Related papers: Massive and low-mass protostars in massive "starle…

(Abridged) The initial physical conditions of high-mass stars and protoclusters remain poorly characterized. To this end we present the first targeted ALMA 1.3mm continuum and spectral line survey towards high-mass starless clump…

The early evolution during massive star cluster formation is still uncertain. Observing embedded clusters at their earliest stages of formation can provide insight into the spatial and temporal distribution of the stars and thus probe…

We test the hypothesis that the starless cores may be gravitationally bound clouds supported largely by thermal pressure by comparing observed molecular line spectra to theoretical spectra produced by a simulation that includes…

We have used deep near-infrared observations with adaptive optics to discover a distributed population of low-mass protostars within the filamentary Infrared Dark Cloud G34.43+00.24. We use maps of dust emission at multiple wavelengths to…

We have observed the central region of the IR-dark cloud filament associated with IRAS 18507+0121 at millimeter wavelengths in CO(1-0), 13CO(1-0), and C18O(1-0) line emission and with the Spitzer Space Telescope at mid-IR wavelengths. Five…

Massive galaxy clusters are now found as early as 3 billion years after the Big Bang, containing stars that formed at even earlier epochs. The high-redshift progenitors of these galaxy clusters, termed 'protoclusters', are identified in…

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…

We use deep $8\:\mu m$ Spitzer-IRAC imaging of a massive Infrared Dark Cloud (IRDC) G028.37+00.07 to construct a Mid-Infrared (MIR) extinction map that probes mass surface densities up to $\Sigma\:\sim 1\:\rm{g~cm^{-2}}$…

Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs), condensed regions of the ISM with high column densities, low temperatures and high masses, are suspected sites of star formation. Thousands of IRDCs have already been identified. To date, it has not been…

Pre-stellar cores represent the initial conditions of star formation. Although these initial conditions in nearby low-mass star-forming regions have been investigated in detail, such initial conditions remain vastly unexplored for massive…

Massive clumps tend to fragment into clusters of cores and condensations, some of which form high-mass stars. In this work, we study the structure of massive clumps at different scales, analyze the fragmentation process, and investigate the…

Young massive clusters (YMCs) are the most compact, high-mass stellar systems still forming at the present day. The precursor clouds to such systems are, however, rare due to their large initial gas mass reservoirs and rapid dispersal…

We have observed the IRDC G028.23-00.19 at 3.3 mm using CARMA. In its center, the IRDC hosts one of the most massive (~1520 Msun) quiescent, cold (12 K) clumps known (MM1). The low temperature, high NH_2D abundance, narrow molecular line…

(abridged) We develop the mid-infrared extinction (MIREX) mapping technique of Butler & Tan (2009, Paper I), presenting a new method to correct for the Galactic foreground emission based on observed saturation in independent cores. Using…

We present preliminary numerical evidence that the physical conditions in high-mass star forming regions can arise from global gravitational infall, with the velocity dispersions being caused primarily by infall motions rather than random…

We present ALMA follow-up observations of two massive, early-stage core candidates, C1-N & C1-S, in Infrared Dark Cloud (IRDC) G028.37+00.07, which were previously identified by their N2D+(3-2) emission and show high levels of deuteration…

We present maps of the 850 micron and 450 micron continuum emission seen towards a sample of 68 high-mass protostellar candidates with luminosities ranging from 10^2.5 to 10^5 solar luminosity. Most of these candidate high-mass stars are in…

We mapped the MSX dark cloud G084.81-01.09 in the NH3 (1,1) - (4,4) lines and in the J = 1-0 transitions of 12CO, 13CO, C18O and HCO+ in order to study the physical properties of infrared dark clouds, and to better understand the initial…

We carry out an ALMA $\rm N_2D^+$(3-2) and 1.3~mm continuum survey towards 32 high mass surface density regions in seven Infrared Dark Clouds with the aim of finding massive starless cores, which may be the initial conditions for the…

Context: Despite their profound effect on the universe, the formation of massive stars and stellar clusters remains elusive. In the past decade, compelling evidence has emerged that suggests Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) may be precursors to…