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Context. The advent of wide-band receiver systems on interferometer arrays enables one to undertake high-sensitivity and high-resolution radio continuum surveys of the Galactic plane in a reasonable amount of telescope time. However, to date, there are only a few such studies of the first quadrant of the Milky Way that have been carried out at frequencies below 1 GHz. The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) has recently upgraded its receivers with wide-band capabilities (now called the uGMRT) and provides a good opportunity to conduct high resolution surveys, while also being sensitive to the extended structures. Aims. We wish to assess the feasibility of conducting a large-scale snapshot survey, the Metrewave Galactic Plane with the uGMRT Survey (MeGaPluG), to simultaneously map extended sources and compact objects at an angular resolution lower than $10''$ and a point source sensitivity of 0.15 mJy/beam. Methods. We performed an unbiased survey of a small portion of the Galactic plane, covering the W43/W44 regions ($l=29^\circ-35^\circ$ and $|b|<1^\circ$) in two frequency bands: 300$-$500 MHz and 550$-$750 MHz. The 200 MHz wide-band receivers on the uGMRT are employed to observe the target field in several pointings, spending nearly 14 minutes on each pointing in two separate scans. We developed an automated pipeline for the calibration, and a semi-automated self-calibration procedure is used to image each pointing using multi-scale CLEAN and outlier fields. Results. We produced continuum mosaics of the surveyed region at a final common resolution of $25''$ in the two bands that have central frequencies of 400 MHz and 650 MHz, with a point source sensitivity better than 5 mJy/beam. We plan to cover a larger footprint of the Galactic plane in the near future based on the lessons learnt from this study. (Abridged), Comment: To be published in A&A. 13 pages, 10 figures

Protostellar jets are one of the primary signposts of star formation. A handful of protostellar objects exhibit radio emission from ionized jets, of which a few display negative spectral indices, indicating the presence of synchrotron emission. In this study, we characterize the radio spectra of HH80-81 jet with the help of a numerical model that we have developed earlier, which takes into account both thermal free-free and non-thermal synchrotron emission mechanisms. For modeling the HH80-81 jet, we consider jet emission towards the central region close to the driving source along with two Herbig-Haro objects, HH80 and HH81. We have obtained the best-fit parameters for each of these sources by fitting the model to radio observational data corresponding to two frequency windows taken across two epochs. Considering an electron number density in the range $10^3 - 10^5$ cm$^{-3}$, we obtained the thickness of the jet edges and fraction of relativistic electrons that contribute to non-thermal emission in the range $0.01^{\circ} - 0.1^{\circ}$ and $10^{-7} - 10^{-4}$, respectively. For the best-fit parameter sets, the model spectral indices lie in the range of -0.15 to +0.11 within the observed frequency windows., Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in the Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy

The HH80-81 system is one of the most powerful jets driven by a massive protostar. We present new near-infrared (NIR) line imaging observations of the HH80-81 jet in the H$_2$ (2.122 $\mu$m) and [Fe II] (1.644 $\mu$m) lines. These lines trace not only the jet close to the exciting source but also the knots located farther away. We have detected nine groups of knot-like structures in the jet including HH80 and HH81 spaced $0.2-0.9$ pc apart. The knots in the northern arm of the jet show only [Fe II] emission closer to the exciting source, a combination of [Fe II] and H$_2$ at intermediate distances, and solely H$_2$ emission farther outwards. Towards the southern arm, all the knots exhibit both H$_2$ and [Fe II] emission. The nature of the shocks is inferred by assimilating the NIR observations with radio and X-ray observations from literature. In the northern arm, we infer the presence of strong dissociative shocks, in the knots located close to the exciting source. The knots in the southern arm that include HH80 and HH81 are explicable as a combination of strong and weak shocks. The mass-loss rates of the knots determined from [Fe II] luminosities are in the range $\sim 3.0\times 10^{-7}-5.2\times 10^{-5}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$, consistent with those from massive protostars. Towards the central region, close to the driving source of the jet, we have observed various arcs in H$_2$ emission which resemble bow shocks, and strings of H$_2$ knots which reveal traces of multiple outflows., Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

