An Analysis of Water Line Profiles in Star Formation Regions Observed by the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite
Abstract
We present spectral line profiles for the 557 GHz 110-->101 ground-state rotational transition of ortho-H216O for 18 Galactic star formation regions observed by the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite. Water is unambiguously detected in every source. The line profiles exhibit a wide variety of shapes, including single-peaked spectra and self-reversed profiles. We interpret these profiles using a Monte Carlo code to model the radiative transport. The observed variations in the line profiles can be explained by variations in the relative strengths of the bulk flow and small-scale turbulent motions within the clouds. Bulk flow (infall, outflow) must be present in some cloud cores, and in certain cases this bulk flow dominates the turbulent motions.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1086/312842
- Bibcode:
- 2000ApJ...539L.115A
- Keywords:
-
- ISM: Clouds;
- ISM: Molecules;
- Radio Lines: ISM;
- Stars: Formation