Filamentary structure and Keplerian rotation in the high-mass star-forming region G35.03+0.35 imaged with ALMA

Abstract

Context. Theoretical scenarios propose that high-mass stars are formed by disk-mediated accretion. Aims. To test the theoretical predictions on the formation of massive stars, we wish to make a thorough study at high-angular resolution of the structure and kinematics of the dust and gas emission toward the high-mass star-forming region G35.03+0.35, which harbors a disk candidate around a B-type (proto)star. Methods. We carried out ALMA Cycle 0 observations at 870 μm of dust of typical high-density, molecular outflow, and cloud tracers with resolutions of < 0"5. Complementary Subaru COMICS 25 μm observations were carried out to trace the mid-infrared emission toward this star-forming region. Results. The submillimeter continuum emission has revealed a filamentary structure fragmented into six cores, called A–F. The filament could be in quasi-equilibrium taking into account that the mass per unit length of the filament, 200–375 M_⊙/pc, is similar to the critical mass of a thermally and turbulently supported infinite cylinder, ~335 M_⊙/pc. The cores, which are on average separated by ~0.02 pc, have deconvolved sizes of 1300–3400 AU, temperatures of 35–240 K, H_2 densities >10^7 cm^(-3), and masses in the range 1–5 M_⊙, and they are subcritical. Core A, which is associated with a hypercompact Hii region and could be the driving source of the molecular outflow observed in the region, is the most chemically rich source in G35.03+0.35 with strong emission of typical hot core tracers such as CH_3CN. Tracers of high density and excitation show a clear velocity gradient along the major axis of the core, which is consistent with a disk rotating about the axis of the associated outflow. The PV plots along the SE–NW direction of the velocity gradient show clear signatures of Keplerian rotation, although infall could also be present, and they are consistent with the pattern of an edge-on Keplerian disk rotating about a star with a mass in the range 5–13 M_⊙. The high t_(ff)/t_(rot) ratio for core A suggests that the structure rotates fast and that the accreting material has time to settle into a centrifugally supported disk. Conclusions. G35.03+0.35 is one of the most convincing examples of Keplerian disks rotating about high-mass (proto)stars. This supports theoretical scenarios according to which high-mass stars, at least B-type stars, would form through disk-mediated accretion.

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