Protostellar jets and outflows are pointers of star-formation and serve as important sources of momentum and energy transfer to the interstellar medium. Radio emission from ionized jets have been detected towards a number of protostellar objects. In few cases, negative spectral indices and polarized emission have also been observed suggesting the presence of synchrotron emission from relativistic electrons. In this work, we develop a numerical model that incorporates both thermal free-free and non-thermal synchrotron emission mechanisms in the jet geometry. The flux densities include contribution from an inner thermal jet, and a combination of emission from thermal and non-thermal distributions along the edges and extremities, where the jet interacts with the interstellar medium. We also include the effect of varying ionization fraction laterally across the jet. An investigation of radio emission and spectra along the jet shows the dependence of the emission process and optical depth along the line of sight. We explore the effect of various parameters on the turnover frequencies and the radio spectral indices (between 10 MHz and 300 GHz) associated with them., Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, 2 Tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

This paper presents a multiwavelength investigation of the Galactic HII IRAS 17149$-$3916. Using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope, India, first low-frequency radio continuum observations at 610 and 1280 MHz for this region are presented. The ionized gas emission displays an interesting cometary morphology which is likely powered by the early type source, E4 (IRS-1). The origin of the cometary morphology is discussed under the framework of the widely accepted bow shock, champagne flow, and clumpy cloud mechanisms. The mid- and far-infrared data from Spitzer-GLIMPSE and Herschel-Hi-GAL reveal a complex network of pillars, clumps, bubble, filaments, and arcs suggesting the profound influence of massive stars on the surrounding medium. Triggered star formation at the tip of an observed pillar structure is reported. High-resolution ALMA continuum data show a string of cores detected within the identified clumps. The core masses are well explained by thermal Jeans fragmentation and support the hierarchical fragmentation scenario. Four `super-Jeans' cores are identified which, at the resolution of the present data set, are suitable candidates to form high-mass stars., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Star-forming galaxies are rich reservoirs of dust, both warm and cold. But the cold dust emission is faint alongside the relatively bright and ubiquitous warm dust emission. Recently, evidence for a very cold dust component has also been revealed via millimeter/submillimeter photometry of some galaxies. This component, despite being the most massive of the three dust components in star-forming galaxies, is by virtue of its very low temperature, faint and hard to detect together with the relatively bright emission from warmer dust. Here we analyze the dust content of a carefully selected sample of four galaxies detected by IRAS, WISE, and SPT, whose spectral energy distributions (SEDs) were modeled to constrain their potential cold dust content. Low-frequency radio observations using the GMRT were carried out to segregate cold dust emission from non-thermal emission in millimeter/submillimeter wavebands. We also carried out AstroSat/UVIT observations for some galaxies to constrain their SED at shorter wavelengths so as to enforce energy balance for the SED modeling. We constructed their SEDs across a vast wavelength range (extending from ultraviolet to radio frequencies) by assembling global photometry from GALEX FUV+NUV, UVIT, Johnson BRI, 2MASS, WISE, IRAC, IRAS, AKARI, ISOPHOT, Planck HFI, SPT, and GMRT. The SEDs were modeled with CIGALE to estimate their basic properties, in particular to constrain the masses of their total and very cold dust components. Although the galaxies' dust masses are dominated by warmer dust, there are hints of very cold dust in two of the targets, NGC 7496 and NGC 7590., Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, accepted in MNRAS

A multiwavelength analysis of star formation associated with the extended green object, G19.88-0.53 is presented in this paper. With multiple detected radio and millimetre components, G19.88-0.53 unveils as harbouring a protocluster rather than a single massive young stellar object. We detect an ionized thermal jet using the upgraded Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope, India, which is found to be associated with a massive, dense and hot ALMA 2.7 mm core driving a bipolar CO outflow. Near-infrared spectroscopy with UKIRT-UIST shows the presence of multiple shock-excited H2 lines concurrent with the nature of this region. Detailed investigation of the gas kinematics using ALMA data reveals G19.88-0.53 as an active protocluster with high-mass star forming components spanning a wide evolutionary spectrum from hot cores in accretion phase to cores driving multiple outflows to possible UCHII regions., Comment: 20 pages, 16 figures, Accepted for publication in the Main Journal of MNRAS

