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We implement a new observational method for mapping the aliphatic hydrocarbon content in the solid phase in our Galaxy, based on spectrophotometric imaging of the 3.4  |$\mu$| m absorption feature from interstellar dust. We previously demonstrated this method in a field including the Galactic Centre cluster. We applied the method to a new field in the Galactic Centre where the 3.4  |$\mu$| m absorption feature has not been previously measured and we extended the measurements to a field in the Galactic plane to sample the diffuse local interstellar medium, where the 3.4  |$\mu$| m absorption feature has been previously measured. We have analysed 3.4  |$\mu$| m optical depth and aliphatic hydrocarbon column density maps for these fields. Optical depths are found to be reasonably uniform in each field, without large source-to-source variations. There is, however, a weak trend towards increasing optical depth in a direction towards b  = 0° in the Galactic Centre. The mean value of column densities and abundances for aliphatic hydrocarbon were found to be about several |$\rm \times 10^{18} \, cm^{-2}$| and several tens × 10−6, respectively for the new sightlines in the Galactic plane. We conclude that at least 10–20 per cent of the carbon in the Galactic plane lies in aliphatic form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the interstellar medium, the cosmic elemental carbon abundance includes the total carbon in both gas and solid phases. The aim of the study was to trial a new method for measuring the amount and distribution of aliphatic carbon within interstellar dust over wide fields of view of our Galaxy. This method is based on the measurement of the 3.4- |$\mu$| m absorption feature from aliphatic carbonaceous matter. This can readily be achieved for single sources using infrared (IR) spectrometers. However, making such measurements over wide fields requires an imaging IR camera, equipped with narrow-band filters that are able to sample the spectrum. While this cannot produce as good a determination of the spectra, the technique can be applied to potentially tens to hundreds of sources simultaneously, over the field of view of the camera. We examined this method for a field in the centre of the Galaxy, and produced a map showing the variation of 3.4- |$\mu$| m optical depth across it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We have mapped 20 spectral lines in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) around the Galactic Centre, emitting from 85.3 to 93.3 GHz. This work used the 22-m Mopra radio telescope in Australia, equipped with the 8-GHz bandwidth University of New South Wales-Mopra Spectrometer (UNSW-MOPS) digital filter bank, obtaining ∼2 km s−1 spectral and ∼40 arcsec spatial resolution. The lines measured include emission from the c-C3H2, CH3CCH, HOCO+, SO, H13CN, H13CO+, SO, H13NC, C2H, HNCO, HCN, HCO+, HNC, HC3N, 13CS and N2H+ molecules. The area covered is Galactic longitude −07 to 18 and latitude −03 to 02, including the bright dust cores around Sgr A, Sgr B2, Sgr C and G1.6−0.025. We present images from this study and conduct a principal component analysis on the integrated emission from the brightest eight lines. This is dominated by the first component, showing that the large-scale distribution of all molecules is very similar. We examine the line ratios and optical depths in selected apertures around the bright dust cores, as well as for the complete mapped region of the CMZ. We highlight the behaviour of the bright HCN, HNC and HCO+ line emission, together with that from the 13C isotopologues of these species, and compare the behaviour with that found in extragalactic sources where the emission is unresolved spatially. We also find that the isotopologue line ratios (e.g. HCO+/H13CO+) rise significantly with increasing redshifted velocity in some locations. Line luminosities are also calculated and compared to that of CO, as well as to line luminosities determined for external galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have undertaken a spectral-line imaging survey of a arcmin area around Sagittarius (Sgr) B2 near the centre of the Galaxy, in the range from 30 to 50 GHz, using the Mopra telescope. The spatial resolution varies from 1.0 to 1.4 arcmin and the spectral resolution varies from 1.6 to 2.7 km s over the frequency range. We present velocity-integrated emission images for 47 lines: 38 molecular lines and nine radio recombination lines. There are significant differences between the distributions of different molecules, in part due to spatial differences in chemical abundance across the complex. For example, HNCO and HOCO are found preferentially in the north cloud, and CHNH near Sgr B2 (N). Some of the differences between lines are due to excitation differences, as shown by the 36.17- and 44.07-GHz lines of CHOH, which have maser emission, compared to the 48.37-GHz line of CHOH. Other major differences in integrated molecular line distribution are due to absorption of the 7-mm free-free continuum emission (spatially traced by the radio recombination line emission) by cool intervening molecular material, causing a central dip in the molecular line distributions. These line distribution similarities and differences have been statistically described by Principal Component Analysis and interpreted in terms of simple Sgr B2 physical components of the cooler, lower density envelope, and dense, hot cores Sgr B2 (N), (M) and (S). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report provides the recommendations of ARENA Working Group 1 concerning the development of and objectives for a wide-field, optical/infrared, 2.5m class telescope for Antarctica. It discusses the key science drivers for such a telescope, the performance and capabilities it should have, and the logistics and infrastructure issues relevant to its construction and operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Australia Telescope Compact Array observations towards six massive star formation regions, which, from their strong 24 GHz continuum emission but no compact 8 GHz continuum emission, appeared good candidates for hypercompact H ii regions. However, the properties of the ionized gas derived from the 19 to 93 GHz continuum emission and radio recombination line data show the majority of these sources are, in fact, regions of spatially extended, optically thin free–free emission. These extended sources were missed in the previous 8 GHz observations due to a combination of spatial filtering, poor surface brightness sensitivity and primary beam attenuation. We consider the implications that a significant number of these extended H ii regions may have been missed by previous surveys of massive star formation regions. If the original sample of 21 sources is representative of the population as a whole, the fact that six contain previously undetected extended free–free emission suggests a large number of regions have been mis-classified. Rather than being very young objects prior to UCH ii region formation, they are, in fact, associated with extended H ii regions and thus significantly older. In addition, inadvertently ignoring a potentially substantial flux contribution (up to ∼0.5 Jy) from free–free emission has implications for dust masses derived from sub-mm flux densities. The large spatial scales probed by single-dish telescopes, which do not suffer from spatial filtering, are particularly susceptible and dust masses may be overestimated by up to a factor of ∼2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A description of the early days of infrared site testing at the South Pole is given, with special attention paid to the data which quantified the conditions during summer and the long twilight period. Such times are also provide relatively benign conditions for humans in Antarctica as well. We show that they are favourable for many observing programs that require the thermal infrared, and then discuss