GBT17B-356

GBT-ARGUS Observations: Tracing Infall Motions in Massive Star Forming Regions

Abstract

Infall is a crucial component in the formation of stars. The HCO+ J=1-0 transition is found to be one of most effective tracers of infall in both the low and high mass regime at lower spatial scales accessible by single dish telescopes. However, towards massive star forming regions observing infall signatures in HCO+ (1-0) has so far proven more difficult compared with low mass star forming regions. Smith et al. 2013 have suggested this may be an observational bias, suggesting infall signatures will be more prevalent if the critical density and beam size are well-matched. We therefore intend utilize ARGUS on the GBT to probe smaller spatial scales than previously obtained with single dish instruments of the HCO+ (1-0) transition towards a sample of young massive star forming regions to map infall from cloud scales directly onto core size scales (<0.1pc) in these regions. These observations have the potential to considerably aid our understanding of infall properties in young massive star forming regions. Thus, further constraining how massive stars form.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Nichol Cunningham *	Green Bank Observatory; Leeds, University of
Stuart Lumsden	Leeds, University of
Joseph Mottram	Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie
Toby Moore	Liverpool John Moores University
James Urquhart	Australia Telescope National Facility ; Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie; Kent, University of
Cormac Purcell	Sydney, University of
Sarah Church	Stanford University
Luke Maud	European Southern Observatory
Dave Frayer	Green Bank Observatory

* indicates the PI