arXiv subjects

M. G. Burton

Publications and source records attributed to M. G. Burton.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Detection of SiO emission from a massive dense cold core

We report the detection of the SiO (J = 2 - 1) transition from the massive cold dense core G333.125-0.562. The core remains undetected at wavelengths shorter than 70 micron and has compact 1.2 mm dust continuum. The SiO emission is localised to the core. The observations are part of a continuing multi-molecular line survey of the giant molecular cloud G333. Other detected molecules in the core include 13CO, C18O, CS, HCO+, HCN, HNC, CH3OH, N2H+, SO, HC3N, NH3, and some of their isotopes. In addition, from NH3 (1,1) and (2,2) inversion lines, we obtain a temperature of 13 K. From fitting to the spectral energy distribution we obtain a colour temperature of 18 K and a gas mass of 2 x 10^3 solar mass. We have also detected a 22 GHz water maser in the core, together with methanol maser emission, suggesting the core will host massive star formation. We hypothesise that the SiO emission arises from shocks associated with an outflow in the cold core.

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arXiv2007

Embedded Stellar Populations towards Young Massive Star Formation Regions I. G305.2+0.2

We present deep, wide-field J, H and Ks images taken with IRIS2 on the Anglo Australian Telescope, towards the massive star formation region G305.2+0.2. Combined with 3.6, 4.5, 5.8 and 8.0 micron data from the GLIMPSE survey on the Spitzer Space Telescope, we investigate the properties of the embedded stellar populations. After removing contamination from foreground stars we separate the sources based on their IR colour. Strong extended emission in the GLIMPSE images hampers investigation of the most embedded sources towards the known sites of massive star formation. However, we find a sizeable population of IR excess sources in the surrounding region free from these completeness effects. Investigation reveals the recent star formation activity in the region is more widespread than previously known. Stellar density plots show the embedded cluster in the region, G305.24+0.204, is offset from the dust emission. We discuss the effect of this cluster on the surrounding area and argue it may have played a role in triggering sites of star formation within the region. Finally, we investigate the distribution of IR excess sources towards the cluster, in particular their apparent lack towards the centre compared with its immediate environs.

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arXiv2007

The RMS Survey: 13CO observations of candidate massive YSOs in the southern hemisphere

Abridged: The Red MSX Source (RMS) survey is an ongoing multi-wavelength observational programme designed to return a large, well-selected sample of massive young stellar objects (MYSOs). Here we present 13CO observations made towards 854 MYSOs candidates located in the 3rd and 4th quadrants. We detected 13CO emission towards a total of 751 of the 854 RMS sources observed (~88%). In total 2185 emission components are detected above 3$σ$ level. Multiple emission profiles are observed towards the majority of these sources - 455 sources (~60%) - with an average of ~4 molecular clouds along the line of sight. These multiple emission features make it difficult to assign a kinematic velocity to many of our sample. We have used archival CS (J=2-1) and maser velocities to resolved the component multiplicity towards 82 sources and have derived a criterion which is used to identify the most likely component for a further 202 multiple component sources. Combined with the single component detections we have obtained unambiguous kinematic velocities towards 580 sources (~80% of the detections). The 171 sources for which we have not been able to determine the kinematic velocity will require additional line data. Using the rotation curve of Brand and Blitz (1993) and their radial velocities we calculate kinematic distances for all components detected.

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arXiv2007

Profiling Young Massive Stars

We present the results of spectral energy distribution analysis for 162 of the 405 sources reported in the SIMBA survey of Hill et al. (2005). The fits reveal source specific parameters including: the luminosity, mass, temperature, H$_2$ number density, the surface density and the luminosity-to-mass ratio. Each of these parameters are examined with respect to the four classes of source present in the sample. Obvious luminosity and temperature distinctions exist between the mm-only cores and those cores with methanol maser and/or radio continuum emission, with the former cooler and less luminous than the latter. The evidence suggests that the mm-only cores are a precursor to the methanol maser in the formation of massive stars. The mm-only cores comprise two distinct populations distinguished by temperature. Analysis and conclusions about the nature of the cool-mm and warm-mm cores comprising the mm-only population are drawn.

