Initial conditions within a massive, Arches-like protocluster

Author(s)

Jill Rathborne, Andrew Walsh, Joao Alves, Leonardo Testi, James Jackson, Jonathan Foster, Steven Longmore, John Bally, Nate Bastian, Eli Bressert

Abstract

Stellar clusters are the building blocks of galaxies and the nurseries

of most stellar systems. However, little is known about the formation of

the most massive clusters. In our recent MALT90 and HOPS surveys, one

object, G0.25+0.16, stands out as extreme. Identified as a cold, dense,

massive molecular clump devoid of current star-formation, it has exactly

the properties expected for a clump that may form an Arches-like

cluster. Our wealth of ancillary data reveals tantalizing evidence that

it is highly structured and, thus, may be undergoing hierarchical

fragmentation. Here we propose to observe the cold, dense gas from this

unique proto-cluster. The proposed ATCA NH3 and NH2D observations will

reveal the small-scale temperature distribution and kinematics of the

cold, dense gas. These data combined with our upcoming ALMA early

science observations of the cold dust toward this clump will allow us to

reliably probe the initial conditions within this massive, Arches-like

protocluster.

Organisation(s)

Department of Astrophysics

External organisation(s)

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Curtin University, Centro Astronómico Hispano Alemán (CAHA), European Southern Observatory (Germany), Boston University, Yale University, University of Colorado, Boulder, Universitäts-Sternwarte München

Journal

ATNF proposal

Publication date

04-2012

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103004 Astrophysics

Keywords

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/788f1202-37b6-4b05-80ea-aafb62d403be