The ALMA Survey of 70 $\mu$m Dark High-mass Clumps in Early Stages (ASHES). V. Deuterated Molecules in the 70 $\mu$m dark IRDC G14.492-00.139

TL;DR

This study uses ALMA observations to analyze deuterated molecules in a dark high-mass star-forming cloud, revealing temperature and density conditions that differ from low-mass star-forming regions.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the chemical and physical conditions of dense cores in a high-mass IRDC through spatial distribution and chemical ratio analysis.

Findings

N2D+ traces quiescent regions

DCO+ and DCN indicate active star formation

Low DCO+/N2D+ ratio suggests warmer, denser cores

Abstract

We have observed the 70 $\mu$m dark infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G14.492-00.139 in the N$_2$D$^+$ $J$=3--2, DCO$^+$ $J$=3--2, DCN $J$=3--2, and C$^{18}$O $J$=2--1 lines, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) as part of the ALMA Survey of 70 $\mu$m Dark High-mass Clumps in Early Stages (ASHES). We find that the spatial distribution is different among the observed emission from the deuterated molecular lines. The N$_2$D$^+$ emission traces relatively quiescent regions, while both the DCO$^+$ and DCN emission emanates mainly from regions with signs of active star-formation. In addition, the DCO$^+$/N$_2$D$^+$ ratio is found to be lower in several dense cores than in starless cores embedded in low-mass star-forming regions. By comparing the observational results with chemical model calculations, we discuss the origin of the low DCO$^+$/N$_2$D$^+$ ratio in this IRDC clump. The low DCO$^+$/N$_2$D$^+$ ratio can be explained if the temperature of the dense cores is in the range between the sublimation temperature of N$_2$ ($\sim$20 K) and CO ($\sim$25 K). The results suggest that the dense cores in G14.492-00.139 are warmer and denser than the dense cores in low-mass star-forming regions.