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The high-mass star-forming site G009.62+00.20 E hosts the 6.7 GHz methanol maser source with the greatest flux density in the Galaxy which has been flaring periodically over the last 10 yr. We performed high-resolution astrometric measurements of the CH₃OH, H₂O, and OH maser emission and 7 mm continuum in the region. The radio continuum emission was resolved in two sources separated by 1300 AU. The CH₃OH maser cloudlets are distributed along two north–south ridges of emission to the east and west of the strongest radio continuum component. This component likely pinpoints a massive young stellar object which heats up its dusty envelope, providing a constant IR pumping for the Class II CH₃OH maser transitions. We suggest that the periodic maser activity may be accounted for by an independent, pulsating, IR radiation field provided by a bloated protostar in the vicinity of the brightest masers. We also report the discovery of an elliptical distribution of CH₃OH maser emission in the region of periodic variability.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	SM: kinematics and dynamic, maser, stars: formatio, stars: individual (G009.62+00.20, techniques: high angular resolution
Research Division:	Physical Sciences
Research Group:	Astronomical sciences
Research Field:	Galactic astronomy
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences
UTAS Author:	Ellingsen, SP (Professor Simon Ellingsen)
UTAS Author:	Krishnan, V (Mr Vasaant Krishnan)
ID Code:	100226
Year Published:	2015
Web of Science® Times Cited:	18
Deposited By:	Mathematics and Physics
Deposited On:	2015-05-07
Last Modified:	2017-11-03
Downloads:	394 View Download Statistics