Research Highlights

The filamentary GMC undergoing hierarchical fragmentation will eventually form clusters of OB stars, as traced by the compact 8 μm and the 24 μm emission (Fig. A). The highest mass molecular clump forms at the confluence of several large-scale molecular filaments (Fig. B, C).

H.-B. Liu (ASIAA/SAO CfA/NTU) and his collaborators resolved the high-mass star-forming giant molecular cloud (GMC) G10.6-0.4 using the SMA and the IRAM 30m Telescope. We found that the filamentary GMC undergoing hierarchical fragmentation will eventually form clusters of OB stars, as traced by the compact 8 μm and the 24 μm emission (Fig. A). The highest mass molecular clump forms at the confluence of several large-scale molecular filaments (Fig. B, C). Rapid hierarchical contraction in this massive molecular clump results in the formation of a more compact and more massive OB cluster in the central ~1 pc area. Based on our observational results, we hypothesized the evolutionary scenario of a simultaneous global contraction and the local fragmentation of filamentary GMCs.