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Asteroseismology and Dynamics Reveal Interior Structure and Coeval Evolution in the Triply Post-Main-Sequence system DG Leo
Authors:
Ping Li,
Wen-Ping Liao,
Sheng-Bang Qian,
Li-Ying Zhu,
Jia Zhang,
Qi-Bin Sun,
Fang-Bin Meng
Abstract:
$δ$ Scuti stars in binary or multiple systems serve as crucial probes for studying stellar pulsation and evolution. However, many such systems are not ideal for asteroseismology due to uncertainties in mass transfer with close companions and the challenges of dynamically measuring all components' physical properties. The triple system DG~Leo, comprising an inner binary and a distant $δ…
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$δ$ Scuti stars in binary or multiple systems serve as crucial probes for studying stellar pulsation and evolution. However, many such systems are not ideal for asteroseismology due to uncertainties in mass transfer with close companions and the challenges of dynamically measuring all components' physical properties. The triple system DG~Leo, comprising an inner binary and a distant $δ$ Scuti star, is an ideal target due to its well-separated pulsator. By combining new \textit{TESS} photometry with archival spectroscopy, our dynamical analysis shows that the system's three components share similar masses, radii, and luminosities within errors, occupying coincident Hertzsprung--Russell diagram positions, indicative of coeval evolution. By fitting seven observed $δ$ Scuti frequencies through asteroseismic modeling with dynamically constrained theoretical grids, we simultaneously trace the pulsating star's evolution and constrain the triple system's evolutionary stage, with the derived fundamental parameters showing consistency with the dynamical solutions. Our analysis reveals that all three components of DG~Leo are in the post-main-sequence phase, with a system age of $0.7664^{+0.1402}_{-0.1258}$~Gyr. Additionally, the $δ$ Scuti component shows multiple non-radial modes with significant mixed-character frequencies, providing precise constraints on its convective core extent ($R_{\mathrm{cz}}/R = 0.0562^{+0.0137}_{-0.0021}$).
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Submitted 24 December, 2025;
originally announced December 2025.
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Deep Andromeda JCMT-SCUBA2 Observations. The Submillimeter Maps and Giant Molecular Clouds
Authors:
Sihan Jiao,
Jingwen Wu,
Hauyu Baobab Liu,
Chao-Wei Tsai,
Yuxin Lin,
Di Li,
Zhi-Yu Zhang,
Yu Cheng,
Linjing Feng,
Henrik Beuther,
Junzhi Wang,
Lihwai Lin,
Jakob den Brok,
Ludan Zhang,
Fengwei Xu,
Fanyi Meng,
Zongnan Li,
Ryan P. Keenan,
Si-Yue Yu,
Niankun Yu,
Zheng Zheng,
Junhao Liu,
Yuxiang Liu,
Hao Ruan,
Fangyuan Deng
, et al. (1 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We have carried out unprecedentedly deep, nearly confusion-limited JCMT-SCUBA2 mapping observations on the nearest spiral galaxy, M31 (Andromeda). The 850 $μ$m image with a $\sim$50 pc resolution yields a comprehensive catalog of 383 giant molecular clouds (GMCs) that are associated with the spiral arms. In addition, it unveiled a population of 189 compact inter-arm GMCs in M31, which are mostly u…
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We have carried out unprecedentedly deep, nearly confusion-limited JCMT-SCUBA2 mapping observations on the nearest spiral galaxy, M31 (Andromeda). The 850 $μ$m image with a $\sim$50 pc resolution yields a comprehensive catalog of 383 giant molecular clouds (GMCs) that are associated with the spiral arms. In addition, it unveiled a population of 189 compact inter-arm GMCs in M31, which are mostly unresolved or marginally resolved. The masses of all these GMCs are in the range of 2$\times$10$^4$ -- 6$\times$10$^6$ $M_{\odot}$; the sizes are in the range of 30--130 pc. They follow a mass-size correlation, $M$ $\propto$ $R_{c}$$^{2.5}$. The inter-arm GMCs are systematically less massive, more diffuse, colder, and have lower star-forming efficiency (SFE) than on-arm GMCs. Moreover, within individual spatially resolved on-arm and off-arm M31 GMCs, the SFE is considerably lower than the SFE in molecular clouds in main sequence and green valley galaxies. Follow-up investigations on M31 GMCs may provide clues for how star formation may be quenched in galactic environments. Finally, we reconstrained the dust opacity spectral index $β$ in the M31 galaxy by combining our new JCMT observations with archival Herschel and Planck data and found that the radial variation of $β$ may not be as large as was proposed by previous studies.
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Submitted 18 November, 2025;
originally announced November 2025.
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Do Multi-Structural One-Off FRBs Trace Similar Cosmology History with Repeaters?
Authors:
Yu-Hao Zhu,
Chen-Hui Niu,
Xiang-Han Cui,
Di Li,
Yi-Feng,
Chao-Wei Tsai,
Pei Wang,
Yong-Kun Zhang,
Fanyi Meng,
Zheng Zheng
Abstract:
Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration transient events that are typically observed at radio wavelengths and cosmological distances but their origin remains unclear. Furthermore, most FRB origin models are related to the processes at stellar scales, involving neutron stars, blackholes, supernovae, etc. In this paper, our purpose is to determine whether multi-structural one-off FRBs and…
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Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration transient events that are typically observed at radio wavelengths and cosmological distances but their origin remains unclear. Furthermore, most FRB origin models are related to the processes at stellar scales, involving neutron stars, blackholes, supernovae, etc. In this paper, our purpose is to determine whether multi-structural one-off FRBs and repeaters share similarities. To achieve this, we focus on analyzing the relationship between the FRB event rate and the star formation rate, complemented by statistical testing methods. Based on the CHIME/FRB Catalog 1, we calculate the energy functions for four subsamples, including apparent non-repeating FRBs (one-offs), repeaters, multi-structural one-offs, and the joint repeaters and multi-structural events, respectively. We then derive the FRB event rates at different redshifts for all four subsamples, all of which were found to share a similar cosmological evolution trend. However, we find that the multi-structural one-offs and repeaters are distinguishable from the KS and MWW tests.
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Submitted 23 July, 2025;
originally announced July 2025.
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Why is the Star Formation Rate Proportional to Dense Gas Mass?
Authors:
Sihan Jiao,
Fengwei Xu,
Hauyu Baobab Liu,
Yuxin Lin,
Jingwen Wu,
Zhi-Yu Zhang,
Zhiqiang Yan,
Di Li,
Chao-Wei Tsai,
Yongkun Zhang,
Linjing Feng,
Ke Wang,
Zheng Zheng,
Fanyi Meng,
Hao Ruan,
Fangyuan Deng,
Keyun Su
Abstract:
One of the most profound empirical laws of star formation is the Gao-Solomon relation, a linear correlation between the star formation rate (SFR) and the dense molecular gas mass. It is puzzling how the complicated physics in star-formation results in this surprisingly simple proportionality. Using archival Herschel and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Observations, we derived the mass…
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One of the most profound empirical laws of star formation is the Gao-Solomon relation, a linear correlation between the star formation rate (SFR) and the dense molecular gas mass. It is puzzling how the complicated physics in star-formation results in this surprisingly simple proportionality. Using archival Herschel and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Observations, we derived the masses of the most massive cores ($M^{\rm max}_{\rm core}$) and masses of the gravitationally bound gas ($ M_{\rm gas}^{\rm bound}$) in the parent molecular clouds for a sample of low-mass and high-mass star-forming regions. We discovered a significant correlation $\log(M^{\rm max}_{\rm core}/M_{\odot}) = 0.506 \log(M_{\rm gas}^{\rm bound}/M_{\odot})-0.32$. Our discovered $M^{\rm max}_{\rm core}$-$M_{\rm gas}^{\rm bound}$ correlation can be approximately converted to the Gao-Solomon relation if there is (1) a constant 30% efficiency of converting $M^{\rm max}_{\rm core}$ to the mass of the most massive star ($m^{\rm max}_{\rm star}$), and (2) if SFR and $m^{\rm max}_{\rm star}$ are tightly related through $\log({\rm SFR}/(M_{\odot} {\rm yr}^{-1})) = 2.04 \log(m^{\rm max}_{\rm star}/M_{\odot})-5.80$. Intriguingly, both requirements have been suggested by previous theoretical studies (c.f. Yan et al. 2017). Based on this result, we hypothesize that the Gao-Solomon relation is a consequence of combining the following three non-trivial relations (i) SFR vs. $m^{\rm max}_{\rm star}$, (ii) $m^{\rm max}_{\rm star}$ vs. $M^{\rm max}_{\rm core}$, and (iii) $M^{\rm max}_{\rm core}$ vs. $M_{\rm gas}^{\rm bound}$. This finding may open a new possibility to understand the Gao-Solomon relation in an analytic sense.
