GBT22A-504

Wide-Area Imaging of the Snake with Argus

Abstract

We propose to image the long infrared dark cloud (IRDC) filament known as "The Snake" (G11.1-012) with the Argus array. The Snake extends over 0.33 degrees and will be fully mapped in the N2H+(1-0) and HCO+(1-0) lines to measure the large-scale kinematics of the filament containing many proto-stellar nurseries. Argus allows to image large areas of the sky, but observations to date with the instrument have concentrated on relatively small regions. The new data will highlight the wide-area mapping capability of Argus, provide a beautiful EPO science image, and demonstrate the ability of Argus to observe successfully in the summer months. We will make the fully calibrated data cubes publicly available as soon as we have produced them. The optically thin N2H+ transition measures the systemic velocity of the cores along the filament, while the HCO+ line constrains the inflow velocities of the collapsing gas regions within the filament. We will also observe several additional transitions. The resulting line ratios or limits along the filament will help us to constrain chemistry and the physical properties throughout the system.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Anika Schmiedeke *	Green Bank Observatory
Jesse Bublitz	Green Bank Observatory; Rochester Institute of Technology
Dave Frayer	Green Bank Observatory

* indicates the PI