Very Cold and Massive Cores near ISOSS J18364−0221: Implications for the Initial Conditions of High‐Mass Star Formation

S. M. Birkmann, O. Krause, D. Lemke
2006 Astrophysical Journal  
We report the discovery of two very cold and massive molecular cloud cores in the region ISOSS J18364-0221. The object has been identified by a systematic search for very early evolutionary stages of high-mass stars using the 170 micron ISOPHOT Serendipity Survey (ISOSS). Submm continuum and molecular line measurements reveal two compact cores within this region. The first core has a temperature of 16.5 K, shows signs of ongoing infall and outflows, has no NIR or MIR counterpart and is massive
more » ... nough (M ~ 75 M_sun) to form at least one O star with an associated cluster. It is therefore considered a candidate for a genuine high-mass protostar and a high-mass analog to the Class 0 objects. The second core has an average gas and dust temperature of only ~ 12 K and a mass of M ~ 280 M_sun. Its temperature and level of turbulence are below the values found for massive cores so far and are suggested to represent the initial conditions from which high-mass star formation occurs.
doi:10.1086/498259 fatcat:ipfpmaovj5ehhhaauinb4apjcy