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arXiv2007

Multi-wavelength observations of Southern Hot Molecular Cores traced by methanol masers - I. Ammonia and 24 GHz Continuum Data

We present observations of the (1,1), (2,2), (4,4) and (5,5) inversion transitions of para-ammonia (NH3) and 24 GHz continuum, taken with the Australia Telescope Compact Array toward 21 southern Galactic hot molecular cores traced by 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission. We detect NH3(1,1) emission toward all 21 regions and 24 GHz continuum emission toward 12 of the regions, including 6 with no reported 8 GHz continuum counterparts. In total, we find the 21 regions contain 41 NH3(1,1) cores. We extract characteristic spectra for every core at each of the NH3 transitions and present both integrated intensity maps and channel maps for each region. The NH3(4,4)+(5,5) emission is always unresolved and found at the maser position indicating that the methanol masers are found at the warmest part of the core. We observe large asymmetries in the NH3(1,1) hyperfine line profiles and conclude this is due to a number of dense, small clumps within the beam. We derive properties of the ionised gas and find the 24 GHz continuum sources not detected at 8 GHz are always coincident with both NH3 and methanol masers in contrast to those detected at 8 + 24 GHz which are generally offset from the methanol masers. We investigate the possibility that the former may be hyper-compact HII regions. Finally, we separate the cores into five groups, based on their association with NH3, methanol maser and continuum emission. From the different physical properties of the cores in the groups, we discuss the possibility that these groups may represent cores at different evolutionary stages of the massive star formation process.

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arXiv2007

The molecular environment of massive star forming cores associated with Class II methanol maser emission

Methanol maser emission has proven to be an excellent signpost of regions undergoing massive star formation (MSF). To investigate their role as an evolutionary tracer, we have recently completed a large observing program with the ATCA to derive the dynamical and physical properties of molecular/ionised gas towards a sample of MSF regions traced by 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission. We find that the molecular gas in many of these regions breaks up into multiple sub-clumps which we separate into groups based on their association with/without methanol maser and cm continuum emission. The temperature and dynamic state of the molecular gas is markedly different between the groups. Based on these differences, we attempt to assess the evolutionary state of the cores in the groups and thus investigate the role of class II methanol masers as a tracer of MSF.

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arXiv2007

A search for 22-GHz water masers within the giant molecular cloud associated with RCW106

We report the results of a blind search for 22-GHz water masers in two regions, covering approximately half a square degree, within the giant molecular cloud associated with RCW 106. The complete search of the two regions was carried out with the 26-m Mount Pleasant radio telescope and resulted in the detection of nine water masers, five of which are new detections. Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) observations of these detections have allowed us to obtain positions with arcsecond accuracy, allowing meaningful comparison with infrared and molecular data for the region. We find that for the regions surveyed there are more water masers than either 6.7-GHz methanol, or main-line OH masers. The water masers are concentrated towards the central axis of the star formation region, in contrast to the 6.7-GHz methanol masers which tend to be located near the periphery. The colours of the GLIMPSE point sources associated with the water masers are similar to those of 6.7-GHz methanol masers, but slightly less red. We have made a statistical investigation of the properties of the 13CO and 1.2-mm dust clumps with and without associated water masers. We find that the water masers are associated with the more massive, denser and brighter 13CO and 1.2-mm dust clumps. We present statistical models that are able to predict those 13CO and 1.2-mm dust clumps that are likely to have associated water masers, with a low misclassification rate.

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arXiv2007

A Search for Propylene Oxide and Glycine in Sagittarius B2 (LMH) and Orion

We have used the Mopra Telescope to search for glycine and the simple chiral molecule propylene oxide in the Sgr B2 (LMH) and Orion KL, in the 3-mm band. We have not detected either species, but have been able to put sensitive upper limits on the abundances of both molecules. The 3-sigma upper limits derived for glycine conformer I are 3.7 x 10^{14} cm^{-2} in both Orion-KL and Sgr B2 (LMH), comparable to the reported detections of conformer I by Kuan et al. However, as our values are 3-sigma upper limits rather than detections we conclude that this weighs against confirming the detection of Kuan et al. We find upper limits for the glycine II column density of 7.7 x 10^{12} cm^{-2} in both Orion-KL and Sgr B2 (LMH), in agreement with the results of Combes et al. The results presented here show that glycine conformer II is not present in the extended gas at the levels detected by Kuan et al. for conformer I. Our ATCA results (Jones et al.) have ruled out the detection of glycine (both conformers I and II) in the compact hot core of the LMH at the levels reported, so we conclude that it is unlikely that Kuan et al. have detected glycine in either Sgr B2 or Orion-KL. We find upper limits for propylene oxide abundance of 3.0 x 10^{14} cm^{-2} in Orion-KL and 6.7 x 10^{14} cm^{-2} in Sgr B2 (LMH). We have detected fourteen features in Sgr B2 and four features in Orion-KL which have not previously been reported in the ISM, but have not be able to plausibly assign these transitions to any carrier.