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Submitted 12 May, 2025;
originally announced May 2025.
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Ring or no ring -- Revisiting the Multiphase Nuclear Environment in M31
Authors:
Zongnan Li,
Zhao Su,
Sumin Wang,
Yufan F. Zhou,
Zhiyuan Li,
Xuanyi Lyu,
Fanyi Meng,
Kai Zhang,
Di Li,
Chaowei Tsai,
Jingwen Wu,
Jiachang Zhang
Abstract:
Nuclear rings, prevalent in barred galaxies, are essential to understanding gas transport toward galactic nuclei. However, the peculiar nuclear ring in our neighboring galaxy M31 remains poorly understood. Here we present a comprehensive study of this multiphase gas structure, originally revealed by its dust emission, based on newly acquired CO mappings and archival spectroscopic imaging of atomic…
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Nuclear rings, prevalent in barred galaxies, are essential to understanding gas transport toward galactic nuclei. However, the peculiar nuclear ring in our neighboring galaxy M31 remains poorly understood. Here we present a comprehensive study of this multiphase gas structure, originally revealed by its dust emission, based on newly acquired CO mappings and archival spectroscopic imaging of atomic hydrogen and warm ionized gas, along with custom numerical simulations. These multi-wavelength data offer an unprecedented view of the surface mass density and kinematics of the nuclear ring, challenging the notion of it being a single coherent structure. In particular, the ring shows significant asymmetry in its azimuthal mass distribution, with neutral gas concentrated in the northeast and ionized gas prominent in the southwest. The observed off-centered and lopsided morphology disfavors an interpretation of gas streamers or resonance rings driven solely by a barred potential known to exist in M31. Furthermore, the ring's line-of-sight velocity distribution suggests circular motion in a plane inclined by $\sim 30^\circ$ relative to M31's outer disk, implying external torque likely from M32's recent close-in passage. Our hydrodynamical simulations tracking the evolution of nuclear gas of M31 influenced by both a barred potential and an oblique collision with M32, reveal the natural formation of asymmetric spiral arms several hundred Myr after the collision, which could appear ring-like under appropriate viewing angles. Therefore, we suggest that M31's nuclear gas structure, instead of being a persisting rotating ring, comprises recently formed, asymmetric spirals with a substantial tilt.
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Submitted 15 March, 2025;
originally announced March 2025.
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KM UMa: An active short-period detached eclipsing binary in a hierarchical quadruple system
Authors:
Fangbin Meng,
Liying Zhu,
Nianping Liu,
Ping Li,
Jia Zhang,
Linjia Li,
Azizbek Matekov
Abstract:
The first detailed photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the G-type eclipsing binary KM UMa is presented, which indicates that the system is a short-period detached eclipsing binary. The radial velocity curves were calculated using the cross-correlation function method based on Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and our observations, which dete…
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The first detailed photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the G-type eclipsing binary KM UMa is presented, which indicates that the system is a short-period detached eclipsing binary. The radial velocity curves were calculated using the cross-correlation function method based on Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and our observations, which determined the mass ratio as $q=0.45\ (\pm0.04)$. Based on the light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, other survey data, and our multiband observations, the positive and negative O'Connell effects have been detected evolving gradually and alternately over the last 20 yr, which can be explained by the presence of spots on the primary component. A superflare event was detected in the SuperWASP data on 2007 February 28, further indicating that KM UMa is a very active system. We calculated its energy to be $5\times10^{34}$ erg by assuming it occurred on the primary star. Utilizing hundreds of medium-resolution spectra and one low-resolution spectrum, the equivalent width variations of the $H_α$ line were calculated, indicating the presence of a 5.21 ($\pm0.67$) yr magnetic activity cycle. The orbital period variations were analyzed using the O-C method, detecting a long-term decrease superimposed with a periodic variation. The amplitude of the cyclic variation is $0.01124\ (\pm0.00004)$ day, with a period of $33.66\ (\pm 0.0012)$ yr, which exceeds the 5.21 yr activity cycle, suggesting that this is more likely attributable to the light travel time effect of a third body. Simultaneously, a visual companion has been detected based on the Gaia astrometric data, indicating that KM UMa is actually in a 2+1+1 hierarchical quadruple system.
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Submitted 9 October, 2024;
originally announced October 2024.
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Deep and low mass-ratio contact binaries and their third bodies
Authors:
Liying Zhu,
Shengbang Qian,
Wenping Liao,
Jia Zhang,
Xiangdong Shi,
Linjia Li,
Fangbin Meng,
Jiangjiao Wang,
Azizbek Matekov
Abstract:
Deep and low mass-ratio contact binaries (DLMCBs) are believed to be in the final stage of their contact phase, potentially leading to the formation of fast-rotating single stars such as FK Com-type stars and blue stragglers, as well as luminous red novae. These systems serve as an excellent laboratory for studying stellar coalescence and merging processes. Our search for DLMCBs began in 2004 and…
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Deep and low mass-ratio contact binaries (DLMCBs) are believed to be in the final stage of their contact phase, potentially leading to the formation of fast-rotating single stars such as FK Com-type stars and blue stragglers, as well as luminous red novae. These systems serve as an excellent laboratory for studying stellar coalescence and merging processes. Our search for DLMCBs began in 2004 and has since identified a group of such systems. Together with that collected from the literature, more than 100 DLMCBs have been detected so far. Half of them have had their periods investigated based on O-C curves. Some have shown period increases, while others have exhibited period decreases. Among them, more than half DLMCBs have cyclic variations, suggesting the possibility of the existence of a third body orbiting around the DLMCBs. Furthermore, with more data obtained extending the span of the O-C curve, more cyclic variations could be detected. The high proportion of signs of the presence of third bodies makes them an essential factor to consider when studying the merger of contact binaries.
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Submitted 12 September, 2024;
originally announced September 2024.
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The ALMaQUEST Survey XV: The Dependence of the Molecular-to-Atomic Gas Ratios on Resolved Optical Diagnostics
Authors:
Niankun Yu,
Zheng Zheng,
Chao-Wei Tsai,
Pei Zuo,
Sara L. Ellison,
David V. Stark,
Di Li,
Jingwen Wu,
Karen L. Masters,
Ting Xiao,
Yinghui Zheng,
Zongnan Li,
Kai Zhang,
Hongying Chen,
Shu Liu,
Sihan Jiao,
Fanyi Meng
Abstract:
The atomic-to-molecular gas conversion is a critical step in the baryon cycle of galaxies, which sets the initial conditions for subsequent star formation and influences the multi-phase interstellar medium. We compiled a sample of 94 nearby galaxies with observations of multi-phase gas contents by utilizing public H I, CO, and optical IFU data from the MaNGA survey together with new FAST H I obser…
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The atomic-to-molecular gas conversion is a critical step in the baryon cycle of galaxies, which sets the initial conditions for subsequent star formation and influences the multi-phase interstellar medium. We compiled a sample of 94 nearby galaxies with observations of multi-phase gas contents by utilizing public H I, CO, and optical IFU data from the MaNGA survey together with new FAST H I observations. In agreement with previous results, our sample shows that the global molecular-to-atomic gas ratio ($R_{\rm mol} \equiv$ log $M_{\rm H_2}/M_{\rm H\ I}$) is correlated with the global stellar mass surface density $μ_*$ with a Kendall's $τ$ coefficient of 0.25 and $p < 10^{-3}$, less tightly but still correlated with stellar mass and NUV$-$ r color, and not related to the specific star formation rate (sSFR). The cold gas distribution and kinematics inferred from the H I and CO global profile asymmetry and shape do not significantly rely on $R_{\rm mol}$. Thanks to the availability of kpc-scale observations of MaNGA, we decompose galaxies into H II, composite, and AGN-dominated regions by using the BPT diagrams. With increasing $R_{\rm mol}$, the fraction of H II regions within 1.5 effective radius decreases slightly; the density distribution in the spatially resolved BPT diagram also changes significantly, suggesting changes in metallicity and ionization states. Galaxies with high $R_{\rm mol}$ tend to have high oxygen abundance, both at one effective radius with a Kendall's $τ$ coefficient of 0.37 ($p < 10^{-3}$) and their central regions. Among all parameters investigated here, the oxygen abundance at one effective radius has the strongest relation with global $R_{\rm mol}$, but the dependence of gas conversion on gas distribution and galaxy ionization states is weak.
