We present star formation activity in the infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G53.2, a remarkable IRDC located at Galactic coordinates $(l,b)\sim(53^{\circ}.2,\,0^{\circ}.0)$ based on the census of young stellar object (YSO) candidates. IRDC G53.2 was previously identified as several IRDCs in mid-IR images, but it is in fact a long ($\gtrsim$45 pc) cloud, well consistent with a CO cloud at $v\sim23$ \kms\ (or at $d\sim$1.7 kpc). We present a point-source catalog of IRDC G53.2 that contains $\sim$370 sources from our photometry of the {\it Spitzer} MIPS 24 \um\ data and Galactic Legacy Infrared Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire Catalog. The classification of the identified sources based on their spectral index and control field analysis to remove field star contamination reveals that IRDC G53.2 is an active star-forming region with $\sim$300 YSO candidates. We compare the YSO classification based on spectral index, mid-IR colors, and the wavelength range used, which results in consistent classification, except for flat-spectrum objects, with some ambiguity between Class I and II. Comparison of the YSO population in IRDC G53.2 with those of other nearby star-forming clusters indicates that they are similar in age; on the other hand, stronger association with mid-IR stellar sources in IRDC G53.2 compared with other IRDCs indicates that IRDC G53.2 is at a later evolutionary stage among IRDCs. Spatial distribution of the YSO candidates in IRDC G53.2 shows a good correlation with $^{13}$CO column density and far-IR emission, and earlier-class objects tend to be more clustered in the regions with higher density.
The dense, cold gas of Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) is thought to be representative of the initial conditions of massive star and star cluster formation. We analyze 13CO(J=1-0) line emission data from the Galactic Ring Survey of Jackson et al. for two filamentary IRDCs, comparing the mass surface densities derived from 13CO, Sigma_13CO, with those derived from mid-infrared small median filter extinction mapping, Sigma_SMF, by Butler & Tan. After accounting for molecular envelopes around the filaments, we find approximately linear relations between Sigma_CO and Sigma_SMF, i.e. an approximately …
The initial conditions of massive star and star cluster formation are expected to be cold, dense and high column density regions of the interstellar medium, which can reveal themselves via near, mid and even far-infrared absorption as Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs). Elucidating the dynamical state of IRDCs thus constrains theoretical models of these complex processes. In particular, it is important to assess whether IRDCs have reached virial equilibrium, where the internal pressure balances that due to the self-gravitating weight of the cloud plus the pressure of the external environmental. We s…
We investigate the star formation processes operating in a mid-infrared bubble N49 site, which harbors an O-type star in its interior, an ultracompact HII region, and a 6.7 GHz methanol maser at its edges. The 13CO line data reveal two velocity components (at velocity peaks ~88 and ~95 km/sec) in the direction of the bubble. An elongated filamentary feature (length >15 pc) is investigated in each molecular cloud component, and the bubble is found at the interface of these two filamentary molecular clouds. The Herschel temperature map traces all these structures in a temperature range of ~16-24…
We present results of a high resolution study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud G192.76+00.10 in the S254-S258 OB complex in several molecular species tracing different physical conditions. These include three isotopologues of carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH$_3$), carbon monosulfide (CS). The aim of this work is to study the general structure and kinematics of the filamentary cloud, its fragmentation and physical parameters. The gas temperature is derived from the NH$_3 $ $(J,K) = (1,1), (2,2)$ and $^{12}$CO(2--1) lines and the $^{13}$CO(1--0), $^{13}$CO(2--1) emission is used to invest…
The "Nessie" Nebula is a filamentary infrared dark cloud (IRDC) with a large aspect ratio of over 150:1 (1.5 degrees x 0.01 degrees, or 80 pc x 0.5 pc at a kinematic distance of 3.1 kpc). Maps of HNC (1-0) emission, a tracer of dense molecular gas, made with the Australia Telescope National Facility Mopra telescope, show an excellent morphological match to the mid-IR extinction. Moreover, because the molecular line emission from the entire nebula has the same radial velocity to within +/- 3.4 km/s, the nebula is a single, coherent cloud and not the chance alignment of multiple unrelated clouds…