a number of specific projects that could be undertaken. Such projects might mark the first to be conducted with any new telescope in Antarctica, as they would enable science to be carried out during the commissioning period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Mopra telescope, we have undertaken a 3-mm spectral-line imaging survey of a 5 × 5 arcmin2 area around Sgr B2. We covered almost the complete spectral range from 81.7 to 113.5 GHz, with 2.2 MHz wide spectral channels or and have observed 24 lines, with 0.033 MHz wide, or channels. We discuss the distribution of around 50 lines, and present velocity-integrated emission images for 38 of the lines. In addition, we have detected around 120 more lines, mostly concentrated at the particularly spectral-line-rich Sgr B2(N) source. There are significant differences in molecular emission, pointing to both abundance and excitation differences throughout the region. Seven distinct spatial locations are identified for the emitting species, including peaks near the prominent star-forming cores of Sgr B2(N), (M) and (S) that are seen in infrared (IR)-to-radio continuum images. The other features are a ‘north ridge’ and a ‘north cloud’ to the north of the Sgr B2 N-M-S cores, a ‘south-east peak’ and a ‘west ridge’. The column density, as evident through C18O, peaks at the Sgr B2(N) and (M) cores, where strong absorption is also evident in otherwise generally bright lines such as HCO+, HCN and HNC. Most molecules trace a ridge line to the west of the Sgr B2 N-M-S cores, wrapping around the cores and extending north-east to the north cloud. This is most clearly evident in the species HC3N, CH3CN, CH3OH and OCS. They are found to be closer in distribution to the cooler dust traced by the submillimetre continuum than either the warmer dust seen in the mid-IR or to the radio continuum. The molecule CN, in contrast, is reasonably uniform over the entire region mapped, aside from strong absorption at the positions of the Sgr B2(N) and (M) cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 towards 21 southern Galactic hot molecular cores traced by 6.7-GHz methanol maser emission. We detect NH3(1,1) emission towards all 21 regions and 24-GHz continuum emission towards 12 of the regions, including six with no reported 8-GHz continuum counterparts. In total, we find the 21 regions contain 41 NH3(1,1) cores but around half of the regions only contain a single core. 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. NH3(2,2) emission was detected towards all NH3(1,1) cores. NH3(4,4) emission was detected in 13 of the NH3(1,1) cores with NH3(5,5) emission coincident with 11 of these. The NH3(4,4) and (5,5) emission is always unresolved and found at the methanol maser position. An analysis of the NH3(1,1) and (2,2) line ratios suggests that the cores with NH3(4,4) and (5,5) emission are warmer than the remaining cores rather than simply containing more ammonia. The coincidence of the maser emission with the higher spatial resolution NH3(4,4) and (5,5) emission indicates that the methanol masers are found at the warmest part of the core. In all cores detected at NH3(4,4) (with the exception of core 4), the measured linewidth increases with transition energy. The NH3(1,1) spectra of several cores show an emission and absorption component slightly offset in velocity but it is unclear whether or not this is due to systematic motion of the gas. We observe large asymmetries in the NH3(1,1) hyperfine line profiles and conclude that this is due to non-local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions arising from a number of dense, small clumps within the beam, rather than systematic motions of gas in the cores. Assuming that the 24-GHz continuum emission is optically-thin bremsstrahlung, we derive properties of the ionized gas. The rate of Lyman continuum photons required to ionize the gas of 1045–1048 s−1 suggests that the continuum emission is powered by stars of mass . We investigate the nature of the 24-GHz continuum sources which were not detected at 8 GHz and find that these are always coincident with both ammonia and methanol maser emission. This is in contrast to those detected at both 8 and 24 GHz which are generally offset from the methanol maser emission. We investigate the possibility that these may be hypercompact H ii regions. Finally, we separate the cores into five groups, based on their association with , 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present high resolution, mid-infrared (MIR) images towards 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 five filters from 7.9 to 18.5 μm. We find each contains both large regions of extended emission and multiple, luminous point sources which, from their extremely red colours ( F18.5/ F7.9≥ 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 arcsec corresponding to linear separations of 1700, 1800 and 6000 au, respectively. The methanol maser emission is found closest to the brightest MIR point source (within the assumed 1-arcsec pointing accuracy). Mass and luminosity estimates for the sources range from 3 to and from 50 to 40 000 , respectively. 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 initial mass function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have successfully used a new on-the-fly mapping technique with the Mopra radio telescope to image G305.2+0.2 in transitions of 13CO, HCO+, N2H+, CH3CN and CH3OH. All these species appear to be concentrated towards the infrared-quiet methanol maser site G305A (G305.21+0.21). We suggest that this region contains an extremely deeply embedded site of massive star formation, with comparable qualities to the low-mass Class 0 stage. The infrared-bright methanol maser site G305B (G305.21+0.20) also exhibits emission in all the mapped transitions, but always at a lower level. We suggest this is because it harbours a site of massive star formation older and more developed than G305.21+0.21. All transitions appear to be extended beyond the size of the Mopra beam (30 arcsec). 13CO and HCO+ line wings are suggestive of an outflow in the region, but the spatial resolution of these data is insufficient to identify the powering source. A narrow-lined (1.6 km s−1 compared to a typical line FWHM of 6.4 km s−1) N2H+ source (G305SW) is found 90 arcsec to the south-west of the main star-forming centres, which does not correspond to any CH3CN or CH3OH source, nor does it correspond well to 13CO or HCO+ emission in the vicinity. We suggest this may be a massive, cold, quiescent and possibly pre-stellar core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of a 1.2-mm continuum emission survey toward 131 star-forming complexes suspected of undergoing massive star formation. These regions have previously been identified as harbouring a methanol maser and/or a radio continuum source [ultracompact (UC) H ii region], the presence of which is in most instances indicative of massive star formation. The 1.2-mm emission was mapped using the SIMBA instrument on the 15-m Swedish ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST). Emission is detected toward all of the methanol maser and UC H ii regions targeted, as well as towards 20 others lying within the fields mapped, implying that these objects are associated with cold, deeply embedded objects. Interestingly, there are also 20 methanol maser sites and nine UC H ii regions within the fields mapped which are devoid of millimetre continuum emission. In addition to the maser and UC H ii regions detected, we have also identified 253 other sources within the SIMBA maps. All of these (253) are new sources, detected solely from their millimetre continuum emission. These ‘mm-only’ cores are devoid of the traditional indicators of massive star formation, (i.e. methanol/OH maser, UC H ii regions or IRAS point sources). At least 45 per cent of these mm-only cores are also without mid-infrared Mid-course Space Experiment ( MSX) emission. The ‘mm-only’ core 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 