The infrared and molecular environment surrounding the Wolf-Rayet star WR130

TL;DR

This study investigates the molecular gas and infrared emission around Wolf-Rayet star WR130, revealing a ring-like gas structure, associated young stellar objects, and evidence of star formation triggered by stellar winds and ionization.

Contribution

It provides a multi-wavelength analysis of the molecular and dust environment around WR130, identifying structures and star formation activity induced by the star's energetic feedback.

Findings

Ring-like molecular gas structure similar to HI gas.

Spatial correlation between dense gas and candidate YSOs.

Evidence of star formation triggered by WR star winds.

Abstract

We present a study of the molecular CO gas and mid/far infrared radiation arising from the environment surrounding the Wolf-Rayet (W-R) star 130. We use the multi-wavelength data to analyze the properties of the dense gas and dust, and its possible spatial correlation with that of Young Stellar Objects (YSOs). We use CO J=1-0 data from the FCRAO survey as tracer of the molecular gas, and mid/far infrared data from the recent WISE and Herschel space surveys to study the dust continuum radiation and to identify a population of associated candidate YSOs. The spatial distribution of the molecular gas shows a ring-like structure very similar to that observed in the HI gas, and over the same velocity interval. The relative spatial distribution of the HI and CO components is consistent with a photo-dissociation region. We have identified and characterized four main and distinct molecular clouds that create this structure. Cold dust is coincident with the dense gas shown in the CO measurements. We have found several cYSOs that lie along the regions with the highest gas column density, and suggest that they are spatially correlated with the shell. These are indicative of regions of star formation induced by the strong wind and ionization of the WR star.