter observations, complemented with 3D numerical non-LTE radiative transfer modeling. We measure a mass accretion rate of 10−5 M ⊙ yr−1 throughout the filament increasing up to 10−3 M ⊙ yr−1 towards the densest regions where high-mass stars are forming. At smaller scales, our 3D model is consistent with accretion rates of 10−3 M ⊙ yr−1 towards the clusters, and 10−4 M ⊙ yr−1 onto the protostars.

ASTROMETRY AND SPATIO-KINEMATICS OF H2O MASERS IN THE MASSIVE STAR-FORMING REGION NGC 6334I(NORTH) WITH VERA

We measured the trigonometric parallax of an H2O maser source associated with the massive star-forming region NGC 6334I(North), hereafter as NGC 6334I(N), with the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry. The derived annual parallax is 0.789 ± 0.161 mas, corresponding to a distance of 1.26 kpc. Using the new distance, we recalculated the physical parameters (masses and luminosities) of the dust continuum cores in the region, and the revised parameters are only ~50% of their originally reported values. We also traced 23 relative proper motions of the H2O masers associated with SMA1 (central millimeter source in the region) between epochs, which exhibit an average amplitude of maser proper motion of ~2.03 mas yr–1 (~12.22 km s–1), tracing a bipolar outflow. The bipolar outflow structure extends through ~600 mas (~720 AU), with a dynamical timescale of ~295 yr. Using an expanding flow model, we derived the most plausible dynamical center of the outflow, pointing to SMA1b (1.3 cm and 7 mm continuum source) as the outflow driving source. Based on our results and other existing parallax results, we derive the pitch angles of the Sagittarius arm as 62 ± 54 along the Galactic longitude range of ~07 – ~401 assuming a perfect logarithmic spiral. We derived the peculiar motion of NGC 6334I(N) to be –4 ± 1 km s–1 toward the Galactic center, 8 ± 2 km s–1 in the direction of the Galactic rotation, and 25 ± 2 km s–1 toward the Galactic north pole.

Molecular line survey of the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I withHerschel/HIFI and the Submillimeter Array

We aim at deriving the molecular abundances and temperatures of the hot molecular cores in the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I and consequently deriving their physical and astrochemical conditions. In the framework of the Herschel guaranteed time key program CHESS, NGC 6334I is investigated by using HIFI aboard the Herschel Space Observatory. A spectral line survey is carried out in the frequency range 480-1907 GHz, and auxiliary interferometric data from the SMA in the 230 GHz band provide spatial information for disentangling the different physical components contributing to the HIFI spectrum. The spectral lines are identified with the aid of former surveys and spectral line catalogs. The observed spectrum is then compared to a simulated synthetic spectrum with XCLASS, assuming local thermal equilibrium, and best fit parameters are derived using the model optimization package MAGIX. A total of 46 molecules are identified, with 31 isotopologues, resulting in about 4300 emission and absorption lines. High- energy levels of the dominant emitter methanol and vibrationally excited HCN are detected. The number of unidentified lines remains low with 75, or less than 2 percent of the lines detected. The modeling suggests that several spectral features need two or more components to be fitted properly. Other components could be assigned to cold foreground clouds or to outflows, most visible in the SiO emission. A chemical variation between the two embedded hot cores is found, with more N-bearing molecules identified in SMA1 and O-bearing molecules in SMA2. Spectral line surveys give powerful insights into the study of the interstellar medium. Different molecules trace different physical conditions like the inner hot core, the envelope, the outflows or the cold foreground clouds. The derived molecular abundances provide further constraints for astrochemical models.

Herschel/HIFI observations of spectrally resolved methylidyne signatures toward the high-mass star-forming core NGC 6334I