H ii region limit). In total, 404 sources are detected, representing four classes of sources which are distinguished by the presence of the different combination of associated tracer/s. Their masses, estimated assuming a dust temperature of 20 K and adopting kinematic distances, range from , with an average mass for the sample of . The H2 number density ( nH2) of the source sample ranges from , with an average of . The average radius of the sample is 0.5 pc. The visual extinction ranges from 10 to 500 mag with an average of 80 mag, which implies a high degree of embedding. The surface density (Σ) varies from 0.2 to 18.0 kg m−2 with an average of 2.8 kg m−2. Analysis of the millimetre-only sources shows that they are less massive and smaller than sources with methanol maser and/or radio continuum emission, which collectively have a mean mass of and a mean radius of 0.7 pc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a model for empirically reproducing line profiles of molecular hydrogen emission in bow shocks. The model takes into account bow velocity, dissociation limit, a cooling function, viewing angle, bow shape and a limited form of extinction. Our results show that both geometrical factors and shock physics can significantly affect the profile morphology. In a companion paper we will apply this model to Fabry–Perot observations of bow shocks in the Orion BN–KL outflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have imaged the emission from the near-infrared v=1–0 S(1), 1–0 S(7), 2–1 S(1) and 6–4 O(3) lines of molecular hydrogen in the Northern and South Western Bars of M17, together with the hydrogen Brγ and Br10 lines. This includes the first emission-line image ever to be obtained of a line from the highly excited v=6 level of molecular hydrogen. In both Bars, the H[sub 2] emission is generally distributed in clumps along filamentary features. The 1–0 S(1) and 2–1 S(1) images have similar morphologies. Together with their relative line ratios, this supports a fluorescent origin for their emission, within a photodissociation region. The SW-Bar contains a clumpy medium, but in the N-Bar the density is roughly constant. The 1–0 S(7) line image is also similar to the 1–0 S(1) image, but the 6–4 O(3) image is significantly different from it. Since the emission wavelengths of these two lines are similar (1.748 to 1.733 μm), this cannot be due to differential extinction between the v=6 and the v=1 lines. We attribute the difference to the pumping of newly formed H[sub 2] into the v=6 , or to a nearby, level. However, this also requires a time-dependent photodissociation region (where molecule formation does not balance dissociation), rather than it to be in steady state, and/or for the formation spectrum to vary with position in the source. If this interpretation of formation pumping of molecular hydrogen is correct, it is the first clear signature from this process to be seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have obtained wide-field thermal infrared (IR) images of the Carina nebula, using the SPIREX/Abu telescope at the South Pole. Emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at 3.29 μm, a tracer of photodissociation regions (PDRs), reveals many interesting well-defined clumps and diffuse regions throughout the complex. Near-IR images (1–2 μm) , along with images from the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite (8–21 μm) have been incorporated to study the interactions between the young stars and the surrounding molecular cloud in more detail. Two new PAH emission clumps have been identified in the Keyhole nebula, and have been mapped in [sup 12]CO(2–1) and (1–0) using the Swedish–ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST). Analysis of their physical properties reveals that they are dense molecular clumps, externally heated with PDRs on their surfaces and supported by external pressure in a similar manner to the other clumps in the region. A previously identified externally heated globule containing IRAS 10430-5931 in the southern molecular cloud shows strong 3.29-, 8- and 21-μm emission, the spectral energy distribution (SED) revealing the location of an ultracompact (UC) H iiregion. The northern part of the nebula is complicated, with PAH emission intermixed with mid-IR dust continuum emission. Several point sources are located here, and through a two-component blackbody fit to their SEDs we have identified three possible UC H iiregions as well as a young star surrounded by a circumstellar disc. This implies that star formation in this region is ongoing and not halted by the intense radiation from the surrounding young massive stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We used the University of New South Wales Infrared Fabry-Perot (UNSWIRF) to investigate the photodissociation region (PDR) associated with the `elephant trunk' features in the M16 H ii region (the Eagle nebula). Images were made in the H2 1--0 S(1) and 2--1 S(1) lines at 2.122 and 2.248 μ m, respectively, and in the H i Br γ line at 2.166 μ m. The trunk-like features have an average H2 number density of ∼ 104 cm-3 and are irradiated by a far-UV field &sim 104 × the ambient interstellar value. The H2 intensity profile across the trunks is consistent with a simple model in which cylindrical columns of gas are illuminated externally, primarily by a direct component (the stars of NGC 6611), with an additional contribution from an isotropic component (scattered light). We find that most of the H2 emission from the source is consistent with purely fluorescent excitation, however a significant fraction of the H2 emission (∼ 25 per cent) from the northernmost column shows evidence for `collisional fluorescence', i.e. redistribution of H2 level populations through collisions. This emission is confined to clumps up to ∼ 0.01 pc in diameter, with densities ≥ 105 cm-3, and perhaps > 106 cm-3, filling at most a few per cent of the volume of the trunks. The line intensities and ratios are consistent with steady-state and not time-dependent PDR models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is considerable uncertainty as to the amount of carbon incorporated in interstellar dust. The aliphatic component of the carbonaceous dust is of particular interest because it produces a significant 3.4 μm absorption feature when viewed against a background radiation source. The optical depth of the 3.4 μm absorption feature is related to the number of aliphatic carbon C–H bonds along the line of sight. It is possible to estimate the column density of carbon locked up in the aliphatic hydrocarbon component of interstellar dust from quantitative analysis of the 3.4 μm interstellar absorption feature provided that the absorption coefficient of aliphatic hydrocarbons incorporated in the interstellar dust is known. We report laboratory analogues of interstellar dust by experimentally mimicking interstellar/circumstellar conditions. The resultant spectra of these dust analogues closely match those from astronomical observations. Measurements of the absorption coefficient of aliphatic hydrocarbons incorporated in the analogues were carried out by a procedure combining FTIR and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The absorption coefficients obtained for both interstellar analogues were found to be in close agreement [4.76(8) × 10−18 cm group−1 and 4.69(14) × 10−18 cm group−1], less than half those obtained in studies using small aliphatic molecules. The results thus obtained permit direct calibration of the astronomical observations, providing rigorous estimates of the amount of aliphatic carbon in the interstellar medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HESS J1825-137 is a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) whose TeV emission extends across~?1 deg. Its large asymmetric shape indicates that its progenitor supernova interacted with a molecular cloud located in the north of the PWN as detected by previous CO Galactic survey (e.g. Lemiere, Terrier & Djannati-Ataï). Here, we provide a detailed picture of the interstellar medium (ISM) towards the region north of HESS J1825-137, with the analysis of the dense molecular gas from our 7 and 12 mm Mopra survey and the more diffuse molecular gas from the Nanten CO(1-0) and GRS 13CO(1-0) surveys. Our focus is the possible association between HESS J1825-137 and the unidentified TeV source to the north, HESS J1826-130. We report several dense molecular regions whose kinematic distance matched the dispersion measured distance of the pulsar. Among them, the dense molecular gas located at (RA, Dec.) = (18h421h,-13.