Global kinematics study of OH masers in W49N

TL;DR

This study analyzes OH maser data in W49N to reveal a global contraction pattern, indicating a subcollapse in the molecular cloud associated with recent massive star formation.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed kinematic analysis of OH masers in W49N, demonstrating a global contraction and estimating the inner mass of the cloud.

Findings

Masers show a velocity gradient indicating contraction.

Maximum dispersion occurs at 0.12 pc from the center.

Estimated inner mass of the cloud is 2500 solar masses.

Abstract

Star formation is underway in the W49N molecular cloud (MC) at a high level of efficiency, with almost twenty ultra-compact (UC) HII regions observed thus far, indicating a recent formation of massive stars. Previous works have suggested that this cloud is undergoing a global contraction. We analyse the data on OH masers in the molecular cloud W49N, observed with the VLBA at the 1612, 1665, and 1667 MHz transitions in LCP and RCP with an aim to study the global kinematics of the masers. We carried out our study based on the locations and observed velocities of the maser spots. The velocities were fitted to the straight line of V$_{obs}$-V$_{sys}$ versus d$_{(\alpha, \delta)m}$, resulting in V$_{ftd}$. The difference between the fitted values and those obtained from observations is $\Delta $V. The V$_{obs}$-V$_{sys}$ velocity shows a gradient as a function of the distance to ($\alpha, \delta$)$_{m}$, where the closer spots have the largest velocities. Spots with similar velocities are located in different sectors, with respect to ($\alpha, \delta$)$_{m}$. Then, we assumed that the spots are moving towards a contraction centre (CC$_{OH}$), which is at the apex of a CONUS. We also assumed that the distance of each spot to CC$_{OH}$ is d$_{cc}$ and that they fall with a velocity V$_{CC}$, with the total velocity being V$_{Tot}$. Using this velocity, we estimated the free-fall velocity. The observed dispersion with respect to the global trend against $d_{cc}$, shows a maximum at 0.12 pc, with a decay from 0.12 to 0.19 pc, which is faster than that taking place between 0.19 and 0.42 pc. Based on $V_{tot}$ an inner mass of M$_{inn}$=2500 $M_{\odot}$ was estimated.The velocities of the OH spots at W49N, together with their positions respect $(\alpha, \delta)_m$, make it possible to trace a global kinematics, which seems to be due to a subcollapse in the W49N molecular cloud.