<i>Context. <i/>In contrast to the more extensively studied dense star-forming cores, little is known about diffuse gas surrounding star-forming regions. <i>Aims. <i/>We study the molecular gas in the Galactic high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334I, which contains diffuse, quiescent components that are inconspicuous in widely used molecular tracers such as CO. <i>Methods. <i/>We present <i>Herschel<i/>/HIFI observations of methylidyne (CH) toward NGC 6334I observed as part of the “Chemical <i>HErschel<i/> Survey of Star forming regions” (CHESS) key program. HIFI resolves each of the six hyperfine components of the lowest rotational transition (<i>J<i/> = –) of CH, observed in both emission and absorption.<i>Results. <i/>The CH emission features appear close to the systemic velocity of NGC 6334I, while its measured <i>FWHM<i/> linewidth of 3 km s<sup>-1<sup/> is smaller than previously observed in dense gas tracers such as NH<sub>3<sub/> and SiO. The CH abundance in the hot core is ~7 × 10<sup>-11<sup/>, two to three orders of magnitude lower than in diffuse clouds. While other studies find distinct outflows in, e.g., CO and H<sub>2<sub/>O toward NGC 6334I, we do not detect any outflow signatures in CH. At least two redshifted components of cold absorbing material must be present at –3.0 and +6.5 km s<sup>-1<sup/> to explain the absorption signatures. We derive a CH column density (<i>N<i/><sub>CH<sub/>) of 7 × 10<sup>13<sup/> and 3 × 10<sup>13<sup/> cm<sup>-2<sup/> for these two absorbing clouds. We find evidence of two additional absorbing clouds at +8.0 and 0.0 km s<sup>-1<sup/>, both with <i>N<i/><sub>CH<sub/> <i>≈<i/> 2 × 10<sup>13<sup/> cm<sup>-2<sup/>. Turbulent linewidths for the four absorption components vary between 1.5 and 5.0 km s<sup>-1<sup/> in <i>FWHM<i/>. We constrain the physical properties and locations of the clouds by matching our CH absorbers with the absorption signatures seen in other molecular tracers.<i>Conclusions. <i/>In the hot core, molecules such as H<sub>2<sub/>O and CO trace gas that is heated and dynamically influenced by outflow activity, whereas the CH molecule traces more quiescent material. The four CH absorbing clouds have column densities and turbulent properties that are consistent with those of diffuse clouds: two are located in the direct surroundings of NGC 6334, and two are unrelated foreground clouds. Local density and dynamical effects influence the chemical composition of the physical components of NGC 6334, which causes some components to be seen in CH but not in other tracers, and vice versa.

Herschelspectral surveys of star-forming regions

High resolution line spectra of star-forming regions are mines of information: they provide unique clues to reconstruct the chemical, dynamical, and physical structure of the observed source. We present the first results from the <i>Herschel<i/> key project “Chemical <i>HErschel<i/> Surveys of Star forming regions”, CHESS. We report and discuss observations towards five CHESS targets, one outflow shock spot and four protostars with luminosities bewteen 20 and 2 × 10<sup>5<sup/> : L1157-B1, IRAS 16293-2422, OMC2-FIR4, AFGL 2591, and NGC 6334I. The observations were obtained with the heterodyne spectrometer HIFI on board <i>Herschel<i/>, with a spectral resolution of 1 MHz. They cover the frequency range 555–636 GHz, a range largely unexplored before the launch of the <i>Herschel<i/> satellite. A comparison of the five spectra highlights spectacular differences in the five sources, for example in the density of methanol lines, or the presence/absence of lines from S-bearing molecules or deuterated species. We discuss how these differences can be attributed to the different star-forming mass or evolutionary status.

Spectral survey of molecular cores NGC 6334I and NGC 6334I(N) in the range 80.5–242.0 GHz

Results of a spectral survey of molecular cores NGC 6334I and NGC 6334I(N) in a number of spectral intervals with widths of about 1000 MHz are presented. Observations were carried out with the SEST radiotelescope. Number of the intervals for NGC 6334I was 11. 209 spectral features were detected towards molecular core NGC 6334I, out of which 203 features were assigned to 25 species. Number of the intervals for NGC 6334I(N) was 6. They represent a subset of the intervals used for the NGC 6334I. The spectrum of NGC 6334I(N) appears to be considerably more poor with the features: 63 features were detected, out of which 55 were assigned to 13 species. Catalogues of assigned features for both sources are presented. They contain the notation of corresponding molecular transition, frequency, and the following observational data: integrated intensity, V lsr velocity, FWHM and antenna temperature.