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Submitted 28 March, 2024;
originally announced March 2024.
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CSS_J154915.7+375506: A low-mass-ratio marginal contact binary system with a hierarchical third body
Authors:
Jin-Feng Wu,
Li-Ying Zhu,
Azizbek Matekov,
Lin-jia Li,
Shuhrat Ehgamberdiev,
Ildar Asfandiyarov,
Jiang-Jiao Wang,
Jia Zhang,
Fang-Bin Meng
Abstract:
We presented the multi-filter light curves of CSS_J154915.7+375506 inaugurally, which were observed by the 1.5 m AZT-22 telescope at Maidanak Astronomical Observatory. A low-resolution spectrum obtained by LAMOST reveals it is an A-type close binary. By analyzing the BVRI total-eclipse light curves, we are able to derive a reliable photometric solution for this system, which indicates that CSS_J15…
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We presented the multi-filter light curves of CSS_J154915.7+375506 inaugurally, which were observed by the 1.5 m AZT-22 telescope at Maidanak Astronomical Observatory. A low-resolution spectrum obtained by LAMOST reveals it is an A-type close binary. By analyzing the BVRI total-eclipse light curves, we are able to derive a reliable photometric solution for this system, which indicates that CSS_J154915.7+375506 is an extremely low-mass-ratio (q=0.138) marginal contact binary system. The location in the HR diagram shows that its secondary component with a much smaller mass is the more evolved one, indicating the mass ratio reversal occurred. The present secondary component had transferred a significant amount of mass to the present primary one. By the combination of a total of 20 times of minimum, we investigated its O-C curve. A periodic oscillation and a possible period decrease have been detected. As the period decreases, the system will evolve towards the contact phase. This makes CSS\_J154915.7+375506 a valuable case to study the formation scenario of contact binaries through mass reversal. The periodic oscillation suggested a third body with a minimal mass of $0.91\,M_{\odot}$, which is larger than that of the less massive component in the central binary. This implies that the secondary body was not replaced by the third body during early stellar interactions, indicating that it is a fossil system and retains its original dynamical information.
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Submitted 4 March, 2024;
originally announced March 2024.
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Thermal Properties of the Hot Core Population in Sagittarius B2 Deep South
Authors:
Desmond Jeff,
Adam Ginsburg,
Alyssa Bulatek,
Nazar Budaiev,
Álvaro Sánchez-Monge,
Mélisse Bonfand,
Cara Battersby,
Fanyi Meng,
Peter Schilke,
Anika Schmiedeke
Abstract:
We report the discovery of 9 new hot molecular cores in the Deep South (DS) region of Sagittarius B2 using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Band 6 observations. We measure the rotational temperature of CH$_3$OH and derive the physical conditions present within these cores and the hot core Sgr B2(S). The cores show heterogeneous temperature structure, with peak temperatures between 252…
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We report the discovery of 9 new hot molecular cores in the Deep South (DS) region of Sagittarius B2 using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Band 6 observations. We measure the rotational temperature of CH$_3$OH and derive the physical conditions present within these cores and the hot core Sgr B2(S). The cores show heterogeneous temperature structure, with peak temperatures between 252 and 662 K. We find that the cores span a range of masses (203-4842 M$_\odot$) and radii (3587-9436 AU). CH$_3$OH abundances consistently increase with temperature across the sample. Our measurements show the DS hot cores are structurally similar to Galactic Disk hot cores, with radii and temperature gradients that are comparable to sources in the Disk. They also show shallower density gradients than Disk hot cores, which may arise from the Central Molecular Zone's higher density threshold for star formation. The hot cores have properties which are consistent with those of Sgr B2(N), with 3 associated with Class II CH$_3$OH masers and one associated with an UCHII region. Our sample nearly doubles the high-mass star forming gas mass near Sgr B2(S) and suggest the region may be a younger, comparably massive counterpart to Sgr B2(N) and (M). The relationship between peak CH$_3$OH abundance and rotational temperature traced by our sample and a selection of comparable hot cores is qualitatively consistent with predictions from chemical modeling. However, we observe constant peak abundances at higher temperatures ($T \gtrsim 250$ K), which may indicate mechanisms for methanol survival that are not yet accounted for in models.
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Submitted 18 January, 2024;
originally announced January 2024.
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A High-Mass Young Star-forming Core Escaping from Its Parental Filament
Authors:
Zhiyuan Ren,
Xi Chen,
Tie Liu,
Emma Mannfors,
Leonardo Bronfman,
Fengwei Xu,
Siyi Feng,
Hongli Liu,
Fanyi Meng,
Amelia. M. Stutz,
Shanghuo Li,
Chang Won Lee,
Ke Wang,
Jianwen Zhou,
Di Li,
Chen Wang,
Chakali Eswaraiah,
Anandmayee Tej,
Long-Fei Chen,
Hui Shi
Abstract:
We studied the unique kinematic properties in massive filament G352.63-1.07 at $10^3$-AU spatial scale with the dense molecular tracers observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). We find the central massive core M1 (12 $M_\odot$) being separated from the surrounding filament with a velocity difference of $v- {v}_{sys}=-2$ km/s and a transverse separation within 3 arcsec…
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We studied the unique kinematic properties in massive filament G352.63-1.07 at $10^3$-AU spatial scale with the dense molecular tracers observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). We find the central massive core M1 (12 $M_\odot$) being separated from the surrounding filament with a velocity difference of $v- {v}_{sys}=-2$ km/s and a transverse separation within 3 arcsec. Meanwhile, as shown in multiple dense-gas tracers, M1 has a spatial extension closely aligned with the main filament and is connected to the filament towards its both ends. M1 thus represents a very beginning state for a massive young star-forming core escaping from the parental filament, within a time scale of $\sim 4000$ years. Based on its kinetic energy ($3.5\times10^{44}$ erg), the core escape is unlikely solely due to the original filament motion or magnetic field, but requires more energetic events such as a rapid intense anisotropic collapse. The released energy also seems to noticeably increase the environmental turbulence. This may help the filament to become stabilized again.
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Submitted 12 October, 2023;
originally announced October 2023.
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Protostellar cores in Sagittarius B2 N and M
Authors:
Nazar Budaiev,
Adam Ginsburg,
Desmond Jeff,
Ciriaco Goddi,
Fanyi Meng,
Álvaro Sánchez-Monge,
Peter Schilke,
Anika Schmiedeke,
Taehwa Yoo
Abstract:
We present 500 AU and 700 AU resolution 1 mm and 3 mm ALMA observations, respectively, of protostellar cores in protoclusters Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2) North (N) and Main (M), parts of the most actively star-forming cloud in our Galaxy. Previous lower resolution (5000 AU) 3 mm observations of this region detected $\sim$150 sources inferred to be young stellar objects (YSOs) with…
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We present 500 AU and 700 AU resolution 1 mm and 3 mm ALMA observations, respectively, of protostellar cores in protoclusters Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2) North (N) and Main (M), parts of the most actively star-forming cloud in our Galaxy. Previous lower resolution (5000 AU) 3 mm observations of this region detected $\sim$150 sources inferred to be young stellar objects (YSOs) with $M>8\mathrm{\,M}_\odot$. With a tenfold increase in resolution, we detect 371 sources at 3 mm and 218 sources in the smaller field of view at 1 mm. The sources seen at low resolution are observed to fragment into an average of two objects. About a third of the observed sources fragment. Most of the sources we report are marginally resolved and are at least partially optically thick. We determine that the observed sources are most consistent with Stage 0/I YSOs, i.e., rotationally supported disks with an active protostar and an envelope, that are warmer than those observed in the solar neighborhood. We report source-counting-based inferred stellar mass and the star formation rate of the cloud: 2800$\mathrm{\,M}_\odot$, 0.0038$\mathrm{\,M}_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ for Sgr B2 N and 6900$\mathrm{\,M}_\odot$, 0.0093$\mathrm{\,M}_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ for Sgr B2 M respectively.
