Barnard 59: No Evidence for Further Fragmentation

TL;DR

This study investigates the dense molecular clump in Barnard 59, finding no evidence of further fragmentation at small scales, supporting the idea that it is a monolithic structure possibly on the verge of collapse.

Contribution

The paper provides a comparative analysis using new high-resolution dust emission maps, confirming the lack of small-scale fragmentation in Barnard 59's central clump.

Findings

No significant evidence for prestellar fragmentation at small scales

Clump appears monolithic and possibly collapsing

Supports the idea of a single, massive star-forming core

Abstract

The dense molecular clump at the center of the Barnard 59 (B59) complex is the only region in the Pipe Nebula that has formed a small,stellar cluster. The previous analysis of a high resolution near-IR dust extinction map revealed that the nuclear region in B59 is a massive, mostly quiescent clump of 18.9 solar masses. The clump shows a monolithic profile, possibly indicating that the clump is on the way to collapse, with no evident fragmentation that could lead to another group of star systems. In this paper we present new analysis that compares the dust extinction map with a new dust emission radio-continuum map of higher spatial resolution. We confirm that the clump does not show any significant evidence for prestellar fragmentation at scales smaller than those probed previously.