Abstract:
We present an analysis of the dense gas structures in the immediate surroundings of the massive young stellar object (MYSO)
W42-MME, using the high-resolution (0 .31 × 0 .25) Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array dust continuum and
molecular line data. We performed a dendrogram analysis of H13CO+ (4–3) line data to study multiscale structures and their
spatio–kinematic properties, and analysed the fragmentation and dynamics of dense structures down to ∼2000 au scale. Our
results reveal 19 dense gas structures, out of which 12 are leaves and 7 are branches in dendrogram terminology. These structures
exhibit transonic–supersonic gas motions (1< M < 5) with overvirial states (αvir ≥ 2). The non-thermal velocity dispersion–
size relation (σnt–L) of dendrogram structures shows a weak negative correlation, while the velocity dispersion across the sky
(δVlsr) correlates positively with structure size (L). Velocity structure function (S2(l)
1/2) analysis of H13CO+ data reveals strong
power-law dependences with lag (l) up to a scale length of 6000 au. The mass–size (M–R) relation of dendrogram structures
shows a positive correlation with power-law index of 1.73 ± 0.23, and the leaf L17 hosting W42-MME meets the mass–size
conditions for massive star formation. Blue asymmetry is observed in the H12CO+ (4–3) line profiles of most of the leaves,
indicating infall. Overall, our results observationally support the hierarchical and chaotic collapse scenario in the proximity of
the MYSO W42-MME.
