The SMA is naturally suited for observations of high mass star formation and has contributed on a wide range of topics in the field. The natural advantages of the SMA are the capability to observe at high angular resolution, long wavelengths, and at the frequencies where cold dust and hot molecules are bright. SMA observers have invested considerable effort in identifying accretion flows around embedded massive stars making use of the spectroscopy of complex molecules. These observations are valuable, but largely confirm theoretical expectations. The most unexpected SMA results come from observations of recombination line spectra in HII regions. These results are challenging conventional understanding of the evolution of HII regions and the molecular outflows associated with the most massive stars, spectral type O. While it is difficult to predict the unexpected, future SMA observations of cluster formation in the infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) have potential for paradigm shifting results. Cluster formation at its earliest evolutionary stage is largely unexplored observationally and has consequences for many topics outside of the field of massive star formation including super star clusters, starburst galaxies, and the cosmological history of star formation in the universe.


References:

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H. Beuther, Q. Zhang, E.A. Bergin, T.K. Sridharan, Chemical Diversity in High-Mass Star Formation, 2009, AJ, 137, 406

C. Fallscheer, H. Beuther, Q. Zhang, E. Keto, T.K. Sridharan, Rotational Structure and Outflow in the Infrared Dark Cloud 18223-3, 2009, A&A, 504, 127

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J. Weintroub, J. M. Moran, D. J. Wilner, K. H. Young, R. Rao, H. Shinnaga, SMA Imaging of the Maser Emission from the H30$\alpha$ Radio Recombination Line in MWC349A, 2008, ApJ, 677, 1140

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SMA Research: High Mass Star Formation

SMA Research