HI Narrow-Line Self-Absorptions Toward the High-Mass Star-Forming Region G176.51+00.20

TL;DR

This study uses FAST telescope observations to detect HI narrow-line self-absorption in a high-mass star-forming region, revealing details about molecular gas and ionization processes.

Contribution

First high-sensitivity FAST observations of HINSA toward high-mass star-forming regions, identifying two distinct HINSA components and their associations with molecular gas.

Findings

HINSA detected in all seven beams, associated with CO emission regions.

HINSA abundance varies across different regions, indicating ionization or conversion processes.

HINSA in weaker CO regions likely linked to CO-dark or faint gas.

Abstract

Using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) 19-beam tracking observational mode, high sensitivity and high-velocity resolution HI spectral lines have been observed toward the high-mass star-forming region G176.51+00.20. This is a pilot study of searching for HI narrow-line self-absorption (HINSA) toward high-mass star-forming regions where bipolar molecular outflows have been detected. This work is confined to the central seven beams of FAST. Two HINSA components are detected in all seven beams, which correspond to a strong CO emission region (SCER; with a velocity of $\sim$ $-$18 km s$^{-1}$) and a weak CO emission region (WCER; with a velocity of $\sim$ $-$3 km s$^{-1}$). The SCER detected in Beam 3 is probably more suitably classified as a WCER. In the SCER, the HINSA is probably associated with the molecular material traced by the CO. The fractional abundance of HINSA ranges from $\sim 1.1 \times 10^{-3}$ to $\sim 2.6 \times 10^{-2}$. Moreover, the abundance of HINSA in Beam 1 is lower than that in the surrounding beams (i.e., Beams 2 and 4--7). This possible ring could be caused by ionization of HI or relatively rapid conversion from HI to H$_2$ in the higher-density inner region. In the WCER (including Beam 3 in the SCER), the HINSA is probably not associated with CO clouds, but with CO-dark or CO-faint gas.