°282) shows enhanced turbulence and we suggest that the velocity structure in this region may be explained by a cloud.cloud collision scenario. Furthermore, the presence of a H α rim may be the first evidence of the progenitor supernova remnant (SNR) of the pulsar PSR J1826.1334 as the distance between the H α rim and the TeV source matched with the predicted SNR radius RSNR ~ 120 pc. From our ISM study, we identify a few plausible origins of the HESS J1826-130 emission, including the progenitor SNR of PSR J1826-1334 and the PWN G018.5-0.4 powered by PSR J1826-1256. A deeper TeV study however, is required to fully identify the origin of this mysterious TeV source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HESS J1804−216 is one of the brightest yet most mysterious TeV γ-ray sources discovered to date. Previous arc-minute scale studies of the interstellar medium (ISM) surrounding this TeV γ-ray source revealed  HESS J1804−216 is likely powered by a mature supernova remnant (SNR) or pulsar, hence its origin remains uncertain. In this paper, we focus on the diffusive escape of cosmic ray protons from potential SNR accelerators. These cosmic rays interact with the ISM to produce TeV γ-rays. We utilize the isotropic diffusion equation solution for particles escaping from a shell, to model the energy-dependent escape and propagation of protons into the ISM. This work is the first attempt at modelling the spatial morphology of γ-rays towards  HESS J1804−216, using arc-minute ISM observations from both Mopra and the Southern Galactic Plane Survey. The spectral and spatial distributions of γ-rays for the two nearby potential SNR counterparts, SNR G8.7−0.1 and the progenitor SNR of PSR J1803−2137, are presented here. We vary the diffusion parameters and particle spectrum and use a grid search approach to find the best combination of model parameters. We conclude that moderately slow diffusion is required for both candidates. The most promising candidate to be powering the TeV  γ-rays from HESS J1804−216 in a hadronic scenario is the progenitor SNR of PSR J1803−2137. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new detections of cyanodiacetylene (HC5N) towards hot molecular cores, observed with the Tidbinbilla 34 m radio telescope (DSS–34). In a sample of 79 hot molecular cores, HC5N was detected towards 35. These results are counter to the expectation that long chain cyanopolyynes, such as HC5N, are not typically found in hot molecular cores, unlike their shorter chain counterpart HC3N. However, it is consistent with recent models which suggest HC5N may exist for a limited period during the evolution of hot molecular cores. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ABSTRACT The molecular clouds Lupus 1, 3 and 4 were mapped with the Mopra Telescope at 3 and 12 mm. Emission lines from high-density molecular tracers were detected, i.e. NH3 (1,1), NH3 (2,2), N2H+ (1−0), HC3N (3−2), HC3N (10−9), CS (2−1), CH3OH (20−10)A+ and CH3OH (2−1−1−1)E. Velocity gradients of more than 1 km s−1 are present in Lupus 1 and 3, and multiple gas components are present in these clouds along some lines of sight. Lupus 1 is the cloud richest in high-density cores: eight cores were detected in it, five cores were detected in Lupus 3 and only two in Lupus 4. The intensity of the three species HC3N, NH3 and N2H+ changes significantly in the various cores: cores that are brighter in HC3N are fainter or undetected in NH3 and N2H+ and vice versa. We found that the column density ratios HC3N/N2H+ and HC3N/NH3 change by 1 order of magnitude between the cores, indicating that also the chemical abundance of these species is different. The time-dependent chemical code that we used to model our cores shows that the HC3N/N2H+ and HC3N/NH3 ratios decrease with time, therefore the observed column density of these species can be used as an indicator of the chemical evolution of dense cores. On this basis we classified five out of eight cores in Lupus 1 and one out of five cores in Lupus 3 as very young protostars or pre-stellar cores. Comparing the millimetre core population with the population of the more evolved young stellar objects identified in the Spitzer surveys, we conclude that in Lupus 3 the bulk of the star formation activity has already passed and only a moderate number of stars are still forming. In contrast, in Lupus 1 star formation is ongoing and several dense cores are still in the pre-/protostellar phase. Lupus 4 is at an intermediate stage, with a smaller number of individual objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We present 7 mm Mopra observations of the dense molecular gas towards the W28 supernova remnant (SNR) field, following a previous 12 mm line survey of this region. These observations take advantage of the 7 mm beam size to probe the dense and disrupted gas in the region at ∼1 arcmin scales. Our observations are focused towards the north-eastern (NE) HESS J1801−233 and southern HESS J1800−240 B TeV gamma-ray sources, with slightly less observations towards HESS J1800−240 A and C. Using the CS (1-0) transition we reveal multiple regions of dense gas, cm−3. We report the discovery of dense gas towards HESS J1800−240 C, at the site of a 1720 MHz OH maser. The NE molecular cloud is known to be disrupted; many 1720 MHz OH masers and broad CO line emission are detected at the rim of W28. Here, we reveal this shock interaction region contains generally extended clumpy CS, as well as clumpy SiO and CH3OH emission with broad line profiles. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the molecular lines extend up to 18 km s−1 on the W28 side of the NE cloud. The detection of SiO towards maser clumps OH C, D, E and F provides further evidence of the shocked conditions in the NE cloud. Several other lines associated with star formation are also detected towards the southern source, notably the energetic H ii complex G5.89−0.39. The spatial match of dense gas with the TeV emission further supports the cosmic ray (CR) origin for the gamma-rays. We estimate the mass of several extended dense clouds within the field and predict the TeV flux from the dense cloud components. The predicted fluxes are of the order of 10−14 to 10−13 photons cm−2 s−1, which should be detectable and possibly resolved by a future TeV instrument, such as the Cherenkov Telescope Array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present 12 mm Mopra observations of dense molecular gas towards the W28 supernova remnant (SNR) field. The focus is on the dense molecular gas towards the TeV gamma-ray sources detected by the HESS telescopes, which likely trace the cosmic rays from W28 and possibly other sources in the region. Using the NH inversion transitions we reveal several dense cores inside the molecular clouds, the majority of which coincide with high-mass star formation and H regions, including the energetic ultracompact H region G5.890.39. A key exception to this is the cloud north-east of W28, which is well known to be disrupted as evidenced by clusters of 1720 MHz OH masers and broad CO line emission. Here we detect broad NH, up to the (9,9) transition, with linewidths up to 16 km s. This broad NH emission spatially matches well with the TeV source HESS J1801233 and CO emission, and its velocity dispersion distribution suggests external disruption from the W28 SNR direction. Other