Dynamics of cluster-forming hub-filament systems: The case of the high-mass star-forming complex Monoceros R2.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Context:High-mass stars and star clusters commonly form within hub-filament systems. Monoceros R2 (hereafter Mon R2), at a distance of 830 pc, harbors one of the closest such systems, making it an excellent target for case studies. Aims:We investigate the morphology, stability and dynamical properties of the Mon R2 hub-filament system. Methods:We employ observations of the 13CO and C18O 1?0 and 2?1 lines obtained with the IRAM-30m telescope. We also use H2 column density maps derived from Herschel dust emission observations. Results:We identified the filamentary network in Mon R2 with the DisPerSE algorithm and characterized the individual filaments as either main (converging into the hub) or secondary (converging to a main filament) filaments. The main filaments have line masses of 30-100 M ? pc-1 and show signs of fragmentation, while the secondary filaments have line masses of 12-60 M ? pc-1 and show fragmentation only sporadically. In the context of Ostriker's hydrostatic filament model, the main filaments are thermally supercritical. If non-thermal motions are included, most of them are trans-critical. Most of the secondary filaments are roughly transcritical regardless of whether non-thermal motions are included or not. From the morphology and kinematics of the main filaments, we estimate a mass accretion rate of 10-4-10-3 M ? yr-1 into the central hub. The secondary filaments accrete into the main filaments with a rate of 0.1-0.4×10-4 M ? yr-1. The main filaments extend into the central hub. Their velocity gradients increase towards the hub, suggesting acceleration of the gas.We estimate that with the observed infall velocity, the mass-doubling time of the hub is ~ 2:5 Myr, ten times larger than the free-fall time, suggesting a dynamically old region. These timescales are comparable with the chemical age of the Hii region. Inside the hub, the main filaments show a ring- or a spiral-like morphology that exhibits rotation and infall motions. One possible explanation for the morphology is that gas is falling into the central cluster following a spiral-like pattern.
SUBMITTER: Trevino-Morales SP
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6823053 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
ACCESS DATA