We observationally investigate star formation (SF) process occurring in AFGL 5157 (area ~13.5 pc X 13.5 pc) using a multi-wavelength approach. Embedded filaments are seen in the {\it Herschel} column density map, and one of them is identified as an elongated filamentary feature (FF) (length ~8.3 pc; mass ~1170 Msun). Five Herschel clumps (Mclump ~45-300 Msun) are traced in the central part of FF, where an extended temperature structure (Td ~13.5-26.5 K) is observed. In the direction of the central part of FF, the warmer region at Td ~20-26.5 K spatially coincides with a mid-infrared (MIR) shel…
We present results of a multi-line study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud G351.78-0.54 in the 1.3 and 0.8 mm wavelength bands. The lines of the three isotopologues of carbon monoxide CO, N$_2$H$^+$, CH$_3$CCH and HNCO were observed. The aim was to study the general structure of the filamentary cloud, its fragmentation and physical parameters with the emphasis on properties of dense clumps in this cloud. Several dense clumps are identified from the N$_2$H$^+$ (3-2) data, their masses and virial parameters are determined using the C$^{18}$O (2-1) line. Temperatures of some clumps are estim…
Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) are cold, high mass surface density and high density structures, likely to be representative of the initial conditions for massive star and star cluster formation. CO emission from IRDCs has the potential to be useful for tracing their dynamics, but may be affected by depleted gas phase abundances due to freeze-out onto dust grains. Here we analyze C18O J=1-0 and J=2-1 emission line data, taken with the IRAM 30m telescope, of the highly filamentary IRDC G035.39.-0033. We derive the excitation temperature as a function of position and velocity, with typical values o…
To unravel the star formation process, we present a multi-scale and multi-wavelength study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G333.73+0.37, which hosts previously known two HII regions located at its center. Each HII region is associated with a mid-infrared source, and is excited by a massive OB star. Two filamentary structures and a hub-filament system (HFS) associated with one HII region are investigated in absorption using the Spitzer 8.0 $μ$m image. The $^{13}$CO(J = 2-1) and C$^{18}$O(J = 2-1) line data reveal two velocity components (around $-$35.5 and $-$33.5 km s$^{-1}$) tow…
We present a study of the compact blister HII region BFS 10 and its highly filamentary molecular cloud. We utilize 12CO observations from the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory to determine the distance, size, mass, and velocity structure of the molecular cloud. Infrared observations obtained from the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey and the Spitzer Infrared Array Camera, as well as radio continuum observations from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey, are used to extract information about the central HII region. This includes properties such as the ionizing photon rate and infrared luminos…
Infrared-dark clouds (IRDCs) are the precursors to massive stars and stellar clusters. G011.11-0.12 is a well-studied filamentary IRDC, though, to date, the absence of far-infrared data with sufficient spatial resolution has limited the understanding of the structure and star-formation activity. We use Herschel to study the embedded population of young pre- and protostellar cores in this IRDC. We examine the cloud structure, which appears in absorption at short wavelength and in emission at longer wavelength. We derive the properties of the massive cores from the spectral energy distributions …
We present new Plateau de Bure Interferometer observations of a region in the filamentary infrared-dark cloud (IRDC) G011.11-0.12 containing young, star-forming cores. In addition to the 3.2mm continuum emission from cold dust, we map this region in the N$_2$H$^+$(1-0) line to trace the core kinematics with an angular resolution of 2" and velocity resolution of 0.2km s$^{-1}$. These data are presented in concert with recent {\em Herschel} results, single-dish N$_2$H$^+$(1-0) data, SABOCA 350$μ$m continuum data, and maps of the C$^{18}$O (2-1) transition obtained with the IRAM 30m telescope. We…
Nowadays there are several observational studies about the 13CO/C18O abundance ratio (X) towards nearby molecular clouds. These works give observational support to the C18O selective photodissociation due to the interaction between the FUV radiation and the molecular gas. It is necessary to increase the sample of molecular clouds located at different distances and affected in different ways by nearby or embedded HII regions and OB associations to study the selective photodissociation. Using 12CO, 13CO, and C18O J=1-0 data obtained from the FOREST Survey, we analyze the filamentary infrared dar…