lines are detected, such as HCN and HCN, HO masers, and many radio recombination lines, all of which are primarily found towards the southern high-mass star formation regions. These observations provide a new view on to the internal structures and dynamics of the dense molecular gas towards the W28 SNR field and, in tandem with future higher-resolution TeV gamma-ray observations, will offer the chance to probe the transport of cosmic rays into molecular clouds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Site testing data provides an essential part of the justification for funding any new astronomical facility by defining the technological design and determining the telescope performance, thus allowing the scientific objectives to be prioritised. Here we review the current status of site testing at Dome C by examining the range of instruments that have been, or are planned to be, deployed to the site. We then investigate in more detail preliminary data which has so far proven crucial for telescope design, data for which discrepancies exist between two or more instruments, and required data for which there are no current plans to obtain. We discuss the implications of this data on the technical design, expected performance, and the scientific capabilities for a 2.5 m class optical/infrared telescope. Finally, we identify the site parameters that require further study, and define the experiments necessary to determine these parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a targeted 3-mm spectral line survey towards the eighty-three 6.67 GHz methanol maser selected star-forming clumps observed by Purcell. In addition to the previously reported measurements of HCO+ (1–0), H13CO+ (1–0) and CH3CN (5–4) and (6–5), we used the Mopra antenna to detect emission lines of N2H+ (1–0), HCN (1–0) and HNC (1–0) towards 82/83 clumps (99 per cent), and CH3OH (2–1) towards 78/83 clumps (94 per cent). The molecular line data have been used to derive virial and local thermodynamic equilibrium masses, rotational temperatures and chemical abundances in the clumps, and these properties have been compared between subsamples associated with different indicators of evolution. The greatest differences are found between clumps associated with 8.6 GHz radio emission, indicating the presence of an Ultra-Compact H ii (UCH ii) region, and ‘isolated’ masers (without associated radio emission), and between clumps exhibiting CH3CN emission and those without. In particular, thermal CH3OH is found to be brighter and more abundant in UCH ii regions and in sources with detected CH3CN, and may constitute a crude molecular clock in single dish observations. Clumps associated with 8.6 GHz radio emission tend to be more massive and more luminous than clumps without radio emission. This is likely because the most massive clumps evolve so rapidly that a Hyper-Compact H ii or UCH ii region is the first visible tracer of star formation. The gas mass to submm/infrared luminosity relation for the combined sample was found to be , considerably shallower than expected for massive main-sequence stars. This implies that the mass of the clumps is comparable to, or greater than, the mass of the stellar content. We also find that the mass of the hot core is correlated with the mass of the clump in which it is embedded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we review the progress towards the deployment of a large "PILOT-like" telescope at Concordia Station, Dome C. PILOT is a proposed 2.4 m optical/IR telescope that will cost in excess of EUR 10 m, and is thus representative of the scale of facility that will transform Concordia into a significant international observatory. A design study of PILOT, funded by the Australian government, is currently underway. We describe the current status of this design study, and discuss the implications that major international projects such as PILOT hold for the future of Antarctic astronomy at Concordia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 4–6, at a level of , corresponding to OH production rate molecules s−1 (Despois et al. inversion model, or 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 2–6. The 3σ limit of 0.06 K km s−1 for HCN on July 4 after the impact gives the limit to the HCN production rate of . We did not detect the HCN 1–0 line, 6.7 GHz CH3OH 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 3σ limit on HCN emission of 2.5 K km s−1 from the ATCA around impact corresponds to limit < 4 × 1029 HCN molecules released by the impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of a submillimetre continuum emission survey targeted towards 78 star formation regions, 72 of which are devoid of methanol maser and UC H ii regions, identified in the Swedish ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST)/SEST IMaging Bolometer Array (SIMBA) millimetre continuum survey of Hill et al. At least 45 per cent of the latter sources, dubbed ‘mm-only’, detected in this survey are also devoid of the mid-infrared MSX emission. The 450- and 850-μm continuum emission was mapped using the Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) instrument on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). Emission is detected towards 97 per cent of the 78 sources targeted as well as towards 28 other SIMBA sources lying in the SCUBA fields. In total, we have identified 212 cores in this submillimetre survey, including 106 previously known from the SIMBA survey. Of the remaining 106 sources, 53 result from resolving a SIMBA source into multiple submillimetre components, whilst the other 53 sources are submillimetre cores, not seen in the SIMBA. Additionally, we have identified two further mm-only sources in the SIMBA images. Of the total 405 sources identified in the SIMBA survey, 255 are only seen at millimetre wavelengths. We concatenate the results from four (sub)millimetre continuum surveys of massive star formation, together with the Galactic plane map of Pierce-Price et al. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 per cent of our sample). We estimate the temperature and column density for 37 of these using the rotational diagram (RD) 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 ultracompact H ii (UCH ii) 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 UCH ii phase of massive star formation. HCO+ is detected towards 82 sources (99 per cent 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 (mid-IR) counterparts: 68 seen in emission and 12 seen in absorption as ‘dark clouds’. Seven of the 12 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 per cent detection rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present near-infrared and millimetre-line observations of the Tornado nebula (G357.7–0.1). We detected 2.12-μm H2 1–0 S(1) line emission towards the suspected site of interaction with a molecular cloud revealed by the presence of an OH(1720-MHz) maser. The distribution of the H2 emission is well correlated with the non-thermal radio continuum emission from the Tornado, and the velocity of the H2 emission spans over 100 km s−1, which both imply that the H2 emission is shock excited. We also detected millimetre lines from12CO and13CO transitions at the velocity of the maser, and mapped the distribution of the molecular cloud in aregion around the maser. The peak of the molecular cloud aligns well with an indentation in the radio continuum distribution of the nebula, suggesting that the shock of the nebula is being decelerated at this location, which is consistent with the presence of the OH(1720-MHz) maser and shocked H2 emission at that location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unidentified TeV γ-ray source HESS J1702–420 has no firm associations with any counterparts at other wavelengths. We present an analysis of the interstellar medium using results from the Mopra Southern Galactic Plane CO survey and archival H  i data from the Southern Galactic Plane Survey. We find significant components of molecular