A Dusty ring in the Coalsack: A dense core caught in the act of formation?

Author(s)

Charles Lada, Jill Rathborne, Joao Alves

Abstract

We propose to obtain molecular line maps of the most opaque molecular

globule in the Coalsack complex, G2. Using deep near-IR observations, we

have discovered a strong central ring of dust column density within the

globule. This ring represents a region of high density and pressure that

is likely a transient structure. A single SEST C18O (2-1) spectrum

toward the center of the ring reveals a complex line profile that most

likely results from turbulence. We suggest that the dense ring is in the

process of transforming into a more centrally condensed state, similar

to that of typical Bok globules and dense star-forming cores. We propose

to use Mopra to obtain a C18O (1-0) map across the dense ring and a 13CO

(1-0) map of the surrounding lower-density envelope. The spatial

variation of the C18O linewidths across the ring, will reveal whether or

not the dense ring is indeed in a very early evolutionary stage of star

formation.

Organisation(s)

External organisation(s)

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), European Southern Observatory (Germany)

Journal

ATNF OPAL

Pages

71

Publication date

04-2006

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103004 Astrophysics

Keywords

Portal url

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/a-dusty-ring-in-the-coalsack-a-dense-core-caught-in-the-act-of-formation(e52e2252-47f4-4ad2-a50f-1e23a049329b).html