The aim of this study is to better understand the physical and chemical properties of the filamentary IRDC G304.74+01.32. In particular, we aim to investigate the kinematics and dynamical state of the cloud and clumps within it, and the amount of CO depletion. All the submillimetre peak positions in the cloud identified from our previous LABOCA 870-micron map were observed in C17O(2-1) with APEX. Selected positions were also observed in the 13CO(2-1), SiO(5-4), and CH3OH(5_k-4_k) transitions at ~1 mm wavelength. The C17O lines were detected towards all target positions at similar radial veloci…
We mapped the filamentary infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G304.74+01.32 at 350 $μ$m with the SABOCA bolometer. The new SABOCA data have a factor of 2.2 times higher resolution than our previous LABOCA 870 $μ$m map of the cloud. We also employed the Herschel far-IR and submillimetre, and WISE IR data available for G304.74. The SABOCA data show that G304.74 is composed of a dense filamentary structure with a mean width of only $0.18\pm0.05$ pc. The percentage of LABOCA clumps that are found to be fragmented into SABOCA cores is $36\%\pm16\%$. The WISE data suggest that $65\%\pm18\%$ of the SABOCA cor…
We present a multiwavelength study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G333.73+0.37. The region contains two distinct mid-infrared sources S1 and S2 connected by dark lanes of gas and dust. Cold dust emission from the IRDC is detected at seven wavelength bands and we have identified 10 high density clumps in the region. The physical properties of the clumps such as temperature: 14.3-22.3 K and mass: 87-1530 M_sun are determined by fitting a modified blackbody to the spectral energy distribution of each clump between 160 micron and 1.2 mm. The total mass of the IRDC is estimated to be…
Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are thought to be potential hosts of the elusive early phases of high-mass star formation. Here we conduct an in-depth kinematic analysis of one such IRDC, G034.43+00.24 (Cloud F), using high sensitivity and high spectral resolution IRAM-30m N$_2$H$^+$ ($1-0$) and C$^{18}$O ($1-0$) observations. To disentangle the complex velocity structure within this cloud we use Gaussian decomposition and hierarchical clustering algorithms. We find that four distinct coherent velocity components are present within Cloud F. The properties of these components are compared to those…
SiO emission in the filamentary Infrared Dark Cloud G035.39-00.33: An ALMA view
National Astronomical Observatories of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院国家天文台）；Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院上海天文台）；Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA（天体生物学中心（CAB），西班牙国家研究委员会-国家航空航天技术研究所）；Institute de Radioastronomie Millimétrique（毫米波射电天文研究所）；European Southern Observatory (ESO)（欧洲南方天文台）；Chalmers University of Technology（查尔姆斯理工大学）；University of Virginia（弗吉尼亚大学）；INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Arcetri（意大利国家天体物理研究所阿切特里天文台）；Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics（马克斯·普朗克地外物理学研究所）
G23.33-0.30 is a 600 $M_{\odot}$ infrared dark molecular filament that exhibits large NH$_3$ velocity dispersions ($σ\sim 8 \ \rm{km \ s^{-1}}$) and bright, narrow NH$_3$(3,3) line emission. We have probed G23.33-0.30 at the $<0.1$ pc scale and confirmed that the narrow NH$_3$(3,3) line is emitted by four rare NH$_3$(3,3) masers, which are excited by a large-scale shock impacting the filament. G23.33-0.30 also displays a velocity gradient along its length, a velocity discontinuity across its width, shock-tracing SiO(5-4) emission extended throughout the filament, broad turbulent line widths in…
We imaged the infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) G1.75-0.08 and G11.36+0.80 at 350 $μ$m and 450 $μ$m using the ArTéMiS bolometer. These data were used in conjunction with our previous 870 $μ$m observations with the Large APEX BOlometer CAmera (LABOCA). The clumps in G11.36+0.80 were also observed in the N$_2$H$^+(1-0)$ transition with the IRAM 30-metre telescope. G1.75-0.08 was found to be composed of two cold ($\sim14.5$ K), massive (several $\sim10^3$ M$_{\odot}$) clumps that are projectively separated by $\sim3.7$ pc. Both clumps are 70 $μ$m dark, but they do not appear to be bounded by self-grav…
Recent surveys of dust continuum emission at sub-mm wavelengths have shown that filamentary molecular clouds are ubiquitous along the Galactic plane. These structures are inhomogeneous, with over-densities that are sometimes associated with infrared emission and active of star formation. To investigate the connection between filaments and star formation, requires an understanding of the processes that lead to the fragmentation of filaments and a determination of the physical properties of the over-densities (clumps). In this paper, we present a multi-wavelength study of five filamentary molecu…
