# The dense galactic environments of the Milky Way

## TL;DR

This paper discusses the complexities of measuring dense gas in the Milky Way's star-forming regions, highlighting how different tracers and observations influence the understanding of star formation relations.

## Contribution

It presents preliminary results from the DEGAMA survey, analyzing multiple dense gas tracers in massive star-forming regions of the Milky Way.

## Key findings

- Different dense gas tracers significantly affect mass measurements.
- Deviations from linear star formation relations are observed.
- Multi-beam observations reveal complex dense gas structures.

## Abstract

Star formation takes place in the dense gas phase, and therefore a simple dense gas and star formation rate relation has been proposed. With the advent of multi-beam receivers, new observations show that the deviation from linear relations is possible. In addition, different dense gas tracers might also change significantly the measurement of dense gas mass and subsequently the relation between star formation rate and dense gas mass. We report the preliminary results the DEnse GAs in MAssive star-forming regions in the Milky Way (DEGAMA) survey that observed the dense gas toward a suit of well-characterized massive star forming regions in the Milky Way. Using the resulting maps of HCO$^{+}$ 1--0, HCN 1--0, CS 2--1, we discuss the current understanding of the dense gas phase where star formation takes place.