We have observed a sample of 288 molecular outflow sources including 123
high-mass and 165 low-mass sources to search for class I methanol masers at 95
GHz transition and to investigate relationship between outflow characteristics
and class I methanol maser emission with the PMO-13.7m radio telescope. Our
survey detected 62 sources with 95 GHz methanol masers above 3σ
detection limit, which include 47 high-mass sources and 15 low-mass sources.
Therefore the detection rate is 38% for high-mass outflow sources and 9% for
low-mass outflow sources, suggesting that class I methanol maser is relatively
easily excited in high-mass sources. There are 37 newly detected 95 GHz
methanol masers (including 27 high-mass and 10 low-mass sources), 19 of which
are newly identified (i.e. first identification) class I methanol masers
(including 13 high-mass and 6 low-mass sources). Statistical analysis for the
distributions of maser detections with the outflow parameters reveals that the
maser detection efficiency increases with outflow properties (e.g. mass,
momentum, kinetic energy and mechanical luminosity of outflows etc.).
Systematic investigations of relationships between the intrinsic luminosity of
methanol maser and the outflow properties (including mass, momentum, kinetic
energy, bolometric luminosity and mass loss rate of central stellar sources)
indicate a positive correlations. This further supports that class I methanol
masers are collisionally pumped and associated with shocks, where outflows
interact with the surrounding ambient medium.Comment: 32 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Ap