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Submitted 25 September, 2023;
originally announced September 2023.
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The physical and chemical structure of Sagittarius B2 VIIIa. Dust and ionized gas contributions to the full molecular line survey of 47 hot cores
Authors:
T. Möller,
P. Schilke,
Á. Sánchez-Monge,
A. Schmiedeke,
F. Meng
Abstract:
Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2) is a giant molecular cloud complex in the central molecular zone of our Galaxy hosting several sites of high-mass star formation. The two main centers of activity are Sgr B2(M) and Sgr B2(N), which contain 27 and 20 continuum sources, respectively. Our analysis aims to be a comprehensive modeling of each core spectrum, where we take the complex interaction between molecular…
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Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2) is a giant molecular cloud complex in the central molecular zone of our Galaxy hosting several sites of high-mass star formation. The two main centers of activity are Sgr B2(M) and Sgr B2(N), which contain 27 and 20 continuum sources, respectively. Our analysis aims to be a comprehensive modeling of each core spectrum, where we take the complex interaction between molecular lines, dust attenuation, and free-free emission arising from HII regions into account. In this work, we determine the dust and, if HII regions are contained, the parameters of the free-free thermal emission of the ionized gas for each core, and derive a self-consistent description of the continuum levels of each core. Using the high sensitivity of ALMA, we characterize the physical and chemical structure of these continuum sources and gain better insight into the star formation process within the cores. We used ALMA to perform an unbiased spectral line survey of all 47 sources in ALMA band 6 with a frequency coverage from 211 GHz to 275 GHz. In order to model the free-free continuum contribution of a specific core, we fit the contained recombination lines (RRLs) to obtain the electron temperatures and the emission measures, where we use an extended XCLASS program to describe RRLs and free-free continuum simultaneously. In contrast to previous analyses, we derived the corresponding parameters here not only for each core, but also for their local surrounding envelope, and determined their physical properties. The distribution of RRLs we found in the core spectra closely fits the distribution of HII regions described in previous analyses. For the cores we determine average dust temperatures of around 236 K (Sgr B2(M)) and 225 K (Sgr B2(N)), while the electronic temperatures are located in a range between 3800 K and 23800 K.
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Submitted 24 July, 2023; v1 submitted 12 July, 2023;
originally announced July 2023.
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The physical and chemical structure of Sagittarius B2 -- VI. UCHII regions in Sgr B2
Authors:
Fanyi Meng,
Álvaro Sánchez-Monge,
Peter Schilke,
Adam Ginsburg,
Chris De Pree,
Nazar Budaiev,
Desmond Jeff,
Anika Schmiedeke,
Andreas Schwörer,
V. S. Veena,
Thomas Möller
Abstract:
The giant molecular cloud Sagittarius B2 (hereafter SgrB2) is the most massive region with ongoing high-mass star formation in the Galaxy. Two ultra-compact HII (UCHII) regions were identified in SgrB2's central hot cores, SgrB2(M) and SgrB2(N). Our aim is to characterize the properties of the HII regions in the entire SgrB2 cloud. Comparing the HII regions and the dust cores, we aim to depict the…
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The giant molecular cloud Sagittarius B2 (hereafter SgrB2) is the most massive region with ongoing high-mass star formation in the Galaxy. Two ultra-compact HII (UCHII) regions were identified in SgrB2's central hot cores, SgrB2(M) and SgrB2(N). Our aim is to characterize the properties of the HII regions in the entire SgrB2 cloud. Comparing the HII regions and the dust cores, we aim to depict the evolutionary stages of different parts of SgrB2. We use the Very Large Array in its A, CnB, and D configurations, and in the frequency band C (~6 GHz) to observe the whole SgrB2 complex. Using ancillary VLA data at 22.4 GHz and ALMA data at 96 GHz, we calculated the physical parameters of the UCHII regions and their dense gas environment. We identify 54 UCHII regions in the 6 GHz image, 39 of which are also detected at 22.4 GHz. Eight of the 54 UCHII regions are newly discovered. The UCHII regions have radii between $0.006 {\rm pc}$ and $0.04 {\rm pc}$, and have emission measure between $10^{6} {\rm pc\,cm^{-6}}$ and $10^{9} {\rm pc\,cm^{-6}}$. The UCHII regions are ionized by stars of types from B0.5 to O6. We found a typical gas density of $\sim10^6-10^9 {\rm cm^{-3}}$ around the UCHII regions. The pressure of the UCHII regions and the dense gas surrounding them are comparable. The expansion timescale of these UCHII regions is determined to be $\sim10^4-10^5 {\rm yr}$. The percentage of the dust cores that are associated with HII regions are 33%, 73%, 4%, and 1% for SgrB2(N), SgrB2(M), SgrB2(S), and SgrB2(DS), respectively. Two-thirds of the dust cores in SgrB2(DS) are associated with outflows. The electron densities of the UCHII regions we identified are in agreement with that of typical UCHII regions, while the radii are smaller than those of the typical UCHII regions. The dust cores in SgrB2(N) are more evolved than in SgrB2(DS) but younger than in SgrB2(M).
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Submitted 18 August, 2022; v1 submitted 16 August, 2022;
originally announced August 2022.
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Planck Galactic Cold Clumps at High Galactic Latitude-A Study with CO Lines
Authors:
Fengwei Xu,
Yuefang Wu,
Tie Liu,
Xunchuan Liu,
Chao Zhang,
Jarken Esimbek,
Sheng-Li Qin,
Di Li,
Ke Wang,
Jinghua Yuan,
Fanyi Meng,
Tianwei Zhang,
David Eden,
K. Tatematsu,
Neal J. Evans,
Paul. F. Goldsmith,
Qizhou Zhang,
C. Henkel,
Hee-Weon Yi,
Jeong-Eun Lee,
Mika Saajasto,
Gwangeong Kim,
Mika Juvela,
Dipen Sahu,
Shin-Ying Hsu
, et al. (6 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
Gas at high Galactic latitude is a relatively little-noticed component of the interstellar medium. In an effort to address this, forty-one Planck Galactic Cold Clumps at high Galactic latitude (HGal; $|b|>25^{\circ}$) were observed in $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O J=1-0 lines, using the Purple Mountain Observatory 13.7-m telescope. $^{12}$CO (1-0) and $^{13}$CO (1-0) emission was detected in…
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Gas at high Galactic latitude is a relatively little-noticed component of the interstellar medium. In an effort to address this, forty-one Planck Galactic Cold Clumps at high Galactic latitude (HGal; $|b|>25^{\circ}$) were observed in $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O J=1-0 lines, using the Purple Mountain Observatory 13.7-m telescope. $^{12}$CO (1-0) and $^{13}$CO (1-0) emission was detected in all clumps while C$^{18}$O (1-0) emission was only seen in sixteen clumps. The highest and average latitudes are $71.4^{\circ}$ and $37.8^{\circ}$, respectively. Fifty-one velocity components were obtained and then each was identified as a single clump. Thirty-three clumps were further mapped at 1$^\prime$ resolution and 54 dense cores were extracted. Among dense cores, the average excitation temperature $T_{\mathrm{ex}}$ of $^{12}$CO is 10.3 K. The average line widths of thermal and non-thermal velocity dispersions are $0.19$ km s$^{-1}$ and $0.46$ km s$^{-1}$ respectively, suggesting that these cores are dominated by turbulence. Distances of the HGal clumps given by Gaia dust reddening are about $120-360$ pc. The ratio of $X_{13}$/$X_{18}$ is significantly higher than that in the solar neighbourhood, implying that HGal gas has a different star formation history compared to the gas in the Galactic disk. HGal cores with sizes from $0.01-0.1$ pc show no notable Larson's relation and the turbulence remains supersonic down to a scale of slightly below $0.1$ pc. None of the HGal cores which bear masses from 0.01-1 $M_{\odot}$ are gravitationally bound and all appear to be confined by outer pressure.
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Submitted 20 July, 2021; v1 submitted 17 July, 2021;
originally announced July 2021.
