MALT-45: A 7mm survey of the southern Galaxy - II. ATCA follow-up observations of 44GHz class I methanol masers

Abstract

We detail interferometric observations of 44GHz class I methanol masers detected by MALT-45 (a 7mm unbiased auto-correlated spectral-line Galactic-plane survey) using the Australia Telescope Compact Array. We detect 238 maser spots across 77 maser sites. Using high-resolution positions, we compare the class I CH${}_3$OH masers to other star formation maser species, including CS (1-0), SiO $v=0$ and the H53$\alpha$ radio-recombination line. Comparison between the cross- and auto-correlated data has allowed us to also identify quasi-thermal emission in the 44GHz class I methanol maser line. We find that the majority of class I methanol masers have small spatial and velocity ranges ($<$0.5pc and $<$5 km s${}^{-1}$), and closely trace the systemic velocities of associated clouds. Using 870$\mu$m dust continuum emission from the ATLASGAL survey, we determine clump masses associated with class I masers, and find they are generally associated with clumps between 1000 and 3000 $M_{\odot }$. For each class I methanol maser site, we use the presence of OH masers and radio recombination lines to identify relatively evolved regions of high-mass star formation; we find that maser sites without these associations have lower luminosities and preferentially appear toward dark infrared regions.

Accepted by MNRAS on 12 July 2017

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Cited by in corpus (6)

• Online Database of Class I Methanol Masers
• Discovery of six new class II methanol maser transitions, including the unambiguous detection of three torsionally excited lines toward G358.931-0.030
• 84-GHz methanol masers, their relationship to 36-GHz methanol masers and their molecular environments
• 44 GHz methanol masers: Observations toward 95 GHz methanol masers
• MAGMO: Polarimetry of 1720-MHz OH Masers towards Southern Star Forming Regions
• A 4-6 GHz Radio Recombination Line Survey in the Milky Way