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Paper: W 3 and K 3-50: Probing the Column Density Peaks
Volume: 287, Galactic Star Formation Across the Stellar Mass Spectrum
Page: 242
Authors: Helmich, F. P.; Roelfsema, P. R.; Stark, R.; van der Tak, F. F. S.
Abstract: We have observed several transitions of CS and H2CO and also the dust continuum towards the column density enhancements in 2 Giant Molecular Cloud (GMC) cores: W 3 and K 3-50. The positions in the sources have been chosen to range from deeply embedded and relatively unperturbed, to close to the interface with H II regions, based on earlier molecular line maps. The observations, together with state-of-the-art radiative transfer models, give the temperature and density structure of these column density enhancements. We also obtained single lines from a large number of other molecules, which will give abundance profiles using these density and temperature structures. The chemical state of the sources is derived simultaneously. This sample of high mass star forming sources was chosen because it is not biased by the luminosity in the mid-infrared range as has been done in previous studies. Instead it comprises of the real column density enhancements in these regions. This study, which is in progress, will tell if the density and temperature profiles are independent of the environment.
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