and atomic gas overlapping the TeV γ-ray source at several velocities along the line of sight, with masses ∼102–104 M⊙ and densities up to ∼103 cm−3. Potentially interesting and favourable morphological correspondences between the ISM and the TeV γ-ray emission were found, and in a hadronic scenario, we find that cosmic ray (CR) enhancement values of ∼100 times the local solar values are required to produce the TeV γ-rays. We investigate the separate scenarios in which HESS J1702–420 is powered by the nearby SNR G344.7−0.1, PSRJ1702−4128, and an unknown accelerator. No evidence in the ISM was found to link the SNR with the TeV source. While the morphology of the gas located at the dispersion distance of PSRJ1702−4128 (5.2 kpc, |$v$| LSR ∼ −70 km s−1) did not discount the possibility of a leptonic origin, the required energetics and the broad and hard TeV spectrum would likely disfavour such a scenario. Given the presence of potentially favourable ISM overlapping HESS J1702–420, we additionally speculate on the plausibility of scenarios involving undetected CR accelerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Mopra telescope, we have targeted 61 regions in the Carina Nebula, covering an area of 1.5 deg2, of bright and compact 870 |$\mu$| m dust continuum emission for molecular line emission from a host of 16 spectral lines at 3 mm, including several dense gas tracers. We found that the clumps detected in Carina in general have in average higher temperatures (27 K compared to 21 K), and lower masses (214 M⊙ compared to 508 M⊙) than clumps located at a similar distance to us in the Galactic plane. We compare the properties of the molecular line emission of these clumps with the MALT90 survey, finding that the detection rates of the molecular lines are similar to MALT90 clumps that are classified as photodissociation regions. However, most of the clumps located within 10 arcmin of η Carina have little molecular line emission detected in our observations. Given the lack of maser detection in the Carina region, we also compared the properties of the clumps in Carina to those of Galactic clumps associated with 6.7-GHz methanol masers. We found that the clumps in Carina are warmer, less massive, and show less emission from the four most commonly detected molecules, HCO+, N2H+, HCN, and HNC, compared to clumps associated with masers in the Galactic Plane. Overall our results are consistent with the scenario in which the high radiation field of η Carina is dramatically affecting its local environment, and therefore the chemical composition of the dense clumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Galactic supernova remnant $$\rm{HESS\,J1534}-{\rm 571}$$ (also known as G323.7 − 1.0) has a shell-like morphology in TeV gamma-ray emission and is a key object in the study of cosmic ray origin. Little is known about its distance and local environment. We examine Mopra 12CO/13CO(1–0) data, Australian Telescope Compact Array $$\rm{H\,{\small I}}$$, and Parkes $$\rm{H\,{\small I}}$$ data towards $$\rm{HESS\,J1534}-{\rm 571}$$. We trace molecular clouds in at least five velocity ranges, including clumpy interstellar medium structures near a dip in $$\rm{H\,{\small I}}$$ emission at a kinematic velocity consistent with the Scutum–Crux arm at ∼3.5 kpc. This feature may be a cavity blown-out by the progenitor star, a scenario that suggests $$\rm{HESS\,J1534}-{\rm 571}$$ resulted from a core-collapse event. By employing parametrizations fitted to a sample of supernova remnants of known distance, we find that the radio continuum brightness of $$\rm{HESS\,J1534}-{\rm 571}$$ is consistent with the ∼3.5 kpc kinematic distance of the Scutum–Crux arm $$\rm{H\,{\small I}}$$ dip. Modelling of the supernova evolution suggests a ∼8–24 kyr age for $$\rm{HESS\,J1534}-{\rm 571}$$ at this distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy (ATLASGAL) is an unbiased 870 Ām submillimetre survey of the inner Galactic plane (∣l∣ < 60° with ∣b∣ < 1. °5). It is the largest and most sensitive ground-based submillimetre wavelength Galactic survey to date and has provided a large and systematic inventory of all massive, dense clumps in the Galaxy (≥1000M☉ at a heliocentric distance of 20 kpc) and includes representative samples of all of the earliest embedded stages of high-mass star formation. Here, we present the first detailed census of the properties (velocities, distances, luminosities and masses) and spatial distribution of a complete sample of ~8000 dense clumps located in the Galactic disc (5° < ∣l∣ < 60°). We derive highly reliable velocities and distances to ~97 per cent of the sample and use midand far-infrared survey data to develop an evolutionary classification scheme that we apply to the whole sample. Comparing the evolutionary subsamples reveals trends for increasing dust temperatures, luminosities and linewidths as a function of evolution indicating that the feedback from the embedded protoclusters is having a significant impact on the structure and dynamics of their natal clumps. We find that the vast majority of the detected clumps are capable of forming a massive star and 88 per cent are already associated with star formation at some level. We find the clump mass to be independent of evolution suggesting that the clumps form with the majority of their mass in situ. We estimate the statistical lifetime of the quiescent stage to be ~5 × 104 yr for clump masses ~1000M☉ decreasing to ~1 × 104 yr for clump masses >10000M☉. We find a strong correlation between the fraction of clumps associated with massive stars and peak column density. The fraction is initially small at low column densities, but reaching 100 per cent for column densities above 1023 cm-2; there are no clumps with column densities above this value that are not already associated with massive star formation. All of the evidence is consistent with a dynamic view of star formation wherein the clumps form rapidly and are initially very unstable so that star formation quickly ensues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a study of the three-dimensional structure of the molecular clouds in the Galactic Centre (GC) using CO emission and OH absorption lines. Two CO isotopologue lines, 12CO(J = 1 → 0) and 13CO(J = 1 → 0), and four OH ground-state transitions, surveyed by the Southern Parkes Large-Area Survey in Hydroxyl, contribute to this study. We develop a novel method to calculate the OH column density, excitation temperature and optical depth precisely using all four OH lines, and we employ it to derive a three-dimensional model for the distribution of molecular clouds in the GC for six slices in Galactic latitude. The angular resolution of the data is 15.5 arcmin, which at the distance of the GC (8.34 kpc) is equivalent to 38 pc. We find that the total mass of OH in the GC is in the range of 2400–5100 M⊚. The face-on view at a Galactic latitude of b = 0° displays a bar-like structure with an inclination angle of 67.5±2.1° with respect to the line of sight. No ring-like structure in the GC is evident in our data, likely due to the low-spatial resolution of the CO and OH maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Methanol Multibeam survey has produced the largest and most complete census of methanol and excited-state hydroxyl masers in the Galaxy to date. Observing the entire Galactic plane visible from the Southern hemisphere for 6668-MHz methanol and 6030/6035-MHz hydroxyl masers, to an rms sensitivity of 0.015 Jy km s-1, the survey has detected a total of 972 methanol maser sources, implying a total Galactic population of ~1290 sources with flux densities above the survey 3σ peak flux density limit of 0.51 Jy. We present here the statistical properties of the methanol detections of the survey, including distributions in flux density, variability and range of source velocities. The data suggest that the weaker masers exhibit greater variability. We also present an analysis of the Galactic distribution of 6668-MHz methanol