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A search for cloud cores affected by shocked carbon chain chemistry in L1251
Authors:
Xunchuan Liu,
Y. Wu,
C. Zhang,
X. Chen,
L. -H. Lin,
S. -L. Qin,
T. Liu,
C. Henkel,
J. Wang,
H. -L. Liu,
J. Yuan,
L. -X. Yuan,
J. Li,
Z. -Q. Shen,
D. Li,
J. Esimbek,
K. Wang,
L. -X. Li,
Kee-Tae Kim,
L. Zhu,
D. Madones,
N. Inostroza,
F. -Y. Meng,
Tianwei Zhang,
K. Tatematsu
, et al. (4 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We searched for shocked carbon chain chemistry (SCCC) sources with C$_3$S abundances surpassing those of HC$_5$N towards the dark cloud L1251, using the Effelsberg telescope at K-band (18 -- 26\,GHz). L1251-1 and L1251-3 are identified as the most promising SCCC sources. The two sources harbor young stellar objects. We conducted mapping observations towards L1251-A, the western tail of L1251, at…
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We searched for shocked carbon chain chemistry (SCCC) sources with C$_3$S abundances surpassing those of HC$_5$N towards the dark cloud L1251, using the Effelsberg telescope at K-band (18 -- 26\,GHz). L1251-1 and L1251-3 are identified as the most promising SCCC sources. The two sources harbor young stellar objects. We conducted mapping observations towards L1251-A, the western tail of L1251, at $λ$ $\sim$3\,mm with the PMO 13.7 m and the NRO 45 m telescopes in lines of C$_2$H, N$_2$H$^+$, CS, HCO$^+$, SO, HC$_3$N and C$^{18}$O as well as in CO 3--2 using the JCMT. The spectral data were combined with archival data including Spitzer and Herschel continuum maps for further analysis. Filamentary sub-structures labeled as F1 to F6 were extracted in L1251, with F1 being associated with L1251-A hosting L1251-1. The peak positions of dense gas traced by HCO$^+$ are misaligned relative to those of the dust clumps. Episodic outflows are common in this region. The twisted morphology of F1 and velocity distribution along L1251-A may originate from stellar feedback. SCCC in L1251-1 may have been caused by outflow activities originated from the infrared source IRS1. The signposts of ongoing SCCC and the broadened line widths of C$_3$S and C$_4$H in L1251-1 as well as the distribution of HC$_3$N are also related to outflow activities in this region. L1251-1 (IRS1) together with the previously identified SCCC source IRS3 demonstrate that L1251-A is an excellent region to study shocked carbon chain chemistry.
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Submitted 11 March, 2021;
originally announced March 2021.
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Planck Galactic Cold Clumps in Two Regions: the First Quadrant and the Anti-Center Direction Region
Authors:
Chao Zhang,
Yuefang Wu,
Xunchuan Liu,
Sheng-li Qin,
Tie Liu,
Jinghua Yuan,
Di Li,
Fanyi Meng,
Tianwei Zhang,
Mengyao Tang,
Lixia Yuan,
Chenlin Zhou,
Jarken Esimbek,
Yan Zhou,
Ping Chen,
Runjie Hu
Abstract:
Sixty five Planck Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) from the first quadrant (IQuad) and thirty nine of PGCCs from the Anti-Center direction region (ACent) were observed in $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O J=1-0 lines using the PMO 13.7-m telescope. All the targets were detected with all the three lines, except for 12 IQuad and 8 ACent PGCCs without C$^{18}$O detection. Seventy six and 49 velocity com…
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Sixty five Planck Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) from the first quadrant (IQuad) and thirty nine of PGCCs from the Anti-Center direction region (ACent) were observed in $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O J=1-0 lines using the PMO 13.7-m telescope. All the targets were detected with all the three lines, except for 12 IQuad and 8 ACent PGCCs without C$^{18}$O detection. Seventy six and 49 velocity components were obtained in IQuad and ACent respectively. One-hundred and forty-six cores were extracted from 76 IQuad clumps and 100 cores from 49 ACent clumps. The average T$_{\mathrm{ex}}$ of IQuad cores and ACent cores are 12.4 K and 12.1 K, respectively. The average line width of $^{13}$CO of IQuad cores and ACent cores are 1.55 km s$^{-1}$ and 1.77 km s$^{-1}$, respectively. Among the detected cores, 24 in IQuad and 13 in ACent have asymmetric line profiles. The small blue excesses, $\sim$0.03 in IQuad and 0.01 in ACent, indicate that the star formation is not active in these PGCC cores. Power-law fittings of core mass function to the high mass end give indexes of -0.57 in IQuad and -1.02 in ACent which are flatter than the slope of initial mass function given by \citeauthor{1955ApJ...121..161S}. The large turnover masses with value of 28 M$_{\odot}$ for IQuad cores and 77 M$_{\odot}$ for ACent cores suggest low star formation efficiencies in PGCCs. The correlation between virial mass and gas mass indicates that most of PGCC cores in both regions are not likely pressure-confined.
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Submitted 21 October, 2020;
originally announced October 2020.
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Non-thermal emission from cosmic rays accelerated in HII regions
Authors:
M. Padovani,
A. Marcowith,
Á. Sánchez-Monge,
F. Meng,
P. Schilke
Abstract:
Radio observations at metre-centimetre wavelengths shed light on the nature of the emission of HII regions. Usually this category of objects is dominated by thermal radiation produced by ionised hydrogen, namely protons and electrons. However, a number of observational studies have revealed the existence of HII regions with a mixture of thermal and non-thermal radiation. The latter represents a cl…
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Radio observations at metre-centimetre wavelengths shed light on the nature of the emission of HII regions. Usually this category of objects is dominated by thermal radiation produced by ionised hydrogen, namely protons and electrons. However, a number of observational studies have revealed the existence of HII regions with a mixture of thermal and non-thermal radiation. The latter represents a clue as to the presence of relativistic electrons. However, neither the interstellar cosmic-ray electron flux nor the flux of secondary electrons, produced by primary cosmic rays through ionisation processes, is high enough to explain the observed flux densities. We investigate the possibility of accelerating local thermal electrons up to relativistic energies in HII region shocks. We assumed that relativistic electrons can be accelerated through the first-order Fermi acceleration mechanism and we estimated the emerging electron fluxes, the corresponding flux densities, and the spectral indexes. We find flux densities of the same order of magnitude of those observed. In particular, we applied our model to the "deep south" (DS) region of Sagittarius B2 and we succeeded in reproducing the observed flux densities with an accuracy of less than 20% as well as the spectral indexes. The model also gives constraints on magnetic field strength ($0.3-4$ mG), density ($1-9\times10^4$ cm$^{-3}$), and flow velocity in the shock reference frame ($33-50$ km s$^{-1}$) expected in DS. We suggest a mechanism able to accelerate thermal electrons inside HII regions through the first-order Fermi acceleration. The existence of a local source of relativistic electrons can explain the origin of both the observed non-thermal emission and the corresponding spectral indexes.
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Submitted 21 August, 2019; v1 submitted 20 August, 2019;
originally announced August 2019.
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The physical and chemical structure of Sagittarius B2 -- V. Non-thermal emission in the envelope of Sgr B2
Authors:
F. Meng,
Á. Sánchez-Monge,
P. Schilke,
M. Padovani,
A. Marcowith,
A. Ginsburg,
A. Schmiedeke,
A. Schwörer,
C. DePree,
V. S. Veena,
Th. Möller
Abstract:
The giant molecular cloud Sagittarius B2 (hereafter SgrB2) is the most massive region with ongoing high-mass star formation in the Galaxy. In the southern region of the 40-pc large envelope of SgrB2, we encounter the SgrB2(DS) region which hosts more than 60 high-mass protostellar cores distributed in an arc shape around an extended HII region. We use the Very Large Array in its CnB and D configur…
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The giant molecular cloud Sagittarius B2 (hereafter SgrB2) is the most massive region with ongoing high-mass star formation in the Galaxy. In the southern region of the 40-pc large envelope of SgrB2, we encounter the SgrB2(DS) region which hosts more than 60 high-mass protostellar cores distributed in an arc shape around an extended HII region. We use the Very Large Array in its CnB and D configurations, and in the frequency bands C (4--8 GHz) and X (8--12 GHz) to observe the whole SgrB2 complex. Continuum and radio recombination line maps are obtained. We detect radio continuum emission in SgrB2(DS) in a bubble-shaped structure. From 4 to 12 GHz, we derive a spectral index between -1.2 and -0.4, indicating the presence of non-thermal emission. We decompose the contribution from thermal and non-thermal emission, and find that the thermal component is clumpy and more concentrated, while the non-thermal component is more extended and diffuse. The radio recombination lines in the region are found to be not in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) but stimulated by the non-thermal emission. The thermal free-free emission is likely tracing an HII region ionized by an O7 star, while the non-thermal emission can be generated by relativistic electrons created through first-order Fermi acceleration. We have developed a simple model of the SgrB2(DS) region and found that first-order Fermi acceleration can reproduce the observed flux density and spectral index.
