Related papers: A Virialized Filamentary Infrared Dark Cloud
Formation of stars is now believed to be tightly linked to the dynamical evolution of interstellar filaments in which they form. In this paper we analyze the density structure and kinematics of a small network of infrared dark filaments,…
We present hydrodynamic simulations of self-gravitating dense gas in a galactic disk, exploring scales ranging from 1 kpc down to $\sim 0.1$~pc. Our primary goal is to understand how dense filaments form in Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs).…
At the onset of high-mass star formation, accreting protostars are deeply embedded in massive cores made of gas and dust. Their spectral energy distribution is still dominated by the cold dust and rises steeply from near-to far-infrared…
We present continuum observations of the infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G48.66-0.22 (G48) obtained with Herschel, Spitzer, and APEX, in addition to several molecular line observations. The Herschel maps are used to derive temperature and column…
Context: Infrared dark clouds are the coldest and densest portions of giant molecular clouds. The most massive ones represent some of the most likely birthplaces for the next generation of massive stars in the Milky Way. Because a strong…
The Infrared Dark Cloud (IRDC) G028.23-00.19 hosts a massive (1,500 Msun), cold (12 K), and 3.6-70 um IR dark clump (MM1) that has the potential to form high-mass stars. We observed this prestellar clump candidate with the SMA (~3.5"…
We simulate the chemistry of infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) with a model in which the physical conditions are homogeneous and time-independent. The chemistry is solved as a function of time with three networks: one purely gas-phase, one that…
Star formation takes place in filamentary molecular clouds which arise by physical processes that take place in the cold, neutral medium (CNM). We address the necessary conditions for this diffuse ($n \approx 30$ cm$^{-3}$), cold (T…
Infrared-dark clouds (IRDCs) harbor the early phases of cluster and high-mass star formation and are comprised of cold (~20 K), dense (n > 10$^4$ cm$^{-3}$) gas. The spectral energy distribution (SED) of IRDCs is dominated by the…
We have used data taken as part of the Herschel infrared Galactic Plane survey (Hi-GAL) to study 3171 infrared-dark cloud (IRDC) candidates that were identified in the mid-infrared (8 {\mu}m) by Spitzer (we refer to these as 'Spitzer-dark'…
We study the probability distribution function (PDF) of mass surface densities, $\Sigma$, of infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G028.37+00.07 and its surrounding giant molecular cloud. This PDF constrains the physical processes, such as turbulence,…
Much of the dense gas in molecular clouds has a filamentary structure but the detailed structure and evolution of this gas is poorly known. We have observed 54 cores in infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) using N$_2$H$^+$ (1-0) and (3-2) to…
Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are dense, molecular structures in the interstellar medium that can harbour sites of high-mass star formation. IRDCs contain supersonic turbulence, which is expected to generate shocks that locally heat pockets…
Infrared dark clouds are kinematically complex molecular structures in the interstellar medium that can host sites of massive star formation. We present 4 square arcminute maps of the 12CO, 13CO, and C18O J = 3 to 2 lines from selected…
Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are potential hosts of the elusive early phases of high-mass star formation (HMSF). Here we conduct an in-depth analysis of the fragmentation properties of a sample of 10 IRDCs, which have been highlighted as…
Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) likely represent very early stages of high-mass star/star cluster formation. In this study, we aim to determine the physical properties and spatial distribution of dense clumps in the IRDC MSXDC G304.74+01.32…
We summarize the properties of Infrared Dark Clouds, massive, dense, and cool aggregations of interstellar gas and dust that are found througout the Galaxy in projection against the strong mid-infrared background. We describe their…
Some theories of dense molecular cloud formation involve dynamical environments driven by converging atomic flows or collisions between preexisting molecular clouds. The determination of the dynamics and physical conditions of the gas in…
We use 8.3 um mid-infrared images acquired with the Midcourse Space Experiment satellite to identify and catalog Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) in the first and fourth quadrants of the Galactic plane. Because IRDCs are seen as dark extinction…
We imaged the infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) G1.75-0.08 and G11.36+0.80 at 350 $\mu$m and 450 $\mu$m using the ArT\'eMiS bolometer. These data were used in conjunction with our previous 870 $\mu$m observations with the Large APEX BOlometer…