CO-0.30-0.07: A Peculiar Molecular Clump with an Extremely Broad Velocity Width

The high velocity dispersion compact cloud CO-0.30-0.07 is a peculiar molecular clump discovered in the central moleculr zone of the Milky Way, which is characterized by its extremely broad velocity emissions ($\sim 145\ \rm{km s^{-1}}$) despite the absence of internal energy sources. We present new interferometric maps of the cloud in multiple molecular lines in frequency ranges of 265--269 GHz and 276--280 GHz obtained using the Sumbmillimeter Array, along with the single-dish images previously obtained with the ASTE 10-m telescope. The data show that the characteristic broad velocity emissions are predominantly confined in two parallel ridges running through the cloud center. The central ridges are tightly anti-correlated with each other in both space and velocity, thereby sharply dividing the entire cloud into two distinct velocity components (+15 km s$^{-1}$ and +55 km s$^{-1}$). This morphology is consistent with a model in which the two velocity components collide with a relative velocity of 40 $\mathrm{km s^{-1}}$ at the interface defined by the central ridges, although an alternative explanation with a highly inclined expanding-ring model is yet to be fully invalidated. We have also unexpectedly detected several compact clumps ($\lesssim 0.1\$pc in radius) likely formed by shock compression. The clumps have several features in common with typical star-forming clouds: high densities ($10^{6.5-7.5}\ \mathrm{cm^{-3}}$), rich abundances of hot-core-type molecular species, and relatively narrow velocity widths apparently decoupled from the furious turbulence dominating the cloud. The cloud CO-0.30-0.07 is possibly at an early phase of star formation activity triggered by the shock impact.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Physical Conditions of Molecular Gas in the Galactic Center

We estimated physical conditions of molecular gas in the central molecular zone (CMZ) of the Galaxy, using our CO J=3-2 data obtained with the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) in conjunction with J=1-0 12CO and 13CO data previously observed with the NRO 45m telescope. The large velocity gradient (LVG) approximation was employed. Distributions of gas density, kinetic temperature, and CO column density are derived as functions of position and velocity for the entire coverage of the CO J=3-2 data. We fairly determined physical conditions for 69 % of data points in the CMZ with >= 1 sigma CO detections. Kinetic temperature was found to be roughly uniform in the CMZ, while gas density is higher in the 120-pc star forming ring than in the outer dust lanes. Physical conditions of high J=3-2/J=1-0 features are also discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, to appear in PAS

Discovery of the Pigtail Molecular Cloud in the Galactic Center

This paper reports the discovery of a helical molecular cloud in the central molecular zone (CMZ) of our Galaxy. This "pigtail" molecular cloud appears at (l, b, V_LSR) ~ (-0.7deg, +0.0deg, -70 to -30 km/s), with a spatial size of ~ (20 pc)^2 and a mass of (2-6) 10^5 solar masses. This is the third helical gaseous nebula found in the Galactic center region to date. Line intensity ratios indicate that the pigtail molecular cloud has slightly higher temperature and/or density than the other normal clouds in the CMZ. We also found a high-velocity wing emission near the footpoint of this cloud. We propose a formation model of the pigtail molecular cloud. It might be associated with a magnetic tube that is twisted and coiled because of the interaction between clouds in the innermost x_1 orbit and ones in the outermost x_2 orbit.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journa