Globules and pillars seen in the [CII] 158 micron line with SOFIA

TL;DR

This study uses SOFIA to map the [CII] 158 micron line in a globule within Cygnus X, revealing internal and external PDRs, internal dynamics, and potential embedded star formation, advancing understanding of globule properties.

Contribution

First spectrally resolved [CII] and CO observations of a globule in Cygnus X, linking PDRs, dynamics, and possible star formation to turbulence and external radiation influences.

Findings

Extended [CII] emission indicates internal PDRs.

Velocity shifts suggest residual turbulence and dynamics.

Potential embedded B-star cluster inferred from data.

Abstract

Molecular globules and pillars are spectacular features, found only in the interface region between a molecular cloud and an HII-region. Impacting Far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation creates photon dominated regions (PDRs) on their surfaces that can be traced by typical cooling lines. With the GREAT receiver onboard SOFIA we mapped and spectrally resolved the [CII] 158 micron atomic fine-structure line and the highly excited 12CO J=11-10 molecular line from three objects in Cygnus X (a pillar, a globule, and a strong IRAS source). We focus here on the globule and compare our data with existing Spitzer data and recent Herschel Open-Time PACS data. Extended [CII] emission and more compact CO-emission was found in the globule. We ascribe this emission mainly to an internal PDR, created by a possibly embedded star-cluster with at least one early B-star. However, external PDR emission caused by the excitation by the Cyg OB2 association cannot be fully excluded. The velocity-resolved [CII] emission traces the emission of PDR surfaces, possible rotation of the globule, and high-velocity outflowing gas. The globule shows a velocity shift of ~2 km/s with respect to the expanding HII-region, which can be understood as the residual turbulence of the molecular cloud from which the globule arose. This scenario is compatible with recent numerical simulations that emphazise the effect of turbulence. It is remarkable that an isolated globule shows these strong dynamical features traced by the [CII]-line, but it demands more observational studies to verify if there is indeed an embedded cluster of B-stars.