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arXiv2006

Radio observations of comet 9P/Tempel 1 with the Australia Telescope facilities during the Deep Impact encounter

We present radio observations of comet 9P/Tempel 1 associated with the Deep Impact spacecraft collision of 2005 July 4. Weak 18-cm OH emission was detected with the Parkes 64-m telescope, in data averaged over July 4 to 6, at a level of 12 +/- 3 mJy km/s, corresponding to OH production rate 2.8 x 10^{28} molecules/second (Despois et al. inversion model, or 1.0 x 10^{28} /s for the Schleicher & A'Hearn model). We did not detect the HCN 1-0 line with the Mopra 22-m telescope over the period July 2 to 6. The 3 sigma limit of 0.06 K km/s for HCN on July 4 after the impact gives the limit to the HCN production rate of < 1.8 x 10^{25} /s. We did not detect the HCN 1-0 line, 6.7 GHz CH_3OH line or 3.4-mm continuum with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) on July 4, giving further limits on any small-scale structure due to an outburst. The 3 sigma limit on HCN emission of 2.5 K km/s from the ATCA around impact corresponds to limit < 4 x 10^{29} HCN molecules released by the impact.

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arXiv2006

Mid-Infrared Source Multiplicity within Hot Molecular Cores traced by Methanol Masers

We present high resolution, mid-infrared images toward three hot molecular cores signposted by methanol maser emission; G173.49+2.42 (S231, S233IR), G188.95+0.89 (S252, AFGL-5180) and G192.60-0.05 (S255IR). Each of the cores was targeted with Michelle on Gemini North using 5 filters from 7.9 to 18.5 microns. We find each contains both large regions of extended emission and multiple, luminous point sources which, from their extremely red colours (F[18.5]/F[7.9] >= 3), appear to be embedded young stellar objects. The closest angular separations of the point sources in the three regions are 0.79, 1.00 and 3.33 arcseconds corresponding to linear separations of 1,700, 1,800 and 6,000AU respectively. The methanol maser emission is found closest to the brightest MIR point source (within the assumed 1 arcsecond pointing accuracy). Mass and luminosity estimates for the sources range from 3-22 Msol and 50-40,000 Lsol. Assuming the MIR sources are embedded objects and the observed gas mass provides the bulk of the reservoir from which the stars formed, it is difficult to generate the observed distributions for the most massive cluster members from the gas in the cores using a standard form of the IMF.

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arXiv2006

Millimetre Continuum Observations of Southern Massive Star Formation Regions II. SCUBA observations of cold cores and the dust grain emissivity index $β$

We report the results of a submillimetre continuum emission survey targeted toward 78 star formation regions, 72 of which are devoid of methanol maser and UC HII regions, identified in the SEST/SIMBA millimetre continuum survey of Hill et al. (2005). At least 45 per cent of the latter sources, dubbed `mm-only', detected in this survey are also devoid of mid infrared MSX, emission. The 450 and 850micron, continuum emission was mapped using the Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) instrument on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). Emission is detected toward 97 per cent of the 78 sources targeted as well as towards 28 other SIMBA sources lying in the SCUBA fields. We concatenate the results from four (sub)millimetre continuum surveys of massive star formation [Walsh et al. (2003), Hill et al. (2005), Thompson et al. (2006); as well as this work], together with the Galactic Plane map of Pierce-Price et al. (2000) in order to determine the dust grain emissivity index $β$ for each of the sources in the SIMBA source list. We examine the value of $β$ with respect to temperature, as well as for the source classes identified in the SIMBA survey, for variation of this index. Our results indicate that $β$ is typically 2, which is consistent with previous determinations in the literature, but for a considerably larger sample than previous work.

