A submillimetre survey of W49 A: support for the cloud-cloud collision model of W49 N.
Abstract
Results are presented of a JCMT continuum mapping study of the massive star-forming region W49 A at 450, 800 and 1100 μm. The three known far-infrared components of the source, W49 N, W49 SE and W49 SW, are observed at all wavebands. The flux densities, temperatures, luminosities and gas masses of the three sources are derived. In addition, a new source is detected at 450 μm, 80 arcsec east of W49 N, which is labelled W49 NE. It is seen that W49 N is significantly more massive than the other sources, and is the only one to contain an extended, cold dust component. In the highest resolution dataset, taken at 450 μm, it can be seen that the peak of the source W49 N is at least double, with a suggestion of a third component. This is consistent with published C34S data, which appear to show that the cluster of H II regions seen in W49 N is the result of star formation triggered by a cloud-cloud collision. The agreement between the authors' data and the C34S data, in terms of both morphology and relative masses, leads to support for this hypothesis.
- Publication:
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Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- July 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/281.1.294
- Bibcode:
- 1996MNRAS.281..294B
- Keywords:
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- Star-Forming Regions: Sub-MM Radiation;
- Interstellar Clouds: Collisions;
- circumstellar matter -- stars: formation -- dust;
- extinction -- ISM: individual: W49A -- radio continuum: ISM