Aims: Investigation of the dense gas, the outflows and the continuum emission from the massive twin cores NGC6334I and I(N) at high spatial resolution. Methods: We imaged the region with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at 3.4mm wavelength in continuum as well as CH3CN(5_K-4_K) and HCN(1-0) spectral line emission. Results: While the continuum emission in NGC6334I mainly traces the UCHII region, toward NGC6334I(N) we detect line emission from four of the previously identified dust continuum condensations that are of protostellar or pre-stellar nature. The CH3CN(5_K-4_K) lines are detected in all K-components up to energies of 128K above ground toward two protostellar condensations in both regions. We find line-width increasing with increasing K for all sources, which indicates a higher degree of internal motions closer to the central protostars. Toward the main mm and CH3CN source in NGC6334I we identify a velocity gradient approximately perpendicular to the large-scale molecular outflow. This may be interpreted as a signature of an accretion disk, although other scenarios, e.g., an unresolved double source, could produce a similar signature as well. No comparable signature is found toward any of the other sources. HCN does not trace the dense gas well but it is dominated by the molecular outflows. While the outflow in NGC6334I exhibits a normal Hubble-law like velocity structure, the data indicate a precessing outflow close to the plane of the sky for NGC6334I(N). Furthermore, we observe a wide (~15.4km/s) HCN absorption line, much broader than the previously observed CH3OH and NH3 absorption lines. Several explanations for the difference are discussed.
Since this contributions was meant to cover two subjects which are both in the field of massive star formation but which in its details can be discussed separately, this paper is divided in two sections. First, we present characteristics of precursors of UCH{\sc ii} regions and their likely evolutionary properties. The second section discusses massive molecular outflows, their implications for high-mass star formation, and a possible evolutionary sequence for massive outflows.
Aims: We searched for the molecular outflows from fifteen molecular clouds associated with ultra-compact and compact HII (UCHII/HII) regions and discussed possible gas heating mechanism. Methods: Mapping observations of CO $J=3-2$ and $J=2-1$ lines were carried out with the KOSMA 3m-Telescope towards the 15 HII regions/molecular cloud complexes. Results: Ten molecular outflows were identified out of the fifteen HII region/molecular cloud complexes. The higher outflow detection rate (67%) suggested that such outflows are as common in high mass star forming regions as those in low mass star form…
We aim at studying the cluster environment surrounding the UCHII region in IRAS 20293+3952, a region in the first stages of formation of a cluster around a high-mass star. BIMA and VLA were used to observe the 3 mm continuum, N2H+(1-0), NH3(1,1) and (2,2), and CH3OH(2-1) emission of the surroundings of the UCHII region. We studied the kinematics of the region and computed the rotational temperature and column density maps by fitting the hyperfine structure of N2H+ and NH3. The dense gas traced by N2H+ and NH3 shows two different clouds, a main cloud to the east of the UCHII region, of 0.5 pc a…
Molecular line observations of NH3 (J,K)=(1,1), (2,2) and CH3OH at 24.93GHz taken with the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) toward the massive twin cores NGC6334 I & I(N) reveal significant variations in the line emission between the two massive cores. The UCHII region/hot core NGC6334 I exhibits strong thermal NH3 and CH3OH emission adjacent to the UCHII region and coincident with two mm continuum peaks observed by Hunter et al. (in prep.). In contrast, we find neither compact NH3 nor thermal CH3OH line emission toward NGC6334 I(N). There, the NH3 emission is distributed over a broad…
We report high angular resolution (3") Submillimeter Array (SMA) observations of the molecular cloud associated with the Ultra-Compact HII region G5.89-0.39. Imaged dust continuum emission at 870 micron reveals significant linear polarization. The position angles (PAs) of the polarization vary enormously but smoothly in a region of 2x10^4 AU. Based on the distribution of the PAs and the associated structures, the polarized emission can be separated roughly into two components. The component "x" is associated with a well defined dust ridge at 870 micron, and is likely tracing a compressed B fie…