DIGGING INTO NGC 6334 I(N): MULTIWAVELENGTH IMAGING OF A MASSIVE PROTOSTELLAR CLUSTER

We present a high-resolution, multi-wavelength study of the massive protostellar cluster NGC 6334I(N) that combines new spectral line data from the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and VLA with a reanalysis of archival VLA continuum data, 2MASS and Spitzer images. As shown previously, the brightest 1.3 mm source SMA1 contains substructure at subarcsecond resolution, and we report the first detection of SMA1b at 3.6 cm along with a new spatial component at 7 mm (SMA1d). We find SMA1 (aggregate of sources a, b, c, and d) and SMA4 to be comprised of free-free and dust components, while SMA6 shows only dust emission. Our 1.5" resolution 1.3 mm molecular line images reveal substantial hot-core line emission toward SMA1 and to a lesser degree SMA2. We find CH3OH rotation temperatures of 165\pm 9 K and 145\pm 12 K for SMA1 and SMA2, respectively. We estimate a diameter of 1400 AU for the SMA1 hot core emission, encompassing both SMA1b and SMA1d, and speculate that these sources comprise a >800 AU separation binary that may explain the previously-suggested precession of the outflow emanating from the SMA1 region. The LSR velocities of SMA1, SMA2, and SMA4 all differ by 1-2 km/s. Outflow activity from SMA1, SMA2, SMA4, and SMA6 is observed in several molecules including SiO(5--4) and IRAC 4.5 micron emission; 24 micron emission from SMA4 is also detected. Eleven water maser groups are detected, eight of which coincide with SMA1, SMA2, SMA4, and SMA6. We also detect a total of 83 Class I CH3OH 44GHz maser spots which likely result from the combined activity of many outflows. Our observations paint the portrait of multiple young hot cores in a protocluster prior to the stage where its members become visible in the near-infrared.

Synergy of multi-frequency studies from observations of NGC 6334I

We combine multi-frequency observations from the millimeter to near infrared wavelengths that demonstrate the spatial distributions of H2, CO, and NH3 emission, which are all manifestations of various shocks driven by outflows of deeply embedded source(s) in NGC 6334I. In addition to the well-known northeast-southwest outflow we detect at least one more outflow in the region by combining observations from APEX, ATCA, SMA, Spitzer and VLT/ISAAC. Potential driving sources will be discussed. NGC 6334I exhibits several signs of active star formation and will be a major target for future observatories such as Herschel and ALMA.

ATCA 3 mm observations of NGC 6334I and I(N): dense cores, outflows, and an UCH II region

Aims. We investigate the dense gas, the outflows, and the continuum emission from the massive twin cores NGC 6334I and I(N) at high spatial resolution. Methods. We imaged the region with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at 3.4 mm wavelength in continuum, as well as CH3CN(5K −4K ) and HCN(1−0) spectral line emission. Results. While the continuum emission in NGC 6334I mainly traces the UCHii region, toward NGC 6334I(N) we detect continuum emission from four of the previously identified dust continuum condensations that are of protostellar or pre-stellar nature. The CH3CN(5K −4K ) lines are detected in all K-components up to energies of 128 K aboveground toward two protostellar condensations in both regions. We find line width increasing with increasing K for all sources, which indicates a higher degree of internal motions of the hotter gas probed by these high K-transitions. Toward the main mm and CH3CN source in NGC 6334I, we identify a velocity gradient approximately perpendicular to the large-scale molecular outflow. This may be interpreted as a signature of an accretion disk, although other scenarios, e.g., an unresolved double source, could produce a similar signature. No comparable signature is found toward any of the other sources. HCN does not trace the dense gas well in this region but it is dominated by the molecular outflows. While the outflow in NGC 6334I exhibits a normal Hubble-law like velocity structure, the data are consistent with a precessing outflow close to the plane of the sky for NGC 6334I(N). Furthermore, we observe a wide (∼15.4 km s −1 ) HCN absorption line, much broader than the previously observed CH3OH and NH3 absorption lines. Several explanations for the difference are discussed. The fits-files of the 3.4 mm continuum images and of the HCN(1−0) and CH3CN(5K−4K ) data-cubes are available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat? J/481/169

New ammonia masers towards NGC 6334I

Abstract We report the detection of new ammonia masers in the non-metastable (8,6) and (11,9) transitions towards the massive star-forming region NGC 6334I. Observations were made with the Australia Telescope Compact Array interferometer and the emitting region appears unresolved in the 2.7 × 0.8 arcsec2 beam, with deconvolved sizes less than an arcsecond. We estimate peak brightness temperatures of 7.8 × 105 and 1.2 × 105 K for the (8,6) and (11,9) transitions, respectively. The masers appear coincident both spatially and in velocity with a previously detected ammonia (6,6) maser. We also suggest that emission in the (10,9), (9,9) and (7,6) transitions may also be masers, based on the small linewidths and overlapping velocity ranges with the above masers, as observed with the single-dish Mopra radio telescope.