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arXiv2005

A CH3CN and HCO+ survey towards southern methanol masers associated with star formation

We present the initial results of a 3-mm spectral line survey towards 83 methanol maser selected massive star-forming regions. Here we report observations of the J=5-4 and 6-5 rotational transitions of methyl cyanide (CH3CN) and the J=1-0 transition of HCO+and H13CO+. CH3CN emission is detected in 58 sources (70 %) of our sample). We estimate the temperature and column density for 37 of these using the rotational diagram method. The temperatures we derive range from 28-166 K, and are lower than previously reported temperatures, derived from higher J transitions. We find that CH3CN is brighter and more commonly detected towards ultra-compact HII (UCHII) regions than towards isolated maser sources. Detection of CH3CN towards isolated maser sources strongly suggests that these objects are internally heated and that CH3CN is excited prior to the UCHII phase of massive star-formation. HCO+ is detected towards 82 sources (99 % of our sample), many of which exhibit asymmetric line profiles compared to H13CO+. Skewed profiles are indicative of inward or outward motions, however, we find approximately equal numbers of red and blue-skewed profiles among all classes. Column densities are derived from an analysis of the HCO+ and H13CO+ line profiles. 80 sources have mid-infrared counterparts: 68 seen in emission and 12 seen in absorption as `dark clouds'. Seven of the twelve dark clouds exhibit asymmetric HCO+ profiles, six of which are skewed to the blue, indicating infalling motions. CH3CN is also common in dark clouds, where it has a 90 % detection rate.

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arXiv2005

L-band (3.5 micron) IR-excess in massive star formation, II. RCW 57/NGC 3576

We present a JHKL survey of the massive star forming region RCW 57 (NGC 3576) based on L-band data at 3.5 micron taken with SPIREX (South Pole Infrared Explorer), and 2MASS JHK data at 1.25-2.2 micron. This is the second of two papers, the first one concerning a similar JHKL survey of 30 Doradus. Colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams are used to detect sources with infrared excess. This excess emission is interpreted as coming from circumstellar disks, and hence gives the cluster disk fraction (CDF). Based on the CDF and the age of RCW 57, it is possible to draw conclusions on the formation and early evolution of massive stars. The infrared excess is detected by comparing the locations of sources in JHKL colour-colour and L vs. (K-L) colour-magnitude diagrams to the reddening band due to interstellar extinction. A total of 251 sources were detected. More than 50% of the 209 sources included in the diagrams have an infrared excess. Comparison with other JHKL surveys, including the results on 30 Doradus from the first paper, support a very high initial disk fraction (>80%) even for massive stars, although there is an indication of a possible faster evolution of circumstellar disks around high mass stars. 33 sources only found in the L-band indicate the presence of heavily embedded, massive Class I protostars. We also report the detection of diffuse PAHs emission throughout the RCW 57 region.

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arXiv2005

Millimetre continuum observations of southern massive star formation regions. I. SIMBA observations of cold cores

We report the results of a SEST 1.2 mm continuum emission survey toward regions previously identified as harbouring a methanol maser and/or an UC HII region, typically indicative of massive star formation. Emission is detected toward all of the methanol maser and UC HII regions targeted, implying that these objescts are associated with cold, deeply embedded objects. We have also identified a large number (253) of sources within the SIMBA maps, which are devoid of maser and radio continuum emission. These `mm-only' cores may be an entirely new class of source that represents an earlier stage in the evolution of massive stars, prior to the onset of methanol maser emission. Or, they may harbour protoclusters, which do not contain any high mass stars (i.e. below the HII). Alternatively, they may represent a cross-section of both, where the more massive mm-only cores are a precursor to the methanol maser and the least massive mm-only cores will form intermediate mass stars. Analysis of the mm-only sources shows that they are less massive ({\= M} = 0.9 x 10^{3} Msun), and smaller ({\= R} = 0.4 pc) than sources with methanol maser and/or radio continuum emission, which collectively have a mean mass of 2.5 x 10^{3} Msun and a mean radius of 0.7 pc.

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arXiv2005

Science Programs for a 2 m-class Telescope at Dome C, Antarctica: PILOT, the Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope

The cold, dry and stable air above the summits of the Antarctic plateau provides the best ground-based observing conditions from optical to sub-mm wavelengths to be found on the Earth. PILOT is a proposed 2 m telescope, to be built at Dome C in Antarctica, able to exploit these conditions for conducting astronomy at optical and infrared wavelengths. While PILOT is intended as a pathfinder towards the construction of future grand-design facilities, it will also be able to undertake a range of fundamental science investigations in its own right. This paper provides the performance specifications for PILOT, including its instrumentation. It then describes the kinds of science projects that it could best conduct. These range from planetary science to the search for other solar systems, from star formation within the Galaxy to the star formation history of the Universe, and from gravitational lensing caused by exo-planets to that produced by the cosmic web of dark matter. PILOT would be particularly powerful for wide-field imaging at infrared wavelengths, achieving near-diffraction limited performance with simple tip-tilt wavefront correction. PILOT would also be capable of near-diffraction limited performance in the optical wavebands, as well be able to open new wavebands for regular ground based observation; in the mid-IR from 17 to 40 microns and in the sub-mm at 200 microns.