The supersonic winds produced by massive stars carry a large amount of kinetic power. In numerous scenarios such winds have been proven to produce shocks in which relativistic particles are accelerated emitting non-thermal radiation. Here, we report the first detection of non-thermal emission from a single stellar bubble, G2.4+1.4, associated with a WO star. We observed this source with the uGMRT in Band 4 ($550-850$ MHz) and Band 5 ($1050-1450$ MHz). We present intensity and spectral index maps for this source that are consistent with synchrotron emission (average spectral index, $\alpha = -0.83 \pm 0.10$). The fraction of the available kinetic wind power that is converted into cosmic ray acceleration is estimated to be of the order of a few per cent. This finding constitutes an observational breakthrough and gives new insight on the non-thermal physical processes taking place in the environments of isolated massive stars. In particular, our results show that non-runaway isolated massive stars are capable of accelerating relativistic particles and are therefore confirmed as sources of Galactic cosmic rays., Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJL

We present the HI 21 cm spectral line and continuum observations of the Galactic supernova remnant candidate G351.7-1.2 using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. Strong absorption features are observed towards the HII regions in the star forming complex associated with G351.7-1.2. Along with HI emission towards the outer periphery of the supernova remnant shell, we distinguish a high velocity jet-like feature in the velocity range +40 km/s to +52 km/s in HI. This unusual and highly collimated feature, with a projected length of ~7 pc and an opening angle of 14.4 deg, is located towards the interior of the radio shell. This is the first report of a such a well collimated HI jet-like emission. The peculiar location and the detection of a gamma-ray source towards the central peak of this HI jet suggests its plausible association with the supernova remnant candidate., Comment: Accepted by MNRAS Letters, 5 pages, 6 figures

We present a multiwavelength study of the extended green object, G12.42+0.50 in this paper. The associated ionized, dust, and molecular components of this source are studied in detail employing various observations at near-, mid- and far-infrared, submillimeter and radio wavelengths. Radio continuum emission mapped at 610 and 1390 MHz, using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope, India, advocates for a scenario of coexistence of an UC H II region and an ionized thermal jet possibly powered by the massive young stellar object, IRAS 18079-1756 with an estimated spectral type of B1 - B0.5. Shock-excited lines of H2 and [FeII], as seen in the near-infrared spectra obtained with UKIRT-UIST, lend support to this picture. Cold dust emission shows a massive clump of mass 1375 M{\sun} enveloping G12.42+0.50. Study of the molecular gas kinematics using the MALT90 and JCMT archival data unravels the presence of both infall activity and large-scale outflow suggesting an early stage of massive star formation in G12.42+0.50. A network of filamentary features are also revealed merging with the massive clump mimicking a hub-filament layout. Velocity structure along these indicate bulk inflow motion., Comment: 25 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present an analysis of radio (Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA)), optical (HST), and X-ray (Chandra and XMM-Newton) observations and archival data of the Herbig-Haro objects HH 80 and HH 81 in the context of jet-cloud interactions. Our radio images are the highest angular resolution to date of these objects, allowing to spatially resolve the knots and compare the regions emitting in the different spectral ranges. We found that soft X-ray thermal emission is located ahead of the non-thermal radio peak. This result is consistent with a radiative forward shock that heats the shocked gas up to 10 6 K, and an adiabatic reverse shock able to accelerate particles and produce synchrotron radiation detectable at radio frequencies. These high angular resolution radio images also reveal a bow shock structure in the case of HH 80N, being the first time this morphology is detected in a Herbig-Haro object at these frequencies., Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures. Published in MNRAS. Corrected typo in author's name

