Evidence that widespread star formation may be underway in G0.253+016, "The Brick"

TL;DR

This study uses advanced imaging techniques to reveal potential early star formation activity within the molecular cloud G0.253+0.016, indicating internal heating and possible gravitational collapse leading to protostar formation.

Contribution

It provides the first evidence of widespread star formation in G0.253+0.016 by identifying internal heating structures suggestive of ongoing gravitational collapse.

Findings

Detection of a hot filamentary structure within the cloud

Evidence of internal heating indicative of star formation

Potential gravitational collapse leading to protostar formation

Abstract

Image cubes of differential column density as a function of dust temperature are constructed for Galactic Centre molecular cloud G0.253+0.016 ("The Brick") using the recently described PPMAP procedure. The input data consist of continuum images from the Herschel Space Telescope in the wavelength range 70-500 $\mu$m, supplemented by previously published interferometric data at 1.3 mm wavelength. While the bulk of the dust in the molecular cloud is consistent with being heated externally by the local interstellar radiation field, our image cube shows the presence, near one edge of the cloud, of a filamentary structure whose temperature profile suggests internal heating. The structure appears as a cool ($\sim 14$ K) tadpole-like feature, $\sim 6$ pc in length, in which is embedded a thin spine of much hotter ($\sim$ 40-50 K) material. We interpret these findings in terms of a cool filament whose hot central region is undergoing gravitational collapse and fragmentation to form a line of protostars. If confirmed, this would represent the first evidence of widespread star formation having started within this cloud.