Gas Dynamics in the Star-forming Region G18.148–0.283: Is It a Manifestation of Two Colliding Molecular Clouds?

Abstract

Abstract We report the results obtained from a multiwavelength study of the H ii region G18.148−0.283 using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope at 1350 MHz, along with other archival data. In addition to the radio continuum emission, we have detected the H169α and H170α radio recombination lines toward G18.148−0.283 using a correlator bandwidth of 100 MHz. The moment-1 map of the ionized gas reveals a velocity gradient of approximately 10 km s−1 across the radio continuum peaks. The 12CO (J = 3−2) molecular line data from the CO High-Resolution Survey (COHRS) also show the presence of two velocity components that are very close to the velocities detected in the ionized gas. The spectrum and position–velocity diagram from CO emission reveal molecular gas at an intermediate-velocity range bridging the velocity components. We see mid-infrared absorption and far-infrared emission establishing the presence of a filamentary infrared dark cloud, the extent of which includes the targeted H ii region. The magnetic field inferred from dust polarization is perpendicular to the filament within the H ii region. We have also identified two O9 stars and 30 young stellar objects toward the target using data from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS), and Galactic Legacy Infrared Midplane Survey Extraordinaire (GLIMPSE). Cumulatively, this suggests that the region is the site of a cloud–cloud collision that has triggered massive star formation and subsequent formation of an H ii region.