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Submitted 19 September, 2019; v1 submitted 20 August, 2019;
originally announced August 2019.
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The Physical and chemical structure of Sagittarius B2 -- IV. Converging filaments in the high-mass cluster forming region Sgr B2(N)
Authors:
A. Schwörer,
Á. Sánchez-Monge,
P. Schilke,
T. Möller,
A. Ginsburg,
F. Meng,
A. Schmiedeke,
H. S. P. Müller,
D. Lis,
S. -L. Qin
Abstract:
We have used an unbiased, spectral line-survey that covers the frequency range from 211 to 275 GHz and was obtained with ALMA (angular resolution of 0.4 arcsec) to study the small-scale structure of the dense gas in Sagittarius B2 (north). Eight filaments are found converging to the central hub and extending for about 0.1 pc. The spatial structure, together with the presence of the massive central…
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We have used an unbiased, spectral line-survey that covers the frequency range from 211 to 275 GHz and was obtained with ALMA (angular resolution of 0.4 arcsec) to study the small-scale structure of the dense gas in Sagittarius B2 (north). Eight filaments are found converging to the central hub and extending for about 0.1 pc. The spatial structure, together with the presence of the massive central region, suggest that these filaments may be associated with accretion processes. In order to derive the kinematic properties of the gas in a chemically line-rich source like Sgr B2(N), we have developed a new tool that stacks all the detected transition lines of any molecular species. This permits to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of our observations and average out line blending effects, which are a common problem in line-rich regions. We derive velocity gradients along the filaments of about 20-100 km s$^{-1}$ pc$^{-1}$, which are 10-100 times larger than those typically found on larger scales (1 pc) in other star-forming regions. The mass accretion rates of individual filaments are about 0.05 M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$, which result in a total accretion rate of 0.16 M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$. Some filaments harbor dense cores that are likely forming stars and stellar clusters. The stellar content of these dense cores is on the order of 50% of the total mass. We conclude that the cores may merge in the center when already forming stellar clusters but still containing a significant amount of gas, resulting in a "damp" merger. The high density and mass of the central region, combined with the presence of converging filaments with high mass, high accretion rates and embedded dense cores already forming stars, suggest that Sgr B2(N) may have the potential to evolve into a super stellar cluster.
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Submitted 26 June, 2019;
originally announced June 2019.
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SCOPE: SCUBA-2 Continuum Observations of Pre-protostellar Evolution - Survey Description and Compact Source Catalogue
Authors:
D. J. Eden,
Tie Liu,
Kee-Tae Kim,
S. -Y. Liu,
K. Tatematsu,
J. Di Francesco,
K. Wang,
Y. Wu,
M. A. Thompson,
G. A. Fuller,
Di Li,
I. Ristorcelli,
Sung-ju Kang,
N. Hirano,
D. Johnstone,
Y. Lin,
J. H. He,
P. M. Koch,
Patricio Sanhueza,
S. -L. Qin,
Q. Zhang,
P. F. Goldsmith,
N. J. Evans II,
J. Yuan,
C. -P. Zhang
, et al. (136 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We present the first release of the data and compact-source catalogue for the JCMT Large Program SCUBA-2 Continuum Observations of Pre-protostellar Evolution (SCOPE). SCOPE consists of 850-um continuum observations of 1235 Planck Galactic Cold Clumps (PGCCs) made with the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array 2 on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. These data are at an angular resolution of 14…
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We present the first release of the data and compact-source catalogue for the JCMT Large Program SCUBA-2 Continuum Observations of Pre-protostellar Evolution (SCOPE). SCOPE consists of 850-um continuum observations of 1235 Planck Galactic Cold Clumps (PGCCs) made with the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array 2 on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. These data are at an angular resolution of 14.4 arcsec, significantly improving upon the 353-GHz resolution of Planck at 5 arcmin, and allowing for a catalogue of 3528 compact sources in 558 PGCCs. We find that the detected PGCCs have significant sub-structure, with 61 per cent of detected PGCCs having 3 or more compact sources, with filamentary structure also prevalent within the sample. A detection rate of 45 per cent is found across the survey, which is 95 per cent complete to Planck column densities of $N_{H_{2}}$ $>$ 5 $\times$ 10$^{21}$ cm$^{-2}$. By positionally associating the SCOPE compact sources with YSOs, the star formation efficiency, as measured by the ratio of luminosity to mass, in nearby clouds is found to be similar to that in the more distant Galactic Plane, with the column density distributions also indistinguishable from each other.
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Submitted 26 February, 2019;
originally announced February 2019.
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Visible astro-comb filtered by a passively-stabilized Fabry-Perot cavity
Authors:
Yuxuan Ma,
Fei Meng,
Yizhou Liu,
Fei Zhao,
Gang Zhao,
Aimin Wang,
Zhigang Zhang
Abstract:
We demonstrate a compact 29.3 GHz visible astro-comb covering the spectrum from 560nm to 700nm. A 837 MHz Yb:fiber laser frequency comb phase locked to a Rb clock served as the seed comb to ensure the frequency stability and high side mode suppression ratio. After the visible super-continuum generation, a cavity-length-fixed Fabry-Perot cavity made by ultra-low expansion glass was utilized to filt…
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We demonstrate a compact 29.3 GHz visible astro-comb covering the spectrum from 560nm to 700nm. A 837 MHz Yb:fiber laser frequency comb phase locked to a Rb clock served as the seed comb to ensure the frequency stability and high side mode suppression ratio. After the visible super-continuum generation, a cavity-length-fixed Fabry-Perot cavity made by ultra-low expansion glass was utilized to filter the comb teeth for eliminating the rapid active dithering. The mirrors were home-made complementary chirped mirrors pair with zero dispersion and high reflection to guarantee no mode skipping. These filtered comb teeth were clearly resolved in an astronomical spectrograph of 49,000 resolution, exhibiting sharp linetype, zero noise floor, and uniform exposure amplitude.
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Submitted 18 August, 2018;
originally announced August 2018.
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Distributed star formation throughout the Galactic Center cloud Sgr B2
Authors:
A. G. Ginsburg,
John Bally,
Ashley Barnes,
Nate Bastian,
Cara Battersby,
Henrik Beuther,
Crystal Brogan,
Yanett Contreras,
Joanna Corby,
Jeremy Darling,
Chris De-Pree,
Roberto Galván-Madrid,
Guido Garay,
Jonathan Henshaw,
Todd Hunter,
J. M. Diederik Kruijssen,
Steven Longmore,
Fanyi Meng,
Elisabeth A. C. Mills,
Juergen Ott,
Jaime E. Pineda,
Álvaro Sánchez-Monge,
Peter Schilke,
Anika Schmiedeke,
Daniel Walker
, et al. (1 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We report ALMA observations with resolution $\approx0.5$" at 3 mm of the extended Sgr B2 cloud in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ). We detect 271 compact sources, most of which are smaller than 5000 AU. By ruling out alternative possibilities, we conclude that these sources consist of a mix of hypercompact HII regions and young stellar objects (YSOs). Most of the newly-detected sources are YSOs wi…
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We report ALMA observations with resolution $\approx0.5$" at 3 mm of the extended Sgr B2 cloud in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ). We detect 271 compact sources, most of which are smaller than 5000 AU. By ruling out alternative possibilities, we conclude that these sources consist of a mix of hypercompact HII regions and young stellar objects (YSOs). Most of the newly-detected sources are YSOs with gas envelopes which, based on their luminosities, must contain objects with stellar masses $M_*\gtrsim8$ M$_\odot$. Their spatial distribution spread over a $\sim12\times3$ pc region demonstrates that Sgr B2 is experiencing an extended star formation event, not just an isolated `starburst' within the protocluster regions. Using this new sample, we examine star formation thresholds and surface density relations in Sgr B2. While all of the YSOs reside in regions of high column density ($N(H_2)\gtrsim2\times10^{23}$ cm$^{-2}$), not all regions of high column density contain YSOs. The observed column density threshold for star formation is substantially higher than that in solar vicinity clouds, implying either that high-mass star formation requires a higher column density or that any star formation threshold in the CMZ must be higher than in nearby clouds. The relation between the surface density of gas and stars is incompatible with extrapolations from local clouds, and instead stellar densities in Sgr B2 follow a linear $Σ_*-Σ_{gas}$ relation, shallower than that observed in local clouds. Together, these points suggest that a higher volume density threshold is required to explain star formation in CMZ clouds.
