Spectroscopic Identification of Massive Young Stellar Objects in the Galactic Center

  • Published : 2011.04.05

Abstract

I present results from the Spitzer/IRS study to identify massive young stellar objects (YSOs) in the Galactic Center (GC). Our sample of 107 YSO candidates was selected based on Spitzer/IRAC colors in the central 300 pc region of the Milky Way Galaxy. We obtained IRS spectra over $5{\mu}m$ to $35{\mu}m$, and identified massive YSOs by the presence of a $15.4{\mu}m$ shoulder on the absorption profile of $15{\mu}m$ $CO_2$ ice, suggestive of high $CH_3OH$ abundance on $CO_2$ ice grains. This $15.4{\mu}m$ shoulder is clearly observed in 16 sources and possibly observed in an additional 19 sources. We further show that 9 massive YSOs reveal molecular gas-phase absorption from $CO_2$, $C_2H_2$, and/or HCN, which traces warm and dense gas in YSOs. Our results provide the first spectroscopic census of the massive YSO population in the GC.

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