SOFIA FEEDBACK Survey: Exploring the Dynamics of the Stellar Wind–Driven Shell of RCW 49

The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 914, pp. 117

Abstract

Abstract We unveil the stellar wind–driven shell of the luminous massive star-forming region of RCW 49 using SOFIA FEEDBACK observations of the [C ii] 158 μm line. The complementary data set of the 12CO and 13CO J = 3 → 2 transitions is observed by the APEX telescope and probes the dense gas toward RCW 49. Using the spatial and spectral resolution provided by the SOFIA and APEX telescopes, we disentangle the shell from a complex set of individual components of gas centered around RCW 49. We find that the shell of radius ∼6 pc is expanding at a velocity of 13 km s−1 toward the observer. Comparing our observed data with the ancillary data at X-ray, infrared, submillimeter, and radio wavelengths, we investigate the morphology of the region. The shell has a well-defined eastern arc, while the western side is blown open and venting plasma further into the west. Though the stellar cluster, which is ∼2 Myr old, gave rise to the shell, it only gained momentum relatively recently, as we calculate the shell’s expansion lifetime of ∼0.27 Myr, making the Wolf–Rayet star WR 20a a likely candidate responsible for the shell’s reacceleration.

Authors 16

1. M. Tiwari

   Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy · University of Maryland, College Park

   Affiliation as printed

   Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy, Auf dem Hügel, D-53121 Bonn, Germany

   University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA

2. R. Karim

   University of Maryland, College Park

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA

3. Marc W. Pound

   University of Maryland, College Park

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA

4. M. G. Wolfire

   University of Maryland, College Park

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA

5. A. M. Jacob

   Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy

   Affiliation as printed

   Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy, Auf dem Hügel, D-53121 Bonn, Germany

6. C. Buchbender

   University of Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   I. Physik. Institut, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 77, D-50937 Cologne, Germany

7. R. Güsten

   Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy

   Affiliation as printed

   Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy, Auf dem Hügel, D-53121 Bonn, Germany

8. C. Guevara

   University of Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   I. Physik. Institut, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 77, D-50937 Cologne, Germany

9. R. Higgins

   University of Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   I. Physik. Institut, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 77, D-50937 Cologne, Germany

10. S. Kabanovic

    University of Cologne

    Affiliation as printed

    I. Physik. Institut, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 77, D-50937 Cologne, Germany

11. C. H. M. Pabst Aachen Leiden Observatory

    Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

12. Oliver Ricken

    Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy

    Affiliation as printed

    Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy, Auf dem Hügel, D-53121 Bonn, Germany

13. Nicola Schneider

    University of Cologne

    Affiliation as printed

    I. Physik. Institut, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 77, D-50937 Cologne, Germany

14. Robert Simon

    University of Cologne

    Affiliation as printed

    I. Physik. Institut, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 77, D-50937 Cologne, Germany

15. JÜRGEN STUTZKI

    University of Cologne

    Affiliation as printed

    I. Physik. Institut, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 77, D-50937 Cologne, Germany

16. Alexander G. G. M. Tielens Aachen Leiden Observatory

    Leiden University · Leiden Observatory · University of Maryland, College Park

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

    University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA