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arXiv · 1210.2139

An Evolutionary Timeline for High-mass Star Formation

S. P. Ellingsen·S. L. Breen·M. A. Voronkov·J. L. Caswell·X. Chen·A. Titmarsh
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Abstract

The details of the physical process through which high-mass stars form remains nearly as much of a mystery now as it was when the Parkes radio telescope commenced operation. The energy output from high-mass stars influence, or directly drive many important processes in the evolution of galaxies and so understanding in detail when and how they form is important for a broad range of fields of astrophysics. Interstellar masers are one of the most readily observed signposts of regions where young high-mass stars have formed. We have recently made great progress towards using the different maser species and transitions to construct a maser-based evolutionary timeline for high-mass star formation. Here we give an overview of this work, highlighting the particular contribution that past and on-going observations with the Parkes 64m radio telescope have made to this area.

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S. P. Ellingsen, S. L. Breen, M. A. Voronkov, J. L. Caswell, X. Chen, A. Titmarsh. 2012-10-08. An Evolutionary Timeline for High-mass Star Formation. https://arxiv.org/abs/1210.2139

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