EPoS Contribution
EPoS Contribution
Probing the early phases of clustered star formation: a millimeter study of a newly discovered protocluster in Serpens/Aquila Rift

Anaelle Maury
Service d'Astrophysique, CEA, Saclay, France
Detailed studies of cluster forming clumps can shed light on the physical conditions required for clustered star formation. We will present recent millimeter results obtained on a nearby protocluster associated with a prominent near-IR extinction clump in the Serpens / Aquila Rift complex, identified by us while preparing our HERSCHEL survey of the Gould Belt. Our millimeter dust continuum mapping with MAMBO on the IRAM-30m telescope revealed several protostellar condensations embedded in a dense filamentary clump. This elongated clump is associated with a rich embedded cluster recently observed with IRAC on SPITZER, showing that this region is actively forming stars. We also mapped the region in molecular lines with HERA (IRAM-30m), and found that the elongated cluster forming clump exhibits signatures of extended infall in tracers such as CS(2-1) and HCO+(3-2), pointing to a global infall pattern along the long axis of the clump, as was observed in the protocluster NGC2264-C. The results obtained both in Serpens and NGC2264C protoclusters suggest that global collapse may be a key feature of protoclusters at early evolutionary stages.