masers. For the Galactic distribution, we present kinematic distance resolutions to an additional 202 sources to those published previously, and collate these with previous allocations, as well as exploring a recent Bayesian distance approach based on maser parallaxes to separately determine distances. We examine Galactic structure and determine the luminosity function of the Galactic population of methanol masers. We find that more luminous masers have an evenly distributed wide range of velocity widths compared with less luminous masers being dominated by narrow velocity ranges, with the implication that this may be tied to the evolution of the host protostar(s). We also see an indication that brighter sources are seen towards the arm origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three bright molecular line sources in G333 have recently been shown to exhibit signatures of infall. We describe a molecular line radiative transfer (RT) modelling process which is required to extract the infall signature from Mopra and Nanten2 data. The observed line profiles differ greatly between individual sources but are reproduced well by variations upon a common unified model where the outflow viewing angle is the most significant difference between the sources. The models and data together suggest that the observed properties of the high-mass star-forming regions such as infall, turbulence and mass are consistent with scaled-up versions of the low-mass case with turbulent velocities that are supersonic and an order of magnitude larger than those found in low-mass star-forming regions. Using detailed RT modelling, we show that the G333 cores are essentially undergoing a scaled-up version of low-mass star formation. This is an extension of earlier work in that the degree of infall and the chemical abundances are constrained by the RT modelling in a way that is not practical with a standard analysis of observational data. We also find high velocity infall and high infall mass rates, possibly suggesting accelerated collapse due to external pressure. Molecular depletion due to freeze-out on to dust grains in central regions of the cores is suggested by low molecular abundances of several species. Strong evidence for a local enhancement of 13C-bearing species towards the outflow cloud cores is discussed, consistent with the presence of shocks caused by the supersonic motions within them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present molecular line imaging observations of three massive molecular outflow sources, G333.6-0.2, G333.1-0.4, and G332.8-0.5, all of which also show evidence for infall, within the G333 giant molecular cloud (GMC). All three are within a beam size (36 arcsec) of IRAS sources, 1.2-mm dust clumps, various masing species, and radio continuum-detected H II regions and hence are associated with high-mass star formation. We present the molecular line data and derive the physical properties of the outflows including the mass, kinematics, and energetics and discuss the inferred characteristics of their driving sources. Outflow masses are of 10-40 M in each lobe, with core masses of the order of 103 M. Outflow size scales are a few tenth of a parsec, time-scales are of several ×104 years, mass-loss rates a few ×10-4 M yr-1. We also find the cores are turbulent and highly supersonic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is much evidence that planet formation is occurring in the disc around the Herbig Be star HD100546. To learn more about the processes occurring in this disc, we conducted high-resolution imaging at 43/45 GHz with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. Multiple array configurations were used, providing a best spatial resolution of ∼0.15 arcsec, or 15 au at HD100546's distance of ~100 pc. Significant structure is revealed, but its precise form is dependent on the u − v plane sampling used for the image reconstruction. At a resolution of ≤ 30 au, we detected an inner gap in the disc with a radius of ~25 au and a position angle approximately along the known disc major axis. With different weighting, and an achieved resolution of ~15 au, emission appears at the centre and the disc takes on the shape of an incomplete ring, much like a horseshoe, again with a gap radius of ~25 au. The position angle of the disc major axis and its inclination from face-on are determined to be 140° ± 5° and 40° ± 5°, respectively. The ~25 au gap radius is confirmed by a null in the real part of the binned visibilities at 320 ± 10 kλ, whilst the non-axisymmetric nature is also confirmed through significant structure in the imaginary component. The emission mechanism at the central peak is most likely to be free–free emission from a stellar or disc wind. Overall our data support the picture of at least one, but probably several, giant planets orbiting HD100546 within 25 au. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is much evidence that planet formation is occurring in the disc around the Herbig Be star HD100546. To learn more about the processes occurring in this disc, we conducted high-resolution imaging at 43/45 GHz with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. Multiple array configurations were used, providing a best spatial resolution of ~0.15 arcsec, or 15 au at HD100546's distance of ~100 pc. Significant structure is revealed, but its precise form is dependent on the u - v plane sampling used for the image reconstruction. At a resolution of ≤30 au, we detected an inner gap in the disc with a radius of ~25 au and a position angle approximately along the known disc major axis. With different weighting, and an achieved resolution of ~15 au, emission appears at the centre and the disc takes on the shape of an incomplete ring, much like a horseshoe, again with a gap radius of ~25 au. The position angle of the disc major axis and its inclination from face-on are determined to be 140° ± 5° and 40° ± 5°, respectively. The ~25 au gap radius is confirmed by a null in the real part of the binned visibilities at 320 ± 10 kλ, whilst the non-axisymmetric nature is also confirmed through significant structure in the imaginary component. The emission mechanism at the central peak is most likely to be free-free emission from a stellar or disc wind. Overall our data support the picture of at least one, but probably several, giant planets orbiting HD100546 within 25 au. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a continuing study of a sample 44 molecular outflows, observed in 13CO lines, closely associated with 6.7-GHz methanol masers, hence called methanol maser associated outflows (MMAOs).We compare MMAO properties with those of outflows from other surveys in the literature. In general, MMAOs follow similar trends, but show a deficit in number at low masses and momenta, with a corresponding higher fraction at the high end of the distributions. A similar trend is seen for the dynamical time-scales of MMAOs. We argue that the lack of relatively low mass and young flows in MMAOs is due to the inherent selection-bias in the sample, i.e. its direct association with 6.7-GHz methanol masers. This implies that methanol masers must switch on after the onset of outflows (hence accretion), and not before a sufficient abundance of methanol is liberated from icy dust mantles. Consequently the average dynamical age of MMAOs is older than for the general population of molecular outflows. We propose an adjusted evolutionary sequence of outflow and maser occurrence in the hot core phase, where methanol masers turn on after the onset of the outflow phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have selected the positions of 54 6.7 GHz methanol masers from the Methanol Multibeam Survey catalogue, covering a range of longitudes between 20° and 34° of the Galactic plane. These positions were mapped in the J = 3-2 transition of both the 13CO and C18O lines. A total of 58 13CO emission peaks are found in the vicinity of these maser positions. We search for outflows around all 13CO peaks, and find evidence for high-velocity gas in all cases, spatially resolving the red and blue outflow lobes in 55 cases. Of these sources, 44 have resolved kinematic distances, and are closely associated with the 6.7 GHz masers, a subset referred to as Methanol Maser Associated Outflows (MMAOs). We calculate the masses of the clumps associated with each peak using 870 μm continuum emission from the ATLASGAL survey. A strong correlation is seen between the clump mass and both outflow mass and mechanical force, lending support to models in which accretion is strongly linked to outflow. We find that the scaling law between outflow activity and clump masses observed for low-mass objects, is also followed by the MMAOs in this study, indicating a commonality in the formation processes of low-mass and high-mass stars. