Where massive stars form - associated radio H II regions and CO clouds in the northern Milky Way

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165070· OSTI ID:6323633

Waller, W H; Clemens, D P; Sanders, D B; Scoville, N Z

The sites of massive star formation in molecular clouds are investigated by comparing high-resolution radio surveys of molecular and ionized gas emission in the Milky Way. CO emission maps from the Massachusetts-Stony Brook survey of the first Galactic quadrant are used to locate, in l, b, and v, the molecular clouds associated with radio recombination-line H II regions. It is found that the radio H II regions are typically associated with giant molecular clouds (GMCs) with diameters of 20-60 pc and virial masses of 100,000 to a million solar masses. The radio H II regions appear preferentially concentrated toward the centers of the GMCs, contrary to the blister picture of massive star formation on cloud surfaces. 14 references.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Univ., Amherst; Arizona Univ., Tucson; California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
• OSTI ID: 6323633
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 314; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
H2 REGIONS
MASS
MILKY WAY
NEBULAE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
STAR EVOLUTION