ALMAGAL
Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 696, pp. A149
Abstract
Context. A large fraction of stars form in clusters containing high-mass stars, which subsequently influences the local and galaxy-wide environment. Aims. Fundamental questions about the physics responsible for fragmenting molecular parsec-scale clumps into cores of a few thousand astronomical units (au) are still open, that only a statistically significant investigation with ALMA is able to address; for instance: the identification of the dominant agents that determine the core demographics, mass, and spatial distribution as a function of the physical properties of the hosting clumps, their evolutionary stage and the different Galactic environments in which they reside. The extent to which fragmentation is driven by clumps dynamics or mass transport in filaments also remains elusive. Methods. With the ALMAGAL project, we observed the 1.38 mm continuum and lines toward more than 1000 dense clumps in our Galaxy, with M ≥ 500 M⊙, Σ ≥ 0.1 g cm−2 and d ≤ 7.5 kiloparsec (kpc). Two different combinations of ALMA Compact Array (ACA) and 12-m array setups were used to deliver a minimum resolution of ∼1000 au over the entire sample distance range. The sample covers all evolutionary stages from infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) to H II regions from the tip of the Galactic bar to the outskirts of the Galaxy. With a continuum sensitivity of 0.1 mJy, ALMAGAL enables a complete study of the clump-to-core fragmentation process down to M ∼ 0.3 M⊙ across the Galaxy. The spectral setup includes several molecular lines to trace the multiscale physics and dynamics of gas, notably CH3CN, H2CO, SiO, CH3OH, DCN, HC3N, and SO, among others. Results. We present an initial overview of the observations and the early science product and results produced in the ALMAGAL Consortium, with a first characterization of the morphological properties of the continuum emission detected above 5σ in our fields. We used “perimeter-versus-area” and convex hull-versus-area metrics to classify the different morphologies. We find that more extended and morphologically complex (significantly departing from circular or generally convex) shapes are found toward clumps that are relatively more evolved and have higher surface densities. Conclusions. ALMAGAL is poised to serve as a game-changer for a number of specific issues in star formation: clump-to-core fragmentation processes, demographics of cores, core and clump gas chemistry and dynamics, infall and outflow dynamics, and disk detections. Many of these issues will be covered in the first generation of papers that closely follow on the present publication.
Authors 71
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Affiliation as printed
Physikalisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
University of Connecticut, Department of Physics, 196A Auditorium Road, Unit 3046, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
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Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica · Academia Sinica
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, 11F of ASMAB, AS/NTU No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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Institute of Space Sciences · Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya
Affiliation as printed
Institut de Ciències de l’Espai (ICE, CSIC), Campus UAB, Carrer de Can Magrans s/n, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), 08860, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Affiliation as printed
Physikalisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
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Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, Florence, Italy
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Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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University of Cologne · University of Manchester
Affiliation as printed
Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Physikalisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
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Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian
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Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Harvard University · Heidelberg University · Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian
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Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies at Harvard University, 10 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Universität Heidelberg, Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Wissenschaftliches Rechnen, Im Neuenheimer Feld 205, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Universität Heidelberg, Zentrum für Astronomie, Institut für Theoretische Astrophysik, Albert-Ueberle-Straße 2, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Center for Data and Simulation Science, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Physikalisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
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Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica · Academia Sinica
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, 11F of ASMAB, AS/NTU No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · Sapienza University of Rome · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Affiliation as printed
SKA Observatory, Jodrell Bank, Lower Withington, Macclesfield, SK11 9FT, UK
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Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, Florence, Italy
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Affiliation as printed
Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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Affiliation as printed
University of Connecticut, Department of Physics, 196A Auditorium Road, Unit 3046, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
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Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Affiliation as printed
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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Leiden University · Leiden Observatory
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Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory, 520 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Affiliation as printed
National Radio Astronomy Observatory, 520 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
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Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica · Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · Academia Sinica · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, 11F of ASMAB, AS/NTU No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica · Academia Sinica
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, 11F of ASMAB, AS/NTU No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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Affiliation as printed
Physikalisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
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Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
Affiliation as printed
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hügel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica · Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · Academia Sinica · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, 11F of ASMAB, AS/NTU No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
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Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory · Observatoire de Paris · Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics · Laboratoire d’Etudes du Rayonnement et de la Matière en Astrophysique et Atmosphères · National Institute for Astrophysics
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Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, Florence, Italy
Laboratoire d’Études du Rayonnement et de la Matière en Astrophysique et Atmosphères (LERMA), Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France
Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), Garching bei München, Germany
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Royal Observatory · UK Astronomy Technology Centre
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UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK
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Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica · Academia Sinica
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, 11F of ASMAB, AS/NTU No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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Affiliation as printed
School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Isaac Newton Building, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation · CEA Paris-Saclay
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Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Cité, CEA, CNRS, AIM, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Shanghai Astronomical Observatory
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Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 80 Nandan Road, Shanghai 200030, China
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Affiliation as printed
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Physikalisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
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Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, Florence, Italy
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Affiliation as printed
Faculty of Physics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstraße 1, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research & Technology, School of Physics & Astronomy, Cardiff University, Queens Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK
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Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Supercomputing Centre
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Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, Jülich, 52428, NRW, Germany
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School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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Tokyo Institute of Technology · National Institutes of Natural Sciences · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
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Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
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Istituto di Radioastronomia di Bologna
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INAF-Istituto di Radioastronomia & Italian ALMA Regional Centre, Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
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University of Groningen · Space Research Organisation Netherlands
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Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Landleven 12, 9747 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Universidad Autonoma de Chile, Pedro de Valdivia 425, Providencia, Santiago de Chile, Chile
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University of Colorado Boulder
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Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80389, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Departamento de Astronomía, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 36-D, Santiago, Chile
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Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, Florence, Italy
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Affiliation as printed
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation · CEA Paris-Saclay
Affiliation as printed
Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Cité, CEA, CNRS, AIM, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
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Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute · Korea University of Science and Technology
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Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, 776 Daedeokdae-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34055, Republic of Korea
University of Science and Technology, Korea (UST), 217 Gajeongro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
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Physikalisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild Str. 2, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
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Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile · University of Chile
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Centro de Astro-Ingeniería (AIUC), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Vicuña Mackena 4860, Macul, Santiago, Chile
Departamento de Astronomía, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 36-D, Santiago, Chile
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National Institutes of Natural Sciences · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
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National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory, PO Box O, Socorro, NM 87801, USA
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Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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University of Cologne · Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
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Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hügel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany
Physikalisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Str. 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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