New Insights into Molecular Gas Dynamics in NGC 6334
Recent observations of the NGC 6334 region have provided new insights into the dynamics of molecular gas in this giant molecular cloud complex. The study, titled "High resolution observations of 12CO and 13CO(3--2) toward the NGC 6334 extended filament," was conducted using the APEX telescope and focused on the emission and velocity structure of the gas in the area.
The observations achieved a spatial resolution of 20 arcseconds (approximately 0.16 parsecs) and revealed a coherent velocity structure of about -3.9 km/s extending over 80 parsecs, aligned parallel to the galactic plane. Two distinct connected velocity structures were identified within the NGC 6334 complex: one at approximately -9.2 km/s, referred to as the bridge features, and another at -20 km/s, known as the Northern Filament (NGC 6334-NF).
Additionally, the study found local velocity fluctuations along the filament, indicating areas of increased density and gas infall. The researchers also examined the 13CO emission around HII regions, noting that many of these regions exhibited signs of molecular gas dispersal from their centers, with enhanced intensity at their outer edges.
The findings suggest a sequential pattern of star formation occurring from west to east within the NGC 6334 complex. The GM-24 region, located to the west, shows advanced stages of star formation characterized by bubble structures. The central ridge of NGC 6334 is currently experiencing global gas infall, with two gas bridge features potentially linked to cloud-cloud collisions involving the Northern Filament and the main gas component of NGC 6334.
The eastern filament (EF1 - G352.1) appears to be in the process of forming as a hub-filament, displaying kinematic signatures indicative of global gas infall. Overall, the study emphasizes the significant role of HII regions in influencing the molecular gas emission and velocity structure, as well as the evolution of molecular filaments in the NGC 6334 complex.
For further details, the full paper can be accessed at arXiv:2409.02782.