Context. We model the dust and free-free continuum emission in the high-mass star-forming region Sagittarius B2. Aims. We want to reconstruct the 3D density and dust temperature distribution, as a crucial input to follow-up studies of the gas velocity field and molecular abundances. Methods. We employ the 3D radiative transfer program RADMC-3D to calculate the dust temperature self-consistently, providing a given initial density distribution. This density distribution of the entire cloud complex is then recursively reconstructed, based on available continuum maps, including both single-dish and high-resolution interferometric maps that cover a wide frequency range (ν = 40 GHz−4 THz). The model covers spatial scales from 45 pc down to 100 au, i.e., a spatial dynamic range of 10 5 . Results. We find that the density distribution of Sagittarius B2 can be reasonably well fitted by applying a superposition of spherical cores with Plummer-like density profiles. To reproduce the spectral energy distribution, we position Sgr B2(N) along the line of sight behind the plane containing Sgr B2(M). We find that the entire cloud complex comprises a total gas mass of 8.0 × 10 6 M within a diameter of 45 pc. This corresponds to an averaged gas density of 170 M pc −3 . We estimate stellar masses of 2400 M and 20 700 M and luminosities of 1.8 × 10 6 L and 1.2 × 10 7 L for Sgr B2(N) and Sgr B2(M), respectively. We report H 2 column densities of 2.9 × 10 24 cm −2 for Sgr B2(N) and 2.5 × 10 24 cm −2 for Sgr B2(M) in a 40 beam. For Sgr B2(S), we derive a stellar mass of 1100 M , a luminosity of 6.6 × 10 5 L , and an H 2 column density of 2.2 × 10 24 cm −2 in a 40 beam. We calculate a star formation efficiency of 5% for Sgr B2(N) and 50% for Sgr B2(M). This indicates that most of the gas content in Sgr B2(M) has already been converted to stars or dispersed.

We report the first high spatial resolution submillimeter continuum observations of the Sagittarius B2 cloud complex using the Submillimeter Array (SMA). With the subarcsecond resolution provided by the SMA, the two massive star-forming clumps Sgr B2(N) and Sgr B2(M) are resolved into multiple compact sources. In total, twelve submillimeter cores are identified in the Sgr B2(M) region, while only two components are observed in the Sgr B2(N) clump. The gas mass and column density are estimated from the dust continuum emission. We find that most of the cores have gas masses in excess of 100 M and column densities above 10 25 cm −2 . The very fragmented appearance of Sgr B2(M), in contrast to the monolithic structure of Sgr B2 (N), suggests that the former is more evolved. The density profile of the Sgr B2(N)-SMA1 core is well fitted by a Plummer density distribution. This would lead one to believe that in the evolutionary sequence of the Sgr B2 cloud complex, a massive star forms first in an homogeneous core, and the rest of the cluster forms subsequently in the then fragmenting structure.

Context. Unbiased molecular line surveys are a powerful tool for analyzing the physical and chemical parameters of astronomical objects and are the only means for obtaining a complete view of the molecular inventory for a given source. The present work stands for the first such investigation of a photon-dominated region. Aims. The first results of an ongoing millimeter-wave survey obtained towards the Orion Bar are reported. Methods. The APEX telescope in combination with the APEX-2A facility receiver was employed in this investigation. Results. We derived the physical parameters of the gas through LVG analyses of the methanol and formaldehyde data. Information on the sulfur and deuterium chemistry of photon-dominated regions is obtained from detections of several sulfur-bearing molecules and DCN.

Context. An approach towards understanding the formation of massive stars and star clusters is to study the structure of their hot core phase, an evolutionary stage where dust has been heated, but molecules have not yet been destroyed by ultraviolet radiation. These hot molecular cores are very line-rich, but the interpretation of line surveys is also hampered by poor knowledge of the physical and chemical structure. Aims. To constrain the radial structure of high-mass star-forming regions containing hot cores, we attempt to reproduce by radiative transfer modeling both the intensity and shape of a variety of molecular lines. Methods. We observed 12 hot cores with the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) in lines of HCN, HCO + , CO, and their isotopologues, including high-J lines and vibrationally excited HCN. We investigate how well the sources can be modeled as centrally heated spheres with a power-law density gradient, making use of the radiative transfer code RATRAN and the radial profile of the submm continuum emission, taken from the APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the GALaxy (ATLASGAL). Results. Most of the observed lines have complicated shapes that incorporate self-absorption, asymmetries, and line wings. Vibrationally excited HCN is detected in all sources, and vibrationally excited H 13 CN in half of the sources. We are able to successfully model most features seen in the APEX data, such as the ratio of the isotopologue lines (very high optical depths), self-absorption (temperature gradient), blue asymmetries (moderate infall), vibrationally excited HCN (high inner temperatures), and H 13 CN (high HCN abundance under dense and hot conditions). Other features could not be reproduced, such as an occasional lack of self-absorption, the emission from high-J lines in the outer pixels of the CHAMP+ receiver (15 −20 from the center), the outflow wings, and the red asymmetric profiles. Conclusions. The amount of molecular gas, in particular of HCN, at very high temperatures is larger than previously thought. A complex interplay between infall and outflow motions is present. Our basic model assumptions of pure central heating and a power-law radial density distribution can serve as approximations for most sources, but are too simple to explain all observed lines. In particular, taking into account clumpiness, multiplicity of heating sources and a more complex velocity field seems to be necessary to more closely match model calculations to observations. This would require three-dimensional radiative transfer modeling of high-resolution interferometric data.