Massive prestellar molecular core and adjacent compression front in the Rho Ophiuchi cloud

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/164327· OSTI ID:7262237

Loren, R B; Wootten, A

Emission maps from a variety of molecules identify two adjacent, unusual regions in the star-forming Rho Oph cloud. The first is a region of intense DCO(+) emission that arises in a compact (0.26 x 0.10 pc), dense (about 500,000/cu cm), massive (40 solar masses), yet cold (less than 20 K) core. The second is a separate region of rare 2 cm H2CO emission at slightly blueshifted velocities bordering the southwestern tip of the DCO(+) emission region. This second (0.15 x 0.03 pc) region has a density greater than 10 to the 6th/cu cm and a mass of at least 18 solar masses and is warmer than the first region. There is sufficient mass in this core complex to form a massive star, but, unlike other similar, more distant, massive cores, there is no evidence for any embedded massive or high-luminosity stars. The dramatic differences between the spatial distributions of these unusual molecular emission regions suggests that the second region traces a high-density, warmed compression front propagating into the first region, a remnant of the original cloud. 52 references.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Austin; National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA
• OSTI ID: 7262237
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 306; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALDEHYDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COSMIC GASES
DISTRIBUTION
EMISSION SPECTRA
FLUIDS
FORMALDEHYDE
GASES
MASS
MOLECULES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTRA
STAR CLUSTERS
STAR EVOLUTION