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Submitted 15 January, 2018;
originally announced January 2018.
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Dense gas in molecular cores associated with Planck Galactic cold clumps
Authors:
Jinghua Yuan,
Yuefang Wu,
Tie Liu,
Tianwei Zhang,
Jin Zeng Li,
Hong-Li Liu,
Fanyi Meng,
Ping Chen,
Runjie Hu,
Ke Wang
Abstract:
We present the first survey of dense gas towards Planck Galactic Cold Clumps (PGCCs). Observations in the J=1-0 transitions of HCO+ and HCN towards 621 molecular cores associated with PGCCs were performed using the Purple Mountain Observatory 13.7-m telescope. Among them, 250 sources have detection, including 230 cores detected in HCO+ and 158 in HCN. Spectra of the J=1-0 transitions from CO, 13CO…
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We present the first survey of dense gas towards Planck Galactic Cold Clumps (PGCCs). Observations in the J=1-0 transitions of HCO+ and HCN towards 621 molecular cores associated with PGCCs were performed using the Purple Mountain Observatory 13.7-m telescope. Among them, 250 sources have detection, including 230 cores detected in HCO+ and 158 in HCN. Spectra of the J=1-0 transitions from CO, 13CO, and C18O at the centers of the 250 cores were extracted from previous mapping observations to construct a multi-line data set. The significantly low detection rate of asymmetric double-peaked profiles, together with the well consistence among central velocities of CO, HCO+, and HCN spectra, suggests that the CO-selected Planck cores are more quiescent compared to classical star-forming regions. The small difference between line widths of C18O and HCN indicates that the inner regions of CO-selected Planck cores are not more turbulent than the exterior. The velocity-integrated intensities and abundances of HCO+ are positively correlated with those of HCN, suggesting these two species are well coupled and chemically connected. The detected abundances of both HCO+ and HCN are significantly lower than values in other low- to high-mass star-forming regions. The low abundances may be due to beam dilution. On the basis of the inspection of the parameters given in the PGCC catalog, we suggest that there may be about 1 000 PGCC objects having sufficient reservoir of dense gas to form stars.
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Submitted 18 January, 2016;
originally announced January 2016.
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Planck cold clumps in the $λ$ Orionis complex: I. Discovery of an extremely young Class 0 protostellar object and a proto-brown dwarf candidate in a bright rimmed clump PGCC G192.32-11.88
Authors:
Tie Liu,
Qizhou Zhang,
Kee-Tae Kim,
Yuefang Wu,
Chang Won Lee,
Jeong-Eun Lee,
Kenichi Tatematsu,
Minho Choi,
Mika Juvela,
Mark Thompson,
Paul F. Goldsmith,
Sheng-yuan Liu,
Hirano Naomi,
Patrick Koch,
Christian Henkel,
Patricio Sanhueza,
JinHua He,
Alana Rivera-Ingraham,
Ke Wang,
Maria R. Cunningham,
Ya-Wen Tang,
Shih-Ping Lai,
Jinghua Yuan,
Di Li,
Gary Fuller
, et al. (15 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We are performing a series of observations with ground-based telescopes toward Planck Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) in the $λ$ Orionis complex in order to systematically investigate the effects of stellar feedback. In the particular case of PGCC G192.32-11.88, we discovered an extremely young Class 0 protostellar object (G192N) and a proto-brown dwarf candidate (G192S). G192N and G192S are located…
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We are performing a series of observations with ground-based telescopes toward Planck Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) in the $λ$ Orionis complex in order to systematically investigate the effects of stellar feedback. In the particular case of PGCC G192.32-11.88, we discovered an extremely young Class 0 protostellar object (G192N) and a proto-brown dwarf candidate (G192S). G192N and G192S are located in a gravitationally bound bright-rimmed clump. The velocity and temperature gradients seen in line emission of CO isotopologues indicate that PGCC G192.32-11.88 is externally heated and compressed. G192N probably has the lowest bolometric luminosity ($\sim0.8$ L$_{\sun}$) and accretion rate (6.3$\times10^{-7}$ M$_{\sun}$~yr$^{-1}$) when compared with other young Class 0 sources (e.g. PACS Bright Red sources (PBRs)) in the Orion complex. It has slightly larger internal luminosity ($0.21\pm0.01$ L$_{\sun}$) and outflow velocity ($\sim$14 km~s$^{-1}$) than the predictions of first hydrostatic cores (FHSCs). G192N might be among the youngest Class 0 sources, which are slightly more evolved than a FHSC. Considering its low internal luminosity ($0.08\pm0.01$ L$_{\odot}$) and accretion rate (2.8$\times10^{-8}$ M$_{\sun}$~yr$^{-1}$), G192S is an ideal proto-brown dwarf candidate. The star formation efficiency ($\sim$0.3\%-0.4\%) and core formation efficiency ($\sim$1\%) in PGCC G192.32-11.88 are significantly smaller than in other giant molecular clouds or filaments, indicating that the star formation therein is greatly suppressed due to stellar feedback.
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Submitted 20 December, 2015; v1 submitted 24 November, 2015;
originally announced November 2015.
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Search for Event Rate Modulation in XENON100 Electronic Recoil Data
Authors:
The XENON Collaboration,
E. Aprile,
J. Aalbers,
F. Agostini,
M. Alfonsi,
M. Anthony,
L. Arazi,
K. Arisaka,
F. Arneodo,
C. Balan,
P. Barrow,
L. Baudis,
B. Bauermeister,
P. A. Breur,
A. Brown,
E. Brown,
S. Bruenner,
G. Bruno,
R. Budnik,
L. Buetikofer,
J. M. R. Cardoso,
M. Cervantes,
D. Coderre,
A. P. Colijn,
H. Contreras
, et al. (77 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We have searched for periodic variations of the electronic recoil event rate in the (2-6) keV energy range recorded between February 2011 and March 2012 with the XENON100 detector, adding up to 224.6 live days in total. Following a detailed study to establish the stability of the detector and its background contributions during this run, we performed an un-binned profile likelihood analysis to ide…
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We have searched for periodic variations of the electronic recoil event rate in the (2-6) keV energy range recorded between February 2011 and March 2012 with the XENON100 detector, adding up to 224.6 live days in total. Following a detailed study to establish the stability of the detector and its background contributions during this run, we performed an un-binned profile likelihood analysis to identify any periodicity up to 500 days. We find a global significance of less than 1 sigma for all periods suggesting no statistically significant modulation in the data. While the local significance for an annual modulation is 2.8 sigma, the analysis of a multiple-scatter control sample and the phase of the modulation disfavor a dark matter interpretation. The DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation interpreted as a dark matter signature with axial-vector coupling of WIMPs to electrons is excluded at 4.8 sigma.
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Submitted 28 July, 2015;
originally announced July 2015.
