The two molecular clouds in RCW 38; evidence for formation of the youngest super star cluster in the Milky Way triggered by cloud-cloud collision

TL;DR

This study presents evidence that the youngest super star cluster in the Milky Way, RCW 38, was formed through a cloud-cloud collision between two molecular clouds, providing insights into massive star cluster formation.

Contribution

It provides observational evidence linking cloud-cloud collision to the formation of the youngest super star cluster in the Milky Way, highlighting ongoing O star formation.

Findings

Two molecular clouds are associated with RCW 38.

Cloud collision likely triggered the cluster formation.

Ongoing star formation signs observed in the collision region.

Abstract

We present distributions of two molecular clouds having velocities of 2 km s$^{-1}$ and 14 km s$^{-1}$ toward RCW 38, the youngest super star cluster in the Milky Way, in the $^{12}$CO ($J=$1--0 and 3--2) and $^{13}$CO ($J=$1--0) transitions. The two clouds are likely physically associated with the cluster as verified by the high intensity ratio of the $J$=3--2 emission to the $J$=1--0 emission, the bridging feature connecting the two clouds in velocity and their morphological correspondence with the infrared dust emission. The total mass of the clouds and the cluster is too small to gravitationally bind the velocity difference. We frame a hypothesis that the two clouds are colliding with each other by chance to trigger formation of the $\sim$20 candidate O stars which are localized within $\sim$0.3 pc of the cluster center in the 2 km s$^{-1}$ cloud. We suggest that the collision is currently continuing toward part of the 2 km s$^{-1}$ cloud where the bridging feature is localized. This is the third super star cluster alongside of Westerlund2 and NGC3603 where cloud-cloud collision triggered the cluster formation. RCW38 is the most remarkable and youngest cluster, holding a possible sign of on-going O star formation, and is the most promising site where we may be able to witness the moment of O-star formation.