We present a systematic survey for ultracompact HII (UCHII) regions in the Magellanic Clouds. Understanding the physics of massive star formation (MSF) is a critical astrophysical problem. The study of MSF began in our galaxy with surveys of UCHII regions, but before now this has not been done for other galaxies. We selected candidates based on their Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) colors and imaged them at 3 and 6 cm with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). Nearly all of the observed regions contain compact radio sources consistent with thermal emission. Many of the sources a…
We present interferometric observations with resolution of ~3 arcsecs of the isolated, low-mass protostellar double cores CG30 and BHR71 in the N2$H+(1-0) line and at 3mm dust continuum, using the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The results are complemented by infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope. In CG30, the 3mm dust continuum images resolve two compact sources with a separation of ~21.7 arcsecs (~8700 AU). In BHR71, strong dust continuum emission is detected at the position of the mid-infrared source IRS1, while only weak emission is detected from the secondary mid-infr…
We have obtained maps of the large scale outflow associated with the UCHII regionG5.89-0.39 in CO and 13CO (J=3-2), SiO (J=8-7,J=5-4), SO2 (13(2,12)-13(1,13)) and H13CO+(J=4-3). From these maps we have been able to determine the mass (3.3 M_sun), momentum (96 M_sun km/s), energy (3.5x10^{46} erg), mechanical luminosity (141 L_sun), and mass loss rate (~1x10^{-3}M_sun/yr) in the large scale outflow. The observationally derived parameters were used toguide 3D magnetohydrodynamic models of the jet entrained outflow. Through the combination of observations and simulations, we suggest that the larg…
We present the first subarcsecond submillimeter images of the enigmatic ultracompact HII region (UCHII) G5.89-0.39. Observed with the SMA, the 875 micron continuum emission exhibits a shell-like morphology similar to longer wavelengths. By using images with comparable angular resolution at five frequencies obtained from the VLA archive and CARMA, we have removed the free-free component from the 875 micron image. We find five sources of dust emission: two compact warm objects (SMA1 and SMA2) along the periphery of the shell, and three additional regions further out. There is no dust emission in…
We present new high-sensitivity high-resolution mm-wave observations of the Onsala 1 ultra-compact HII region that bring to light the internal structure of this massive star forming cloud. The 1.2 mm continuum map obtained with the IRAM 30-m radiotelescope (~11" resolution) shows a centrally peaked condensation of 1' size (~0.5 pc at the assumed distance of 1.8 kpc) which has been further investigated at higher resolution in the 3 mm continuum and in the emission lines of H13CO+ J=1--0 and SiO J=2--1 with the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer. The 3 mm data, with a resolution of ~5" X 4", di…
Methanol masers are often found in linear distributions, and it has been hypothesized that these masers are tracing circumstellar accretion disks around young massive stars. However, recent observations in H2 emission have shown what appear to be outflows at similar angles to the maser distribution angles, not perpendicular as expected in the maser-disk scenario. The main motivation behind the observations presented here is to determine from the presence and morphology of an independent outflow tracer, namely SiO, if there are indeed outflows present in these regions and if they are consistent…
We present observations of the region between 5deg < l < 45deg and |b| < 3deg, in the OH 1612 MHz line, taken from 1993 to 1995 with the VLA. These observations are the last part of a larger survey, covering |l| < 45deg and |b| < 3deg, with the ATCA and the VLA. The region was systematically observed on a 30'x30' grid in (l,b) and the resulting coverage was 92%, with 965 pointings. We found 286 OH--masing objects, 161 of which are new detections and 207 have reliable IRAS point-source identifications. The outflow velocity was determined for 276 sources. A total of 766 sources were detected in …
The Red MSX Source (RMS) survey is a multi-wavelength program of follow-up observations designed to distinguish between genuine massive young stellar objects (MYSOs) and other embedded or dusty objects, such as ultra compact (UC) HII regions, evolved stars and planetary nebulae (PNe). We have identified nearly 2000 massive YSOs candidates by comparing the colours of MSX and 2MASS point sources to those of known MYSOs. Unfortunately, there are several other types of embedded or dust enshrouded objects that have similar colours as MYSOs and contaminate our sample. Two sources of contamination ar…