Hot ammonia in NGC 6334I &amp; I(N)

Aims. The massive twin cores NGC 6334I and I(N) are in different evolutionary stages and hence ideal targets to study evolutionary variations within the same larger-scale environment. Here, we study the warm, compact gas components. Methods. We imaged the two regions with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at high angular resolution in the NH3(3, 3) to (6, 6) inversion lines. Results. Compact emission is detected toward both regions in all observed inversion lines with energy levels up to 407 K above ground. This is particularly surprising for NGC 6334I(N) since it lacks bright infrared emission and is considered a massive cold core at an early evolutionary stage. High optical depth and multiply-peaked line profiles complicate rotation temperature estimates, and we can only conclude that gas components with temperatures >100K are present in both regions. Toward NGC 6334I, we confirm previous reports of NH3(3, 3) maser emission toward the outflow bow-shocks. Furthermore, we report the first detection of an NH3(6, 6) maser toward the central region of NGC 6334I. This maser is centered on the second millimeter (mm) peak and elongated along the outflow axis, indicating that this mm continuum core harbors the driving source of the molecular outflow. Toward the main mm peak in NGC 6334I(N), we detect a double-horn line profile in the NH3(6, 6) transition. The current data do not allow us to differentiate whether this double-horn profile is produced by multiple gas components along the line of sight, or whether it may trace a potential underlying massive accretion disk.

Millimeter Multiplicity in NGC 6334 I and I(N)

Using the Submillimeter Array (SMA), we have imaged the 1.3 mm continuum emission at the centers of the massive star-forming regions NGC 6334 I and I(N). In both regions, the SMA observations resolvethe emission into multiple millimeter sources, with most of the sources clustered into areas only 10,000 AU in diameter. Toward NGC 6334I, wefindfourcompactsources:thetwo brightest (I-SMA1andI-SMA2)areassociatedwithpreviouslyknown ammonia cores; I-SMA3 coincides with the peak of the compact H ii region (NGC 6334 F), and I-SMA4 is a newly discovered object. While I-SMA3 exhibits a mixture of free-free and dust emission, the rest of the objects are dust cores.TowardNGC6334I(N),sevencompactdustcoresarefound,oneofwhichisassociatedwithafaintcentimeter source. With the exception of I-SMA3, none of the millimeter sources have infrared counterparts in Spitzer Space Telescope3‐8� mimages.Usingasimplephysicalmodelforthedustcontinuumemission,we estimatethatthemass of the interstellar material toward each of these compact objects is in the range of 3‐66 M� . The total mass in the compact objects appears to be similar in I and I(N). The small size of these groups of sources suggest that these objects are proto-Trapezia forming in the centers of clusters of low- to intermediate-mass stars.

High Spatial Resolution Observations of NH3and CH3OH toward the Massive Twin Cores NGC 6334I and NGC 6334I(N)

Molecular line observations of NH3 (J ; K) ¼ (1; 1) and (2, 2) and CH3OH at 24.93 GHz taken with the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) toward the massive twin cores NGC 6334I and NGC 6334I(N) reveal significant variations in the line emission between the two massive cores. The UC H ii region/hot core NGC 6334I exhibits strong thermal NH3 and CH3OH emission adjacent to the UC H ii region and coincident with two millimeter continuum peaks observed by T. R. Hunter et al. In contrast, we find neither compact NH3 nor thermal CH3OH line emission toward NGC 6334I(N). There the NH3 emission is distributed over a broad region (>10) without a clear peak, and we find Class I CH3OH maser emission with peak brightness temperatures up to 7000 K. The maser emission peaks appear to be spatially associated with the interfaces between the molecular outflows and the ambient dense gas. Peak NH3 (1, 1) line brightness temperatures 70 K in both regions indicate gas temperatures on the same order. NH3 emission is also detected toward the outflow in NGC 6334I, resulting in an estimated rotational temperature of Trot 19 K. Furthermore, we observe CH3OH and NH3 absorption toward the UC H ii region; the velocity structure is consistent with expanding molecular gas around the UC H ii region. Thermal and kinematic effects possibly imposed from the UC H ii region on the molecular core are also discussed.