Star formation in a filamentary infrared dark cloud (IRDC) is simulated over a dynamic range of 4.2 pc to 28 au for a period of $3.5\times 10^5$ yr, including magnetic fields and both radiative and outflow feedback from the protostars. At the end of the simulation, the star formation efficiency is 4.3 per cent and the star formation rate per free fall time is $ε_{\rm ff}\simeq 0.04$, within the range of observed values (Krumholz et al. 2012a). The total stellar mass increases as $\sim\,t^2$, whereas the number of protostars increases as $\sim\,t^{1.5}$. We find that the density profile around …
We present molecular line observations, made with angular resolutions of ~20", toward the filamentary infrared dark cloud G34.43+0.24 using the APEX [CO(3-2), 13CO(3-2), C18O(3-2) and CS(7-6) transitions], Nobeyama 45 m [CS(2-1), SiO(2-1), C34S(2-1), HCO+(1-0), H13CO+(1-0) and CH3OH(2-1) transitions], and SEST [CS(2-1) and C18O(2-1) transitions] telescopes. We find that the spatial distribution of the molecular emission is similar to that of the dust continuum emission observed with 11" resolution showing a filamentary structure and four cores. The cores have local thermodynamic equilibrium ma…
The orientations of filamentary molecular clouds in the Gould Belt and their local ICM (inter-cloud media) magnetic fields are studied using near-infrared dust extinction maps and optical stellar polarimetry data. These filamentary clouds are a few-to-ten parsecs in length, and we find that their orientations tend to be either parallel or perpendicular to the mean field directions of the local ICM. This bimodal distribution is not found in cloud simulations with super-Alfvenic turbulence, in which the cloud orientations should be random. ICM magnetic fields that are dynamically important compa…
Infrared-Dark Clouds (IRDCs) are cold, dense regions of high (optical and infrared) extinction, believed to be the birthplace of high-mass stars and stellar clusters. The physical mechanisms leading to the formation of these IRDCs are not completely understood and it is thus important to study their molecular gas kinematics and chemical content to search for any signature of the IRDCs formation process. Using the 30m-diameter antenna at the Instituto de Radioastronomía Milimétrica, we have obtained emission maps of dense gas tracers (H$^{13}$CO$^{+}$ and HN$^{13}$C) and typical shock tracers (…
Observations of molecular clouds reveal a complex structure, with gas and dust often arranged in filamentary rather than spherical geometries. The associations of pre- and proto- stellar cores with the filaments suggest a direct link with the process of star formation. Any study of the properties of such filaments requires a representative samples from different enviroments and so an unbiased detection method. We developed such an approach using the Hessian matrix of a surface-brightness distribution to identify filaments and determine their physical and morphological properties. After testing…
A growing body of evidence indicates that the formation of filaments in interstellar clouds is a key component of the star formation process. In this paper, we present new Herschel PACS and SPIRE observations of the B59 and Stem regions in the Pipe Nebula complex, revealing a rich, organized network of filaments. The asymmetric column density profiles observed for several filaments, along with the bow-like edge of B59, indicates that the Pipe Nebula is being compressed from its western side, most likely by the winds from the nearby Sco OB2 association. We suggest that this compressive flow has…
We present the results of N$_2$H$^+$ ($J=1-0$) observations toward Serpens South, the nearest cluster-forming, infrared dark cloud. The physical quantities are derived by fitting the hyperfine structure of N$_2$H$^+$. The Herschel and 1.1-mm continuum maps show that a pc-scale filament fragments into three clumps with radii of $0.1-0.2$ pc and masses of $40-230M_\odot$. We find that the clumps contain smaller-scale ($\sim 0.04$ pc) structures, i.e., dense cores. We identify 70 cores by applying CLUMPFIND to the N$_2$H$^+$ data cube. In the central cluster-forming clump, the excitation temperat…
To investigate the physical processes, we present observational results of the sites S234, V582, and IRAS 05231+3512 situated toward l = 171.7 - 174.1 degrees. Based on the CO line data, we find that these sites are not physically connected, and contain at least one filament (with length > 7 pc). The observed line masses (M_line,obs) of the filaments associated with V582 and IRAS 05231+3512 are ~37 and ~28 M_sun/pc, respectively. These filaments are characterized as thermally supercritical, and harbor several clumps. Groups of infrared-excess sources and massive B-type stars are observed towar…
