Herschel observations of extraordinary sources: Full Herschel/HIFI molecular line survey of Sagittarius B2(M)

TL;DR

This comprehensive Herschel/HIFI spectral line survey of Sagittarius B2(M) reveals detailed molecular abundances, temperatures, and velocity distributions, enhancing understanding of the physical and chemical conditions in this high-mass star-forming region.

Contribution

First full broadband spectral line survey of Sgr B2(M) with high spectral resolution, providing detailed molecular and isotopologue analysis across a wide frequency range.

Findings

Identified 92 isotopologues from 49 molecules, including complex organics.

Derived molecular abundances and temperature distributions across the region.

Observed deviations in ortho/para ratios indicating non-equilibrium conditions.

Abstract

We present a full analysis of a broadband spectral line survey of Sagittarius B2 (Main), one of the most chemically rich regions in the Galaxy located within the giant molecular cloud complex Sgr B2 in the Central Molecular Zone. Our goal is to derive the molecular abundances and temperatures of the high-mass star-forming region Sgr B2(M) and thus its physical and astrochemical conditions. Sgr B2(M) was observed using the Heterodyne Instrument for the Far-Infrared (HIFI) on board the Herschel Space Observatory in a spectral line survey from 480 to 1907 GHz at a spectral resolution of 1.1 MHz, which provides one of the largest spectral coverages ever obtained toward this high-mass star-forming region in the submillimeter with high spectral resolution and includes frequencies > 1 THz unobservable from the ground. We model the molecular emission from the submillimeter to the far-IR using the XCLASS program. For each molecule, a quantitative description was determined taking all emission and absorption features of that species across the entire spectral range into account. Additionally, we derive velocity resolved ortho / para ratios for those molecules for which ortho and para resolved molecular parameters are available. Finally, the temperature and velocity distributions are analyzed and the derived abundances are compared with those obtained for Sgr B2(N) from a similar HIFI survey. A total of 92 isotopologues were identified, arising from 49 different molecules, ranging from free ions to complex organic compounds and originating from a variety of environments from the cold envelope to hot and dense gas within the cores. Sulfur dioxide, methanol, and water are the dominant contributors. For the ortho / para ratios we find deviations from the high temperature values between 13 and 27 %. In total 14 % of all lines remain unidentified.