GBT24B-253

Methanol Maser COMBS: Completing the Original Multi-Beam Survey

Abstract

The 6.7 GHz methanol maser is one of the key signposts almost exclusively associated with high-mass star formation. Often associated with the early Ultra-Compact HII region phase of formation, the maser may also trace earlier hot core phases. In addition, recent single-dish monitoring of methanol transitions associated with high-mass young stellar objects has shown an association of methanol maser flaring with continuum outbursts (Caratti o Garatti et al, 2017; Hunter et al, 2017). Followup interferometric observations of the star-forming regions, associated with flaring maser activity has revealed the first direct links between protostellar accretion luminosity bursts and 6.7 GHz methanol maser variability (Moscadelli et al 2017;Hunter et al 2018). Identification of a complete methanol maser source sample will allow future monitoring, which has the potential to significantly improve our understanding of star formation processes at the earliest stages.
By completing an entire Galactic Plane survey of methanol masers, thereby fulfilling the plan of the original Methanol Maser Multi-Beam Survey (Green et al, 2009), a truly non-biased, systematic census of Galactic methanol masers will be established, while also providing legacy products of a 2nd quadrant continuum survey at C-band and a radio-recombination line survey.

Investigators

Name	Institution
GBT Operator	Green Bank Observatory
Larry Morgan *	Green Bank Observatory
James Urquhart	Australia Telescope National Facility ; Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie; Kent, University of
Pedro Salas	Green Bank Observatory
William Armentrout	Green Bank Observatory
Aashini Patel	Kent, University of
Dylan Linville	West Virginia University
Yan Gong	Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie; Purple Mountain Observatory, CAS
Jennifer Donovan Meyer	National Radio Astronomy Observatory

* indicates the PI