Filaments are ubiquitous structures in molecular clouds and play an important role in the mass assembly of stars. We present results of dynamical stability analyses for filaments in the infrared dark cloud G14.225$-$0.506, where a delayed onset of massive star formation was reported in the two hubs at the convergence of multiple filaments of parsec length. Full-synthesis imaging is performed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to map the $\mathrm{N_2H^+} \; (1-0)$ emission in two hub-filament systems with a spatial resolution of $\sim 0.034 \; \mathrm{pc}$. Kinematics …
The nearest young stellar groups are associated with "hubs" of column density exceeding 10^22 cm^-2, according to recent observations. These hubs radiate multiple "filaments" of parsec length, having lower column density and fewer stars. Systems with many filaments tend to have parallel filaments with similar spacing. Such "hub-filament structure" is associated with all of the nine young stellar groups within 300 pc, forming low-mass stars. Similar properties are seen in infrared dark clouds forming more massive stars. In a new model, an initial clump in a uniform medium is compressed into a s…
Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) host the initial conditions under which massive stars and stellar clusters form. We have obtained high sensitivity and high spectral resolution observations with the IRAM 30m antenna, which allowed us to perform detailed analysis of the kinematics within one IRDC, G035.39-00.33. We focus on the 1-0 and 3-2 transitions of N2H+, C18O (1-0), and make comparison with SiO (2-1) observations and extinction mapping. Three interacting filaments of gas are found. We report large-scale velocity coherence throughout the cloud, evidenced through small velocity gradients and re…
We performed a multi-wavelength study toward the filamentary cloud G47.06+0.26 to investigate the gas kinematics and star formation. We present the 12CO (J=1-0), 13CO (J=1-0) and C18O (J=1-0) observations of G47.06+0.26 obtained with the Purple Mountain Observation (PMO) 13.7 m radio telescope to investigate the detailed kinematics of the filament. The 12CO (J=1-0) and 13CO (J=1-0) emission of G47.06+0.26 appear to show a filamentary structure. The filament extends about 45 arcmin (58.1 pc) along the east-west direction. The mean width is about 6.8 pc, as traced by the 13CO (J=1-0) emission. G…
We have mapped four selected about 0.5 deg x 0.5 deg-sized fields containing Spitzer 8-micron dark regions with APEX/LABOCA at 870 micron. Selected positions in the fields were observed in C17O(2-1) to obtain kinematic information. The obtained LABOCA maps are used in conjunction with the Spitzer IR images. The total number of clumps identified in this survey is 91, out of which 40 (44%) appear dark at 8 and 24 micron. The remaining clumps are associated with mid-IR emission. Many of the identified clumps are massive enough to allow high-mass star formation, and some of them already show clear…
We perform ideal MHD high resolution AMR simulations with driven turbulence and self-gravity and find that long filamentary molecular clouds are formed at the converging locations of large-scale turbulence flows and the filaments are bounded by gravity. The magnetic field helps shape and reinforce the long filamentary structures. The main filamentary cloud has a length of ~4.4 pc. Instead of a monolithic cylindrical structure, the main cloud is shown to be a collection of fiber/web-like sub-structures similar to filamentary clouds such as L1495. Unless the line-of-sight is close to the mean fi…
We present a multi-wavelength study of the Planck cold clump G181.84+0.31, which is located at the northern end of the extended filamentary structure S242. We have extracted 9 compact dense cores from the SCUBA-2 850 um map, and we have identified 18 young stellar objects (YSOs, 4 Class I and 14 Class II) based on their Spitzer, Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) near- and mid-infrared colours. The dense cores and YSOs are mainly distributed along the filamentary structures of G181.84 and are well traced by HCO$^{+}$(1-0) and N$_{2}$H$^{+}$(1-0) sp…
We present 3.7 arcsec (~0.05 pc) resolution 3.2 mm dust continuum observations from the IRAM PdBI, with the aim of studying the structure and fragmentation of the filamentary Infrared Dark Cloud G035.39-00.33. The continuum emission is segmented into a series of 13 quasi-regularly spaced (~0.18pc) cores, following the major axis of the IRDC. We compare the spatial distribution of the cores with that predicted by theoretical work describing the fragmentation of hydrodynamic fluid cylinders, finding a significant (a factor of ~8) discrepancy between the two. Our observations are consistent with …
