The following document lists the file abstract/DLIS_RIDGE.abs
from catalogue VI/111.
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===================================================================== ==> In this proposal, more time is being requested for DLIS.GCDRIDGE ==> This proposal requests an upgrade from Priority 3 for DLIS.GCDRIDGE ===================================================================== An unbiased submillimeter continuum survey of the central region of the Milky Way performed at the CSO revealed a number of unique compact GMC cores forming an elongated ridge connected to the Galactic center radio arc. These massive GMC cores appear distinctly different from previously studied galactic center sources in terms of their continuum spectral energy distributions and star-formation properties. In particular, no compact FIR sources or HII regions associated with these dust condensations are found in the existing surveys. The detection of MASSIVE and COLD GMC cores in the nuclear disk, apparently WITHOUT ONGOING HIGH-MASS STAR FORMATION, would be of great importance, allowing a new assessment of various effects that have been invoked to explain the low rate of high-mass star formation in the central region. We propose observations of the FIR continuum emission from the compact GMC cores detected in the CSO survey ridge using ISO to address two important outstanding questions. First, these observations will allow a sensitive search for compact FIR sources that may be embedded in the cores and thus provide definitive information on the current state of star formation in this region. Second, they will yield estimates of the dust temperature and thus allow to constrain grain properties and improve mass estimates. Existing multi-wavelength submillimeter observations predict observable 100 micron emission from extended portions of the ridge for all plausible values of the dust temperature and grain emissivity. With the KAO de-commissioned, ISO is the only instrument capable of performing these observations in the predictable future.