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Follow-up observations toward Planck cold clumps with ground-based radio telescopes
Authors:
Tie Liu,
Yuefang Wu,
Diego Mardones,
Kee-Tae Kim,
Karl M. Menten,
Ken Tatematsu,
Maria Cunningham,
Mika Juvela,
Qizhou Zhang,
Paul F Goldsmith,
Sheng-Yuan Liu,
Hua-Wei Zhang,
Fanyi Meng,
Di Li,
Nadia Lo,
Xin Guan,
Jinghua Yuan,
Arnaud Belloche,
Christian Henkel,
Friedrich Wyrowski,
Guido Garay,
Isabelle Ristorcelli,
Jeong-Eun Lee,
Ke Wang,
Leonardo Bronfman
, et al. (4 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The physical and chemical properties of prestellar cores, especially massive ones, are still far from being well understood due to the lack of a large sample. The low dust temperature ($<$14 K) of Planck cold clumps makes them promising candidates for prestellar objects or for sources at the very initial stages of protostellar collapse. We have been conducting a series of observations toward Planc…
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The physical and chemical properties of prestellar cores, especially massive ones, are still far from being well understood due to the lack of a large sample. The low dust temperature ($<$14 K) of Planck cold clumps makes them promising candidates for prestellar objects or for sources at the very initial stages of protostellar collapse. We have been conducting a series of observations toward Planck cold clumps (PCCs) with ground-based radio telescopes. In general, when compared with other star forming samples (e.g. infrared dark clouds), PCCs are more quiescent, suggesting that most of them may be in the earliest phase of star formation. However, some PCCs are associated with protostars and molecular outflows, indicating that not all PCCs are in a prestellar phase. We have identified hundreds of starless dense clumps from the mapping survey with the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) 13.7-m telescope. Follow-up observations suggest that these dense clumps are ideal targets to search for prestellar objects.
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Submitted 29 October, 2014; v1 submitted 25 October, 2014;
originally announced October 2014.
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Long-term optical and radio variability of BL Lacertae
Authors:
Y. C. Guo,
S. M. Hu,
C. Xu,
C. Y. Liu,
X. Chen,
D. F. Guo,
F. Y. Meng,
M. T. Xu,
J. Q. Xu
Abstract:
Well-sampled optical and radio light curves of BL Lacertae in B, V, R, I bands and 4.8, 8.0, 14.5 GHz from 1968 to 2014 were presented in this paper. A possible $1.26 \pm 0.05$ yr period in optical bands and a $7.50 \pm 0.15$ yr period in radio bands were detected based on discrete correlation function, structure function as well as Jurkevich method. Correlations among different bands were also an…
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Well-sampled optical and radio light curves of BL Lacertae in B, V, R, I bands and 4.8, 8.0, 14.5 GHz from 1968 to 2014 were presented in this paper. A possible $1.26 \pm 0.05$ yr period in optical bands and a $7.50 \pm 0.15$ yr period in radio bands were detected based on discrete correlation function, structure function as well as Jurkevich method. Correlations among different bands were also analyzed and no reliable time delay was found between optical bands. Very weak correlations were detected between V band and radio bands. However, in radio bands the variation at low frequency lagged that at high frequency obviously. The spectrum of BL Lacertae turned mildly bluer when the object turned brighter, and stronger bluer-when-brighter trends were found for short flares. A scenario including a precessing helical jet and periodic shocks was put forward to interpret the variation characteristics of BL Lacertae.
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Submitted 11 May, 2014;
originally announced May 2014.
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Multi-chroic dual-polarization bolometric detectors for studies of the Cosmic Microwave Background
Authors:
Aritoki Suzuki,
Kam Arnold,
Jennifer Edwards,
Greg Engargiola,
Adnan Ghribi,
William Holzapfel,
Adrian T. Lee,
Xiao Fan Meng,
Michael J. Myers,
Roger O'Brient,
Erin Quealy,
Gabriel Rebeiz,
Paul Richards,
Darin Rosen,
Praween Siritanasak
Abstract:
We are developing multi-chroic antenna-coupled TES detectors for CMB polarimetry. Multi-chroic detectors increase the mapping speed per focal plane area and provide greater discrimination of polarized galactic foregrounds with no increase in weight or cryogenic cost. In each pixel, a silicon lens-coupled dual polarized sinuous antenna collects light over a two-octave frequency band. The antenna co…
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We are developing multi-chroic antenna-coupled TES detectors for CMB polarimetry. Multi-chroic detectors increase the mapping speed per focal plane area and provide greater discrimination of polarized galactic foregrounds with no increase in weight or cryogenic cost. In each pixel, a silicon lens-coupled dual polarized sinuous antenna collects light over a two-octave frequency band. The antenna couples the broadband millimeter wave signal into microstrip transmission lines, and on-chip filter banks split the broadband signal into several frequency bands. Separate TES bolometers detect the power in each frequency band and linear polarization. We will describe the design and performance of these devices and present optical data taken with prototype pixels. Our measurements show beams with percent level ellipticity, percent level cross-polarization leakage, and partitioned bands using banks of 2, 3, and 7 filters. We will also describe the development of broadband anti-reflection coatings for the high dielectric constant lens. The broadband anti-reflection coating has approximately 100 percent bandwidth and no detectable loss at cryogenic temperature. Finally, we will describe an upgrade for the POLARBEAR CMB experiment and installation for the LITEBird CMB satellite experiment both of which have focal planes with kilo-pixel of these detectors to achieve unprecedented mapping speed.
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Submitted 31 October, 2012;
originally announced October 2012.
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Follow-up observations of Planck cold clumps in $^{12}$CO/$^{13}$CO/C$^{18}$O (1--0) transitions
Authors:
Yuefang Wu,
Tie Liu,
Fanyi Meng
Abstract:
The Planck Early Cold Cores Catalog (ECC) provides an unbiased list of Galactic cold clumps, which form an ideal sample for studying the early phases of star formation (\cite[Planck Collabrators et al. 2011]{Planck_etal11}). To study their properties, we have carried out a molecular line ($^{12}$CO/$^{13}$CO/C$^{18}$O) survey towards 674 Planck cold clumps in the ECC with the PMO 13.7 m telescope.
The Planck Early Cold Cores Catalog (ECC) provides an unbiased list of Galactic cold clumps, which form an ideal sample for studying the early phases of star formation (\cite[Planck Collabrators et al. 2011]{Planck_etal11}). To study their properties, we have carried out a molecular line ($^{12}$CO/$^{13}$CO/C$^{18}$O) survey towards 674 Planck cold clumps in the ECC with the PMO 13.7 m telescope.
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Submitted 14 October, 2012;
originally announced October 2012.
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Gas emissions in Planck cold dust clumps---A Survey of the J=1-0 Transitions of $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO, and C$^{18}$O
Authors:
Yuefang Wu,
Tie Liu,
Fanyi Meng,
Di Li,
Sheng-Li Qin,
Bing-Gang Ju
Abstract:
A survey toward 674 Planck cold clumps of the Early Cold Core Catalogue (ECC) in the J=1-0 transitions of $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O has been carried out using the PMO 13.7 m telescope. 673 clumps were detected with the $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO, and 68% of the samples have C$^{18}$O emission. Additional velocity components were also identified.A close consistency of the three line peak velo…
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A survey toward 674 Planck cold clumps of the Early Cold Core Catalogue (ECC) in the J=1-0 transitions of $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O has been carried out using the PMO 13.7 m telescope. 673 clumps were detected with the $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO, and 68% of the samples have C$^{18}$O emission. Additional velocity components were also identified.A close consistency of the three line peak velocities was revealed for the first time. Kinematic distances are given out for all the velocity components and half of the clumps are located within 0.5 and 1.5 kpc. Excitation temperatures range from 4 to 27 K, slightly larger than those of $T_d$. Line width analysis shows that the majority of ECC clumps are low mass clumps. Column densities N$_{H_{2}}$ span from 10$^{20}$ to 4.5$\times10^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$ with an average value of (4.4$\pm$3.6)$\times10^{21}$ cm$^{-2}$. N$_{H_{2}}$ cumulative fraction distribution deviates from the lognormal distribution, which is attributed to optical depth. The average abundance ratio of the $^{13}$CO to C$^{18}$O in these clumps is 7.0$\pm$3.8, higher than the terrestrial value. Dust and gas are well coupled in 95% of the clumps. Blue profile, red profile and line asymmetry in total was found in less than 10% of the clumps, generally indicating star formation is not developed yet. Ten clumps were mapped. Twelve velocity components and 22 cores were obtained. Their morphologies include extended diffuse, dense isolated, cometary and filament, of which the last is the majority. 20 cores are starless.Only 7 cores seem to be in gravitationally bound state. Planck cold clumps are the most quiescent among the samples of weak-red IRAS, infrared dark clouds, UC H{\sc ii} region candidates, EGOs and methanol maser sources, suggesting that Planck cold clumps have expanded the horizon of cold Astronomy.
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Submitted 29 June, 2012;
originally announced June 2012.