Discovery of Molecular and Atomic Gas associated with HESS J1646-458 (Westerlund 1): Spatial TeV Gamma-Ray and Interstellar Proton Correspondence
We report CO and HI studies of molecular and atomic gas toward the TeV gamma-ray source HESS J1646$-$458, widely considered to be associated with the young massive cluster Westerlund 1 (Wd1). We found that molecular clouds at $V_\mathrm{LSR} \sim$$-32$ km s$^{-1}$ coincide with arc-like structures seen at 8 $\mu$m, likely illuminated by strong FUV radiation from Wd1. $^{12}$CO($J$ = 3-2) emission at the same velocity reveals a cavity-like structure with an expansion velocity of $\sim$$5$ km s$^{-1}$ toward the central region of Wd1, suggesting a recently formed wind-blown bubble driven by the cluster. We also identify a complementary spatial distribution between the $V_\mathrm{LSR} \sim$$-55$ and $\sim$$-32$ km s$^{-1}$ clouds, connected by an intermediate-velocity component at $V_\mathrm{LSR} \sim$$-44$ km s$^{-1}$. These characteristics are consistent with signatures of triggered star formation through a cloud-cloud collision and imply that both clouds are physically associated with Wd1. On larger scales, the total interstellar proton column density at $V_\mathrm{LSR}$ $\sim$$-36$-$-23$ km s$^{-1}$ shows a moderate spatial correspondence with the TeV gamma-ray shell. Together with this correlation, a substantial gas mass of $\sim$$1.6 \times 10^6$ $M_\odot$, and the absence of bright synchrotron X-rays, the TeV gamma-ray emission surrounding Wd1 is consistent with the hadronic origin. The present finding allows us to calculate the total energy of accelerated cosmic-ray protons to be $\sim$$6 \times 10^{49}$ erg.