DISCOVERY OF THE PIGTAIL MOLECULAR CLOUD IN THE GALACTIC CENTER
- Institute of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522 (Japan)
- Institute of Physics, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571 (Japan)
- Institute of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba (Japan)
- Joint ALMA Observatory, El Golf 40, Piso 18, Las Condes, Santiago (Chile)
This paper reports the discovery of a helical molecular cloud in the central molecular zone (CMZ) of our Galaxy. This 'pigtail' molecular cloud appears at (l, b, V{sub LSR}) {approx_equal} (-0.{sup 0}7, + 0.{sup 0}0, - 70 to -30 km s{sup -1}), with a spatial size of {approx}20 Multiplication-Sign 20 pc{sup 2} and a mass of (2-6) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 5} M{sub Sun }. This is the third helical gaseous nebula found in the Galactic center region to date. Line intensity ratios indicate that the pigtail molecular cloud has slightly higher temperature and/or density than the other normal clouds in the CMZ. We also found a high-velocity wing emission near the footpoint of this cloud. We propose a formation model of the pigtail molecular cloud. It might be associated with a magnetic tube that is twisted and coiled because of the interaction between clouds in the innermost x{sub 1} orbit and ones in the outermost x{sub 2} orbit.
- OSTI ID:
- 22092423
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 756, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
IDENTIFICATION OF AMBIENT MOLECULAR CLOUDS ASSOCIATED WITH GALACTIC SUPERNOVA REMNANT IC 443
WATER ABSORPTION IN GALACTIC TRANSLUCENT CLOUDS: CONDITIONS AND HISTORY OF THE GAS DERIVED FROM HERSCHEL /HIFI PRISMAS OBSERVATIONS