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ABSTRACT The H2O Southern Galactic Plane Survey (HOPS) has mapped a 100° strip of the Galactic plane (−70° > l > 30°, | b| < 0°.5) using the 22 m Mopra antenna at 12 mm wavelengths. Observations were conducted in on-the-fly mode using the Mopra spectrometer (MOPS), targeting water masers, thermal molecular emission and radio-recombination lines. Foremost among the thermal lines are the 23 GHz transitions of NH3 J,K = (1,1) and (2,2), which trace the densest parts of molecular clouds ( n > 104 cm−3). In this paper, we present the NH3 (1,1) and (2,2) data, which have a resolution of 2 arcmin and cover a velocity range of ±200 km s−1. The median sensitivity of the NH3 data cubes is [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We present first results of the H2O Southern Galactic Plane Survey (HOPS), using the Mopra Radio Telescope with a broad-band backend and a beam size of about 2 arcmin. We have observed 100 deg2 of the southern Galactic plane at 12 mm (19.5-27.5 GHz), including spectral line emission from H2O masers, multiple metastable transitions of ammonia, cyanoacetylene, methanol and radio recombination lines. In this paper, we report on the characteristics of the survey and H2O maser emission. We find 540 H2O masers, of which 334 are new detections. The strongest maser is 3933 Jy and the weakest is 0.7 Jy, with 62 masers over 100 Jy. In 14 maser sites, the spread in the velocity of the H2O maser emission exceeds 100 km s−1. In one region, the H2O maser velocities are separated by 351.3 km s−1. The rms noise levels are typically between 1 and 2 Jy, with 95 per cent of the survey under 2 Jy. We estimate completeness limits of 98 per cent at around 8.4 Jy and 50 per cent at around 5.5 Jy. We estimate that there are between 800 and 1500 H2O masers in the Galaxy that are detectable in a survey with similar completeness limits to HOPS. We report possible masers in NH3 (11,9) and (8,6) emission towards G19.61−0.23 and in the NH3 (3,3) line towards G23.33−0.30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BSTRACT [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 3 years, we have conducted a survey of 100 square degrees of the southern Galactic plane with the Mopra radiotelescope (HOPS). The survey includes observations of multiple spectral lines in the 12 mm band, with the most important being the water maser transition at 22.2 GHz and the non-metastable inversion transitions of ammonia. We report on initial results from HOPS, including the detection of 540 water masers, about two-thirds of which appear to be new detections. We also find widespread emission in the NH3 (1,1) line, as well as detec tions in the NH3 (2,2), (3,3), (6,6) and (9,9) lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present molecular-line observations at millimetre, centimetre and infrared wavelengths of the region containing OH(1720 MHz) masers in the supernova remnant (SNR) G349.7+0.2, using the Australia Telescope (AT) Mopra antenna, the Swedish-ESO Submillimeter Telescope, the AT Compact Array and the UNSW Infrared Fabry-Perot narrow-band filter installed on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. Several molecular transitions were observed between 1.6 and 3 mm to constrain the physical parameters of the molecular cloud interacting with the SNR and to investigate the effects of the SNR shock on the gas chemistry. We detected shock-excited near-infrared H emission towards the centre of the SNR, revealing highly clumped molecular gas and a good correlation with published mid-infrared images from the Spitzer Space Telescope. An excellent correlation between the H clumps and OH(1720 MHz) maser positions supports the shock excitation of the OH(1720 MHz) maser emission. Furthermore, we detected OH absorption at 1665 and 1667 MHz which shows a good correlation with the shocked H emission and the masers. We found maser emission at 1665 MHz near the OH(1720 MHz) masers in this SNR, which is found to be associated with a GLIMPSE source SSTGLMC G349.7294+00.1747. We also detected 1665 and 1667 MHz OH masers, and weak 4.8 GHz HCO absorption towards the ultracompact H region IRAS 17147-3725 located to the southeast of the SNR. We found no 4.7- or 6-GHz excited-state OH masers or 6-GHz CHOH maser towards either the SNR or the H region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A region encompassing NGC 6334 I and I(N) has been mapped at a wavelength of 3 mm (from 83.5 to 115.5 GHz) with the Mopra telescope at an angular resolution between 33 and 36 arcsec. This investigation has made use of the recently installed 3 mm Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) receiver and the Mopra Spectrometer with broad-band capabilities permitting total coverage of the entire frequency range with just five different observations. In total, the spatial distributions of 19 different molecules, ions and radicals, along with additional selected isotopologues, have been studied. Whilst most species trace the sites of star formation, CH3CN appears to be most closely associated with NGC 6334 I and I(N). Both CN and C2H appear to be widespread, tracing gas that is not associated with active star formation. Both N2H+ and HC3N closely resemble dust continuum emission, showing that they are reliable tracers of dense material as well as the youngest stages of high-mass star formation. Hot thermal CH3OH emission is preferentially found towards NGC 6334 I, contrasting with I(N), where only cold thermal CH3OH emission is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have conducted a Galactic plane survey of methanol masers at 6668 MHz using a seven-beam receiver on the Parkes telescope. Here we present results from the first part, which provides sensitive unbiased coverage of a large region around the Galactic Centre. Details are given for 183 methanol maser sites in the longitude range 345° through the Galactic Centre to 6°. Within 6° of the Galactic Centre, we found 88 maser sites, of which more than half (48) are new discoveries. The masers are confined to a narrow Galactic latitude range, indicative of many sources at the Galactic Centre distance and beyond, and confined to a thin disc population; there is no high-latitude population that might be ascribed to the Galactic bulge. Within 2° of the Galactic Centre the maser velocities all lie between −60 and , a range much smaller than the range observed in CO. Elsewhere, the maser with highest positive velocity occurs, surprisingly, near longitude 355° and is probably attributable to the Galactic bar. The maser with the most negative velocity is near longitude 346°, within the longitude–velocity locus of the near side of the ‘3-kpc arm’. It has the most extreme velocity of a clear population of masers associated with the near and far sides of the 3-kpc arm. Closer to the Galactic Centre the maser space density is generally low, except within 0.25 kpc of the Galactic Centre itself, the ‘Galactic Centre zone’, where it is 50 times higher, which is hinted at by the longitude distribution, and confirmed by the unusual velocities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]