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arXiv2005

L-band (3.5 micron) IR-excess in massive star formation, I. 30 Doradus

L-band data of 30 Doradus at 3.5 micron taken with SPIREX (South Pole Infrared Explorer) is presented. The photometry was combined with 2MASS JHK data at 1.25-2.2 micron. Colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams are constructed and used to determine the sources with infrared excess. These are interpreted as circumstellar disks, and enable the fraction of sources with disks (the cluster disk fraction or CDF) to be determined. We find that ~42% of the sources detected at L-band in 30 Doradus have an IR-excess.

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arXiv2004

High-mass star formation in the Southern Hemisphere sky

We report on a multi-wavelength (IR to cm) and multi-resolution (1 mas to 20 arcsec) exploration of high-mass star formation regions in the Galactic plane, at longitudes observable from the Southern Hemisphere. Our source sample was originally identified through methanol masers in the Galactic plane, which exclusively trace high-mass star-forming regions. (Sub)millimetre continuum and molecular line observations were carried out with SEST/SIMBA, JCMT/SCUBA and ATNF/Mopra mm-wave telescopes and have allowed us to identify massive ($>20$ M$_{\odot}$) and luminous ($>10^3$ L$_{\odot}$) clumps in each star-forming region. We have also constrained the SED with additional archival IR data, the physical conditions ($T_{dust}$, $L$, $M$) and the chemical composition of each massive clump. Several types of objects were characterised based on the $L_{submm}/L_{bol}$ ratio, the dust temperature and the molecular line properties, ranging from class 0-like YSO clusters ($L_{sub}/L_{bol}\sim1%$, T=30 K) to hot molecular clumps ($L_{sub}/L_{bol}\sim0.1%$, $T=40-200$ K). Preliminary high-angular resolution observations for a subset of the sample with the ATNF/ATCA at 3 mm, the VLA at 15, 22 and 43 GHz and Gemini in MIR have revealed that several (proto)stellar objects are embedded in the massive clumps: massive protostars, hot cores and hyper-compact HII regions. We have thus identified protoclusters of massive YSOs, which are the precursors of the OB associations. This sample of Southern Hemisphere star-forming regions will be extremely valuable for the scientific preparation of the ALMA and HSO observations.

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arXiv2004

Star-forming protoclusters associated with methanol masers

We present a multiwavelength study of five methanol maser sites which are not directly associated with a strong ($>100$ mJy) radio continuum source: G 31.28+0.06, G 59.78+0.06, G 173.49+2.42 (S231, S233IR), G 188.95+0.89 (S252, AFGL5180) and G 192.60-0.05 (S255IR). These radio-quiet methanol maser sites are often interpreted as precursors of ultra-compact \ion{H}{ii} regions or massive protostar sites. In this work, the environment of methanol masers is probed from mid-IR to millimetre wavelengths at angular resolutions of $8''-34''$. Spectral energy distribution (SED) diagrams for each site are presented, together with mass and luminosity estimates. Each radio-quiet maser site is always associated with a massive ($>50$ M$_{\odot}$), deeply embedded ($A_v>40$ mag) and very luminous ($>10^4$ S L$_{\odot}$) molecular clump, with $L_{total}{\propto}M_{gas}^{0.75}$. These physical properties characterise massive star-forming clumps in earlier evolutionary phases than \ion{H}{ii} regions. In addition, colder gas clumps seen only at mm-wavelengths are also found near the methanol maser sites. These colderclumps may represent an even earlier phase of massive star formation. These results suggest an evolutionary sequence for massive star formation from a cold clump, seen only at mm wavelengths, evolving to a hot molecular core with a two-component SED with peaks at far-IR and mid-IR wavelengths, to an (ultra-compact) \ion{H}{ii} region. Alternatively, the cold clumps might be clusters of low-mass YSOs, in formation near the massive star-forming clusters. Finally, the values of the dust grain emissivity index ($β$) range between 1.6 and 1.9.

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