arXiv · astro-ph/0508458
Massive Protostars in the Infrared Dark Cloud MSXDC G034.43+00.24
Abstract
We present a multiwavelength study of the infrared dark cloud MSXDC G034.43+00.24. Dust emission, traced by millimeter/submillimeter images obtained with the IRAM, JCMT, and CSO telescopes, reveals three compact cores within this infrared dark cloud with masses of 170--800 Msun and sizes < 0.5 pc. Spitzer 3.6-8.0 um images show slightly extended emission toward these cores, with a spectral enhancement at 4.5 um that probably arises from shocked H2. In addition, the broad line widths (Delta V ~ 10 km/s) of HCN (4-3), and CS (3-2), and the detection of SiO (2-1), observed with the JCMT and IRAM telescopes, also indicate active star formation. Spitzer 24 um images reveal that each of these cores contains a bright, unresolved continuum source; these sources are most likely embedded protostars. Their millimeter to mid-IR continuum spectral energy distributions reveal very high luminosities, 9000-32,000 Lsun. Because such large luminosities cannot arise from low-mass protostars, MSXDC G034.43+00.24 is actively forming massive (~ 10 Msun) stars.
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J. M. Rathborne, J. M. Jackson, E. T. Chambers, R. Simon, R. Shipman, W. Frieswijk. 2005-08-22. Massive Protostars in the Infrared Dark Cloud MSXDC G034.43+00.24. https://doi.org/10.1086/491656
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