Study of the physical and chemical properties of dense clumps in several high-mass star-forming regions

TL;DR

This study investigates the physical and chemical properties of dense clumps in high-mass star-forming regions using multi-wavelength observations, revealing insights into their stability, composition, and evolutionary stages.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of dense clumps in multiple regions, combining molecular line data with dust emission to understand their physical conditions and stability.

Findings

Clumps with HII regions and YSOs are gravitationally bound.

Linewidth-mass and mass-size relationships are strongly correlated.

Magnetic fields likely support clump stability.

Abstract

Massive stars play an important role in the Universe. Unlike low-mass stars, the formation of these objects located at great distances is still unclear. It is expected to be governed by some combination of self-gravity, turbulence, and magnetic fields. Our aim is to study of the chemical and physical conditions of dense clumps in several high-mass star-forming regions. We performed observations towards 5 high-mass star-forming regions (L1287, S187, S231, DR21(OH), NGC7538) with the IRAM 30 m telescope. We covered the 2-3 and 4 mm wavelength band and analyzed the lines of HCN, HNC, HCO$^+$, HC$_3$N, HNCO, OCS, CS, SiO, SO$_2$ and SO. Using astrodendro algorithm on the 850 $\mu$m dust emission data from the SCUBA Legacy catalogue, we identified dense gas clumps and determined their masses, H$_2$ column densities and sizes. Furthermore, the kinetic temperatures, molecular abundances and dynamical state were obtained. The Red Midcourse Space Experiment Source survey (RMS) was used to determine the clump types. We identified $\sim$20 clumps. We found no significant correlation between line width and size, but the linewidth-mass and mass-size relationships are strongly correlated. Virial analysis indicated that the clumps with HII regions and young stellar objects (YSOs) are gravitationally bound. Furthermore, it was suggested that significant magnetic fields provide additional support for clump stability. The molecular abundances decrease from YSOs to submm and HII regions.