Veena, V. S., Schilke, P., Sanchez-Monge, A., Sormani, M. C., Klessen, R. S., Schuller, F., Colombo, D., Csengeri, T., Mattern, M. and Urquhart, J. S. (2021). A Kiloparsec-scale Molecular Wave in the Inner Galaxy: Feather of the Milky Way? Astrophys. J. Lett., 921 (2). BRISTOL: IOP Publishing Ltd. ISSN 2041-8213

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Abstract

We report the discovery of a velocity coherent, kiloparsec-scale molecular structure toward the Galactic center region with an angular extent of 30 degrees and an aspect ratio of 60:1. The kinematic distance of the CO structure ranges between 4.4 and 6.5 kpc. Analysis of the velocity data and comparison with the existing spiral arm models support that a major portion of this structure is either a subbranch of the Norma arm or an interarm giant molecular filament, likely to be a kiloparsec-scale feather (or spur) of the Milky Way, similar to those observed in nearby spiral galaxies. The filamentary cloud is at least 2.0 kpc in extent, considering the uncertainties in the kinematic distances, and it could be as long as 4 kpc. The vertical distribution of this highly elongated structure reveals a pattern similar to that of a sinusoidal wave. The exact mechanisms responsible for the origin of such a kiloparsec-scale filament and its wavy morphology remains unclear. The distinct wave-like shape and its peculiar orientation makes this cloud, named as the Gangotri wave, one of the largest and most intriguing structures identified in the Milky Way.

Item Type: Journal Article
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCIDORCID Put Code
Veena, V. S.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Schilke, P.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Sanchez-Monge, A.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Sormani, M. C.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Klessen, R. S.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Schuller, F.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Colombo, D.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Csengeri, T.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Mattern, M.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Urquhart, J. S.UNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
URN: urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-598434
DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ac341f
Journal or Publication Title: Astrophys. J. Lett.
Volume: 921
Number: 2
Date: 2021
Publisher: IOP Publishing Ltd
Place of Publication: BRISTOL
ISSN: 2041-8213
Language: English
Faculty: Unspecified
Divisions: Unspecified
Subjects: no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:
KeywordsLanguage
1ST DATA RELEASE; PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES; WIGGLE INSTABILITY; CLOUDS; GAS; I.; FILAMENTS; CATALOG; SHOCKS; MAPMultiple languages
Astronomy & AstrophysicsMultiple languages
URI: http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/59843

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