We performed a multiwavelength study toward infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G34.43+0.24. New maps of 13CO $J$=1-0 and C18}O J=1-0 were obtained from the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) 13.7 m radio telescope. At 8 um (Spitzer - IRAC), IRDC G34.43+0.24 appears to be a dark filament extended by 18 arcmin along the north-south direction. Based on the association with the 870 um and C18O J=1-0 emission, we suggest that IRDC G34.43+0.24 should not be 18 arcmin in length, but extend by 34 arcmin. IRDC G34.43+0.24 contains some massive protostars, UC H II regions, and infrared bubbles. The spatial exten…
Infrared-dark clouds (IRDCs) harbor the early phases of cluster and high-mass star formation and are comprised of cold (~20 K), dense (n > 10$^4$ cm$^{-3}$) gas. The spectral energy distribution (SED) of IRDCs is dominated by the far-infrared and millimeter wavelength regime, and our initial Herschel study examined IRDCs at the peak of the SED with high angular resolution. Here we present a follow-up study using the SABOCA instrument on APEX which delivers 7.8" angular resolution at 350 micron, matching the resolution we achieved with Herschel/PACS, and allowing us to characterize substructure…
We use the Random Forest (RF) algorithm to develop a tool for automated activity classification of galaxies into 5 different classes: Star-forming (SF), AGN, LINER, Composite, and Passive. We train the algorithm on a combination of mid-IR (WISE) and optical photometric data while the true labels (activity classes) are based on emission line ratios. Our classifier is built to be redshift-agnostic and it is applicable to objects up to z $\sim$0.1. It reaches a completeness $>$80 % for SF and Passive galaxies, and $\sim$60 % for AGN. Applying it to an all-sky galaxy catalog (HECATE) reveals a lar…
The identification of AGN in large surveys has been hampered by seemingly discordant classifications arising from differing diagnostic methods, usually tracing distinct processes specific to a particular wavelength regime. However, as shown in Yao et al. (2020), the combination of optical emission line measurements and mid-infrared photometry can be used to optimise the discrimination capability between AGN and star formation activity. In this paper we test our new classification scheme by combining the existing GAMA-WISE data with high-quality MeerKAT radio continuum data covering 8 deg$^2$ o…
We present activity demographics and host-galaxy properties of infrared-selected galaxies in the local Universe, using the representative Star Formation Reference Survey (SFRS). Our classification scheme is based on a combination of optical emission-line diagrams (BPT) and IR-color diagnostics. Using the weights assigned to the SFRS galaxies based on its parent sample, a far-infrared-selected sample comprises 71\% H\,\textsc{ii} galaxies, 13\% Seyferts, 3\% Transition Objects (TOs), and 13\% Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission-Line Regions (LINERs). For the SFRS H\,\textsc{ii} galaxies we derive n…
Nearby galaxies offer unique laboratories allowing multi-wavelength spatially resolved studies of the interstellar medium, star formation and nuclear activity across a broad range of physical conditions. In particular, detailed studies of individual local luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) are crucial for gaining a better understanding of these processes and for developing and testing models that are used to explain statistical studies of large populations of such galaxies at high redshift for which it is currently impossible to reach a sufficient physical resolution. Here, we provide an overv…
Observations indicate that molecular clouds are strongly magnetized, and that magnetic fields influence the formation of stars. A key observation supporting the conclusion that molecular clouds are significantly magnetized is that the orientation of their internal structure is closely related to that of the magnetic field. At low column densities the structure aligns parallel with the field, whereas at higher column densities, the gas structure is typically oriented perpendicular to magnetic fields, with a transition at visual extinctions $A_V\gtrsim{}3~\rm{}mag$. Here we use far-infrared pola…
We present the star formation activity around the emission nebula Sh2-112. At a distance of $\sim2.1$~kpc, this \ion{H}{2} complex, itself 3~pc in radius, is illuminated by the massive star (O8\,V) BD$+$45\,3216. The associated molecular cloud extends in angular scales of $2\fdg0\times0\fdg83$, corresponding to linear sizes of 73~pc by 30~pc, along the Galactic longitude. The high-resolution ($30\arcsec$) extinction map reveals a chain of dust clumps aligned with the filament-like structure with an average extinction of $A_{V} \sim 2.78$~mag, varying up to a maximum of $\sim17$~mag. Our analys…
