Exploring the Origin of Nitrogen-Containing Complex Organic Molecules in High-Mass Star-Forming Regions with ALMA

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K04025
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 16010:Astronomy-related
• Research Institution: The University of Electro-Communications
• Principal Investigator: Sakai Takeshi 電気通信大学, 大学院情報理工学研究科, 教授 (20469604)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 大質量星 / 星間分子 / 有機分子 / 赤外線暗黒星雲 / 星形成 / 分子雲 / 重水素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to investigate the origin of nitrogen-bearing complex organic molecules in high-mass star-forming regions, we observed high-mass star-forming regions at various evolutionary stages by using ALMA. The observations of the deuterated molecular lines revealed that there is diversity in the initial conditions of high-mass star formation and that the temperature of the initial conditions of high-mass star formation can be higher than that of low-mass star formation. In addition, it was found that the abundance of nitrogen-bearing complex organic molecules varies among the observed high-mass star-forming regions, and this variation is likely due to differences in the properties after star formation rather than differences in the initial conditions before star formation. It is suggested that the heating process of dust is related to the origin of nitrogen-containing complex organic molecules in high-mass star-forming regions.

Free Research Field

電波天文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

分子雲内部で原始星が誕生し惑星が形成される過程で、物質がどのように進化してきたのか理解することは、我々がどのように誕生してきたかという根源的な問いに直結する重要な研究テーマである。複雑な有機分子の起源を明らかにすることは、アミノ酸など生命関連分子の生成過程の理解にもつながる。本研究では、大質量星形成領域における窒素を含む複雑な有機分子の存在量には、ダストの加熱過程が影響している可能性を示した。今後、さらに研究を進めることで、生命関連分子の生成過程の理解も進むと期待される。