Aiming at a better understand of the physical and chemical processes in the hot molecular core stage of high-mass star formation, we observed the prototypical hot core G29.96-0.02 in the 862mu band with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) at sub-arcsecond spatial resolution. The observations resolved the hot molecular core into six submm continuum sources with the finest spatial resolution of 0.36''x0.25'' (~1800AU) achieved so far. Four of them located within 7800(AU)^2 comprise a proto-Trapezium system with estimated protostellar densities of 1.4x0^5 protostars/pc^3. The plethora of ~80 spectral l…
We present 7 mm, 1.3 cm and 3.6 cm continuum observations made with the Very Large Array toward a sample of ten luminous IRAS sources that are believed to be regions of massive star formation. We detect compact 7 mm emission in four of these objects: IRAS 18089-1732(1), IRAS 18182-1433, IRAS 18264-1152 and IRAS 18308-0841 and for the first time find that these IRAS sources are associated with double or triple radio sources separated by a few arcseconds. We discuss the characteristics of these sources based mostly on their spectral indices and find that their nature is diverse. Some features in…
We have used the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) to make observations of a sample of eight young ultra-compact HII regions, selected on the basis that they have associated class II methanol maser emission. We have made observations sensitive to both compact and extended structures and find both to be present in most sources. The scale of the extended emission in our sample is in general less than that observed towards samples based on IRAS properties, or large single-dish flux densities. Our observations are consistent with a scenario where extended and compact radio continuum emissio…
We combine multifrequency observations from the millimeter to near infrared wavelengths that demonstrate the spatial distributions of H2, CO, and NH3 emission, which are all manifestations of various shocks driven by outflows of deeply embedded sources in NGC6334I. In addition to the well-known northeast-southwest outflow we detect at least one more outflow in the region by combining observations from APEX, ATCA, SMA, Spitzer and VLT/ISAAC. Potential driving sources will be discussed. NGC6334I exhibits several signs of active star formation and will be a major target for future observatories s…
S255N is a luminous far-infrared source that contains many indications of active star formation but lacks a prominent near-infrared stellar cluster. We present mid-infrared through radio observations aimed at exploring the evolutionary state of this region. Our observations include 1.3mm continuum and spectral line data from the Submillimeter Array, VLA 3.6cm continuum and 1.3cm water maser data, and multicolor IRAC images from the Spitzer Space Telescope. The cometary morphology of the previously-known UCHII region G192.584-0.041 is clearly revealed in our sensitive, multi-configuration 3.6cm…
New AAT near-infrared and SEST 12CO J=2-1 observations are combined with existing ISO mid-infrared and ATCA cm radio continuum observations to examine the protostellar content of the Bok globule BHR 71. Together with observations of Herbig-Haro objects, these data show: (1) Two protostellar sources, IRS1 and IRS2, with a separation of ~17 arcsec (3400 AU) are located within BHR 71. (2) Each protostar is driving its own molecular outflow. The outflow from IRS1 is much larger in extent, is more massive, and dominates the CO emission. (3) Both protostars are associated with Herbig-Haro objects an…
We present new ATCA 17- and 24-GHz radio images and ESO-NTT optical spectra of the radio-loud Seyfert galaxy IC5063, the first galaxy in which a fast (~ 600 km/s) outflow of neutral hydrogen was discovered. The new radio data confirm the triple radio structure with a central core and two resolved radio lobes. This implies that the previously detected fast outflow of neutral gas is occurring off-nucleus, near a radio lobe about 0.5 kpc from the core. The ionised gas shows complex kinematics in the region co-spatial with the radio emission. Broad and blueshifted (~ 500 km/s) emission is observed…