Star formation in molecular clouds is intimately linked to their internal mass distribution. We present an unprecedentedly detailed analysis of the column density structure of a high-mass, filamentary molecular cloud, namely IRDC G11.11-0.12 (G11). We use two novel column density mapping techniques: high-resolution (FWHM=2", or ~0.035 pc) dust extinction mapping in near- and mid-infrared, and dust emission mapping with the Herschel satellite. These two completely independent techniques yield a strikingly good agreement, highlighting their complementarity and robustness. We first analyze the de…
Filamentary structures are common in molecular clouds. Explaining how they fragment to dense cores is a missing step in understanding their role in star formation. We perform a case study of whether low-mass filaments are close-to hydrostatic prior to their fragmentation, and whether their fragmentation agrees with gravitational fragmentation models. For this, we study the 6.5 pc long Musca molecular cloud that is an ideal candidate for a filament at an early stage of fragmentation. We employ dust extinction mapping in conjunction with near-infrared data from the NEWFIRM instrument, and 870 um…
Herschel observation has recently revealed that interstellar molecular clouds consist of many filaments. Polarization observations in optical and infrared wavelengths indicate that the magnetic field often runs perpendicular to the filament. In this paper, the magnetohydrostatic configuration of isothermal gas is studied, in which the thermal pressure and the Lorentz force are balanced against the self-gravity and the magnetic field is globally perpendicular to the axis of the filament. The model is controlled by three parameters: center-to-surface density ratio (ρ_c/ρ_s), plasma βof surroundi…
Insights into Galaxy Morphology and Star Formation: Unveiling Filamentary Structures around an Extreme Overdensity at $z \sim 1.5$ Traced by [OII] Emitters
We present observations of 1.5 square degree maps of the 12CO, 13CO, and C18O (J=1-0) emission toward the complex region of the supernova remnant (SNR) W41 and SNR G22.7-0.2. A massive (~5E5Msun), large (~84x15 pc), and dense (~10E3 cm^-3) giant molecular cloud (GMC), G23.0-0.4 with VLSR~77 km/s, is found to be adjacent to the two SNRs. The GMC displays a filamentary structure approximately along the Galactic plane. The filamentary structure of the dense molecular gas, traced by C18O (J=1-0) emission, is also coincident well with the distribution of the dust-continuum emission in the direction…
Aims: To investigate properties of [CII]158 $μ$m emission of RCW36 in a dense filamentary cloud. Methods: [CII] observations of RCW36 covering an area of ~30 arcmin$\times$30 arcmin were carried out with a Fabry-Pérot spectrometer aboard a 100-cm balloon-borne far-infrared (IR) telescope with an angular resolution of 90 arcsec. By using AKARI and Herschel images, the spatial distribution of the [CII] intensity was compared with those of emission from the large grains and PAH. Results: The [CII] emission is spatially in good agreement with shell-like structures of a bipolar lobe observed in IR …
The IC5146 cloud is a nearby star-forming region in Cygnus, consisting of molecular gas filaments in a variety of evolutionary stages. We used optical and near-infrared polarization data toward the IC5146 cloud, reported in the first paper of this series, to reveal the magnetic fields in this cloud. Using the newly released $Gaia$ data, we found that the IC5146 cloud may contain two separate clouds: a first cloud, including the densest main filament at a distance of $\sim$600 pc, and a second cloud, associated with the Cocoon Nebula at a distance of $\sim$800 pc. The spatially averaged H-band …
Optical and infrared polarization mapping and recent Planck observations of the filamentary cloud L1495 in Taurus show that the large-scale magnetic field is approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the cloud. We use the HAWC+ polarimeter on SOFIA to probe the complex magnetic field in the B211 part of the cloud. Our results reveal a dispersion of polarization angles of $36^\circ$, about five times that measured on a larger scale by Planck. Applying the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi (DCF) method with velocity information obtained from IRAM 30m C$^{18}$O(1-0) observations, we find two distin…
We present the results of a search for mid-infrared signs of star formation activity in the 1.1 mm sources in the Bolocam Galactic Plane Survey (BGPS). We have correlated the BGPS catalog with available mid-IR Galactic plane catalogs based on the Spitzer Space Telescope GLIMPSE legacy survey and the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) Galactic plane survey. We find that 44% (3,712 of 8,358) of the BGPS sources contain at least one mid-IR source, including 2,457 of 5,067 (49%) within the area where all surveys overlap (10 deg < l < 65 deg). Accounting for chance alignments between the BGPS and mid…
