THE FIRST DETECTION OF THE 232 GHz VIBRATIONALLY EXCITED H{sub 2}O MASER IN ORION KL WITH ALMA
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588 (Japan)
We investigated the ALMA science verification data of Orion KL and found a spectral signature of the vibrationally excited H{sub 2}O maser line at 232.68670 GHz ({nu}{sub 2} = 1, 5{sub 5,0}-6{sub 4,3}). This line has been detected previously in circumstellar envelopes of late-type stars but not in young stellar objects such as Orion KL. Thus, this is the first detection of the 232 GHz vibrationally excited H{sub 2}O maser in star-forming regions. The distribution of the 232 GHz maser is concentrated at the position of the radio Source I, which is remarkably different from other molecular lines. The spectrum shows a double-peak structure at the peak velocities of -2.1 and 13.3 km s{sup -1}. It appears to be consistent with the 22 GHz H{sub 2}O masers and 43 GHz SiO masers observed around Source I. Thus, the 232 GHz H{sub 2}O maser around Source I would be excited by the internal heating by an embedded protostar, being associated with either the root of the outflows/jets or the circumstellar disk around Source I, as traced by the 22 GHz H{sub 2}O masers or 43 GHz SiO masers, respectively.
- OSTI ID:
- 22078545
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 757, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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