Using the OVRO, Nobeyama, and IRAM mm-arrays, we searched for ``disk''-outflow systems in three high-mass (proto)star forming regions: G16.59-0.05, G23.01-0.41, and G28.87+0.07. These were selected from a sample of NH3 cores associated with OH and H2O maser emission and with no or very faint continuum emission. Our imaging of molecular line (including rotational transitions of CH3CN and 3mm dust continuum emission revealed that these are compact, massive, and hot molecular cores (HMCs), that is likely sites of high-mass star formation prior to the appearance of UCHII regions. All three sources…
While most sources above 10^5Lsun have already formed an Ultracompact HII region (UCHII), this is not necessarily the case for sources of lower luminosity. Characterizing sources in the transition phase, i.e., very luminous objects without any detectable free-free emission, is important for a general understanding of massive star formation. Therefore, we observed the luminous High-Mass Protostellar Object IRAS23151+5912 with the Submillimeter Array at 875mum in the submm continuum and spectral line emission at sub-arcsecond resolution. The 875mum submm continuum emission has been resolved into…
New radio continuum (8 GHz and 1.4 GHz) and HI 21 cm line observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy IC 5063 (PKS 2048-572) were obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The 8 GHz image reveals a linear triple structure (~4'', 1.5 kpc) oriented perpendicular to the optical polarization position angle. It is aligned with the inner dust lane and shows strong morphological association with the narrow emission line region (NLR). At 21 cm, very broad (~700 km/s) HI absorption is observed against the strong continuum source. This absorption is almost entirely blueshifted, indicating a f…
The Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) has been used to image class I methanol masers at 9.9, 25 (a series from J=2 to J=9), 84, 95 and 104 GHz located in the vicinity of IRAS 16547-4247 (G343.12-0.06), a luminous young stellar object known to harbour a radio jet. The detected maser emission consists of a cluster of 6 spots spread over an area of 30 arcsec. Five spots were detected in only the 84- and 95-GHz transitions (for two spots the 84-GHz detection is marginal), while the sixth spot shows activity in all 12 observed transitions. We report the first interferometric observations of …
Aims: The massive twin cores NGC6334I and I(N) are in different evolutionary stages and hence ideal targets to study evolutionary variations within the same larger-scale environment. Here, we study the warm, compact gas components. Methods: We imaged the two regions with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at high angular resolution in the NH3(3,3) to (6,6) inversion lines. Results: Compact emission is detected toward both regions in all observed inversion lines with energy levels up to 407K above ground. This is particularly surprising for NGC6334I(N) since it lacks bright infrared e…
This is the first of two papers in which a study is made of a sample of 12 southern radio-luminous Seyfert galaxies. Our aim is to investigate possible correlations between radio morphology and nuclear/circumnuclear emission-line properties. In this paper we present radio images at 13, 6, and 3 cm taken with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), global far-infrared (FIR) properties for the whole sample, and optical and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of an interesting subset. We find a mixture of radio morphologies, including linear, diffuse and compact sources. When the FIR colors of…
We report sensitive ATCA radio-continuum observations toward IRAS 15596-5301 and 16272-4837, two luminous objects (> 2x10^4 Lsun) thought to represent massive star-forming regions in early stages of evolution (due to previously undetected radio emission at the 1-sigma level of 2 mJy per beam). Also reported are 1.2-millimeter continuum and a series of molecular-line observations made with the SEST telescope. For IRAS 15596-5301, the observations reveal the presence of three distinct compact radio-continuum sources associated with a dense molecular core. We suggest that this core contains a clu…
The low-mass star formation region associated with the reflection nebula Cederblad 110 in the Chamaeleon I cloud was mapped with the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at 6 and 3.5cm. Altogether 11 sources were detected, three of which are previously known low mass young stellar objects associated with the nebula: the illuminating star IRS2 (Class III, Einstein X-ray source CHX7), the brightest far-infrared source IRS4 (Class I), and the weak X-ray source CHX10a (Class III). The other young stellar objects in the region, including the Class 0 protostar candidate Cha-MMS1, were not detec…