VERA and ALMA Observations of the H2O Supermaser Burst in Orion KL

TL;DR

This study monitors the 22 GHz H2O supermaser in Orion KL using VERA and ALMA, revealing its spatial structure, proper motions, and excitation conditions, and suggesting it is excited by dense gas interacting with outflows.

Contribution

First detailed VLBI and ALMA observations of the Orion KL supermaser, analyzing its spatial, temporal, and excitation properties, and proposing a new excitation scenario.

Findings

Maximum flux density of 135,000 Jy observed in 2012.

Supermaser consists of two spatially distinct components.

Proper motions are aligned with low-velocity outflow directions.

Abstract

The 22 GHz H2O maser in Orion KL has shown extraordinary burst events in 1979-1985 and 1998-1999, sometimes called supermaser. We have conducted monitoring observations of the supermaser in Orion KL using VERA, VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry, in the current third burst since 2011 March. Three flux maxima are detected in 2011 and 2012 with rising and falling timescales of 2-7 months. Time variations of the supermaser seem symmetric for all of the active phases. The maximum total flux density of 135000 Jy is observed in 2012 June while it is still one order of magnitude lower than those in previous bursts. The supermaser consists of two spatially different components at different velocities. They are elongated along a northwest-southeast direction perpendicular to the low-velocity outflow driven by Source I. Proper motions of the supermaser features with respect to Source I are measured toward west and southwest directions, almost parallel to the low-velocity outflow. The flux density and linewidth show an anti-correlation as expected for an unsaturated maser emission. The supermaser is located close to the methylformate (HCOOCH3) line and continuum emission peaks in the Orion Compact Ridge detected by ALMA. The broader velocity range of the weak HCOOCH3 emission at the supermaser position would be an evidence of a shock front. On the other hand, the 321 GHz H2O line is not detected at the position of the supermaser. It can be explained qualitatively by one of the theoretical H2O excitation models without extraordinary conditions. Our results support a scenario that the supermaser is excited in the dense gas interacting with the low-velocity outflow in the Compact Ridge. The extremely high flux density and its symmetric time variation for rising and falling phases could be explained by a beaming effect during the amplification process rather than changes in physical conditions.