CO (J = 4→3) and [Ci] Observations of the Carina Molecular Cloud Complex

We present large area, fully-sampled maps of the Carina molecular cloudcomplex in the CO (J = 4 - 3) and neutral carbon [CI] 3P1 - 3P0 transitions.These data were obtained using the 1.7 meter diameter Antarctic SubmillimeterTelescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO). The maps cover an area ofapproximately 3 square degrees with a uniform 1' spatial sampling. Analysis ofthese data, in conjunction with CO (J = 1 - 0) data from the Columbia CO surveyand the IRAS HIRES continuum maps for the same region, suggests that the spiraldensity wave shock associated with the Carina spiral arm may be playing animportant role in the formation and dissociation of the cloud complex, as wellas in maintaining the internal energy balance of the clouds in this region.Massive stars form at the densest regions of the molecular cloud complex. Thewinds and outflows associated with these stars have a disrupting effect on thecomplex and inject mechanical energy into the parent clouds, while the UVradiation from the young stars also heat the parent clouds. The present set ofdata suggests, however, that massive stars alone may not account for theenergetics of the clouds in the Carina region. The details of the data and thecorrelation among the various data sets hint at the possible role that thespiral density wave shock plays in feeding interstellar turbulence and inheating molecular clouds.Comment: 27 text pages, 15 figure