2001/04/20 by K. J. Brooks, Kate Brooks, J. W. V. Storey +1 · 2 citations
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04590.x
published as Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 327 (2001) 46 · 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS
arxiv created 2001/04/20 · openalex publication_date 2001/10/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We present results from observations of H110α recombination-line emission at 4.874 GHz and the related 4.8-GHz continuum emission towards the Carina nebula using the Australia Telescope Compact Array. These data provide information on the velocity, morphology and excitation parameters of the ionized gas associated with the two bright H ii regions within the nebula, Car I and Car II. They are consistent with both Car I and Car II being expanding ionization fronts arising from the massive star clusters Trumpler 14 and Trumpler 16, respectively. The overall continuum emission distribution at 4.8 GHz is similar to that at lower frequencies. For Car I, two compact sources are revealed that are likely to be young H ii regions associated with triggered star formation. These results provide the first evidence of ongoing star formation in the northern region of the nebula. A close association between Car I and the molecular gas is consistent with a scenario in which Car I is currently carving out a cavity within the northern molecular cloud. The complicated kinematics associated with Car II point to expansion from at least two different centres. All that is left of the molecular cloud in this region are clumps of dense gas and dust which are likely to be responsible for shaping the striking morphology of the Car II components.