The Characterization and Galactic Distribution of Infrared Dark Clouds

Details The Characterization and Galactic Distribution of Infrared Dark Clouds The Characterization and Galactic Distribution of Infrared Dark Clouds

Dec 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006apj...653.1325s&link_type=abstract

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 653, Issue 2, pp. 1325-1335.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

78

Ism: Dust, Extinction, Galaxy: Structure, Infrared: Ism, Radio Lines: Ism, Stars: Formation

Scientific paper

Using 13CO J=1-->0 molecular line emission from the Boston University-Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory Galactic Ring Survey (BU-FCRAO GRS), we have established kinematic distances to 313 infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) by matching the morphology of the molecular line emission in distinct velocity channels to their mid-infrared extinction. The Galactic distribution of IRDCs shows an enhancement toward the Galaxy's most massive and active star-forming structure, the so-called 5 kpc ring. IRDCs have typical sizes of ~5 pc, peak column densities of ~1022 cm-2, LTE masses of ~5×103 Msolar, and volume-averaged H2 densities of ~2×103 cm-3. The similarity of these properties to those of molecular clumps associated with active star formation suggests that IRDCs represent the densest clumps within giant molecular clouds where clusters may eventually form.

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