An analysis of water line profiles in star formation regions observed by the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite

Authors

MLN Ashby
EA Bergin
R Plume
JM Carpenter
DA Neufeld
G Chin
NR Erickson, University of Massachusetts - AmherstFollow
PF Goldsmith
M Harwit
JE Howe
SC Kleiner
DG Koch
BM Patten
R Schieder
Ronald L. Snell, University of Massachusetts - AmherstFollow
JR Stauffer
V Tolls
Z Wang
G Winnewisser
YF Zhang
GJ Melnick

Publication Date

2000

Journal or Book Title

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL

Abstract

We present spectral line profiles for the 557 GHz 1₁₀ → 1₀₁ ground-state rotational transition of ortho-H₂¹⁶O for 18 Galactic star formation regions observed by the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite. Water is unambiguously detected in every source. The line profiles exhibit a wide variety of shapes, including single-peaked spectra and self-reversed profiles. We interpret these profiles using a Monte Carlo code to model the radiative transport. The observed variations in the line profiles can be explained by variations in the relative strengths of the bulk flow and small-scale turbulent motions within the clouds. Bulk flow (infall, outflow) must be present in some cloud cores, and in certain cases this bulk flow dominates the turbulent motions.

Comments

The published version is located at http://iopscience.iop.org/1538-4357/539/2/L115

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1086/312842

Pages

L115-L118

Volume

539

Issue

2

Recommended Citation

Ashby, MLN; Bergin, EA; Plume, R; Carpenter, JM; Neufeld, DA; Chin, G; Erickson, NR; Goldsmith, PF; Harwit, M; Howe, JE; Kleiner, SC; Koch, DG; Patten, BM; Schieder, R; Snell, Ronald L.; Stauffer, JR; Tolls, V; Wang, Z; Winnewisser, G; Zhang, YF; and Melnick, GJ, "An analysis of water line profiles in star formation regions observed by the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite" (2000). ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL. 636.
https://doi.org/10.1086/312842