MX002: Molecular Gas in the LMC

MX002 observers in 2005:

Juergen Ott, Tony Wong, Erik Muller,

Jorge Pineda, Min Wang, Annie Hughes

Talk Outline

• the MX002 project

• observations in 2005

• the molecular ridge near 30 Doradus:

mass function, X-factor, line profiles,

ASTE/Mopra

• the inner LMC

• plans for 2006

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

MX002 Overview

1212CO(J=1-0) survey of the Magellanic CO(J=1-0) survey of the Magellanic

System (LMC+SMC+MB)System (LMC+SMC+MB)

Scientific MotivationsScientific Motivations• Molecular cloud formation and evolutionMolecular cloud formation and evolution

• Initial stages of star formationInitial stages of star formation

• Low-Z, high-UV replicates high-z conditionsLow-Z, high-UV replicates high-z conditions

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

MX002 Overview

Why the LMC?Why the LMC?• unique opportunity for southern telescopesunique opportunity for southern telescopes

• low metallicity ~0.3Zlow metallicity ~0.3Z, emulating conditions at , emulating conditions at

high-zhigh-z

• high angular resolution + overview of high angular resolution + overview of

dynamics in whole galaxydynamics in whole galaxy

• existing HI datasetexisting HI dataset

• 30 Doradus - an exciting molecular gas 30 Doradus - an exciting molecular gas

laboratory!laboratory!

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

Observation Strategy

• OTF mapping ~120 5’x5’ fieldsOTF mapping ~120 5’x5’ fields• CO(J=1-0) (115.271 GHz)CO(J=1-0) (115.271 GHz)• mostly old correlator/RXmostly old correlator/RX• ~100 minutes per field~100 minutes per field• BW~64 MHzBW~64 MHz• ΔΔv= ~0.16 km/sv= ~0.16 km/s • RMS~0.4 KRMS~0.4 K• beam FWHM ~ 30”beam FWHM ~ 30”• Tsys @115 GHz ~600 KTsys @115 GHz ~600 K• mostly extragalactic “green-time”mostly extragalactic “green-time”

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

The Molecular Ridge

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

• ridge + arc ~ 35% ridge + arc ~ 35%

of LMC molecular of LMC molecular

gasgas

The Molecular Ridge

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

The Molecular Ridge

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

The Molecular Ridge

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

The Molecular Ridge

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

Clump Mass Spectrum

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

MVIR~R(ΔV)2, dN/dMVIR M

α ~ 1.5 α ~ 1.6

Analysis by Jorge Pineda & Juergen

MW α = 1.6-1.8, NANTEN LMC α = 1.9

XCO factor

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

XCO=NH2/ICO NH2 ~R(ΔV)/R2 XCO~ΔV/(RTb)

Analysis by Jorge Pineda & Juergen

Comparison with ASTE

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

Analysis by Tony and Yojhi

Comparison with ASTE

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

Analysis by Tony and Yojhi

• central R~1.2 kpc

• relationship

between atomic

and molecular gas,

focusing on

pressure and

dynamics

• includes star-

forming and non-SF

clouds

Inner LMC Survey

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

Preliminary Results

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

Preliminary Results

Plans for 2006+

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

• molecular ridge mapping is complete

• continue inner LMC mapping

• Mopra follow-up 3mm multi-line survey

of ridge clouds to investigate physical

parameters as function of the UV

radiation field

• ATCA follow-up of ridge clouds

• NANTEN2/ASTE/APEX

Finally…

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

…a huge thank you to everyone involved in the Mopra upgrade!

Appendix

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

A Big Mess?

Annie Hughes, PhD Progress Review, November 2005

Preliminary Results

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005

Preliminary Results

Annie Hughes, UNSW 3mm workshop, November 2005