Star cluster studies hold the key to understanding star formation, stellar evolution, and origin of galaxies. The detection and characterization of clusters depend on the underlying background density and the cluster richness. We examine the ability of the Parzen Density Estimation (a.k.a. Parzen Windows) method, which is a generalization of the well-known Star Count method, to detect clusters and measure their properties. We apply it on a range of simulated and real star fields, considering square and circular windows, with and without Gaussian kernel smoothing. Our method successfully identifies clusters and we suggest an optimal standard deviation of the Gaussian Parzen window for obtaining the best estimates of these parameters. Finally, we demonstrate that the Parzen Windows with Gaussian kernels are able to detect small clusters in regions of relatively high background density where the Star Count method fails., Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication by MNRAS

Aims. We present a multiwavelength study of two southern Galactic H II regions G346.056-0.021 and G346.077-0.056 which are located at a distance of 10.9 kpc. The distribution of ionized gas, cold and warm dust and the stellar population associated with the two H II regions are studied in detail using measurements at near-infrared, mid-infrared, far-infrared, submillimeter and radio wavelengths. Methods. The radio continuum maps at 1280 and 610 MHz were obtained using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope to probe the ionized gas. The dust temperature, column density and dust emissivity maps were generated by using modified blackbody fits in the far-infrared wavelength range 160 - 500 {\mu}m. Various near- and mid-infrared colour and magnitude criteria were adopted to identify candidate ionizing star(s) and the population of young stellar objects in the associated field. Results. The radio maps reveal the presence diffuse ionized emission displaying distinct cometary morphologies. The 1280 MHz flux densities translate to ZAMS spectral types in the range O7.5V - O7V and O8.5V - O8V for the ionizing stars of G346.056-0.021 and G346.077-0.056, respectively. A few promising candidate ionizing star(s) are identified using near-infrared photometric data. The column density map shows the presence of a large, dense dust clump enveloping G346.077-0.056. The dust temperature map shows peaks towards the two H II regions. The submillimetre image shows the presence of two additional clumps one being associated with G346.056-0.021. The masses of the clumps are estimated to range between {\sim} 1400 to 15250 M{\sun}. Based on simple analytic calculations and the correlation seen between the ionized gas distribution and the local density structure, the observed cometary morphology in the radio maps is better explained invoking the champagne-flow model., Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

A multiwavelength investigation of the southern infrared dust bubble CS51 is presented in this paper. We probe the associated ionized, cold dust, molecular and stellar components. Radio continuum emission mapped at 610 and 1300 MHz, using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, India, reveal the presence of three compact emission components (A, B, and C) apart from large-scale diffuse emission within the bubble interior. Radio spectral index map show the coexistence of thermal and non-thermal emission components. Modified blackbody fits to the thermal dust emission using Herschel PACS and SPIRE data is performed to generate dust temperature and column density maps. We identify five dust clumps associated with CS51 with masses and radius in the range 810 - 4600 M{\sun} and 1.0 - 1.9 pc, respectively. We further construct the column density probability distribution functions of the surrounding cold dust which display the impact of ionization feedback from high-mass stars. The estimated dynamical and fragmentation timescales indicate the possibility of collect and collapse mechanism in play at the bubble border. Molecular line emission from the MALT90 survey is used to understand the nature of two clumps which show signatures of expansion of CS51., Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

An investigation in radio and infrared wavelengths of two high-mass star forming regions toward the southern Galactic bubble S10 is presented here. The two regions under study are associated with the broken bubble S10 and Extended Green Object, G345.99-0.02, respectively. Radio continuum emission mapped at 610 and 1280 MHz using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, India is detected towards both the regions. These regions are estimated to be ionized by early B to late O type stars. Spitzer GLIMPSE mid-infrared data is used to identify young stellar objects associated with these regions. A Class I/II type source, with an estimated mass of 6.2 M{\sun} , lies {\sim} 7{\arcsec} from the radio peak. Pixel-wise, modified blackbody fits to the thermal dust emission using Herschel far-infrared data is performed to construct dust temperature and column density maps. Eight clumps are detected in the two regions using the 250 {\mu}m image. The masses and linear diameter of these range between {\sim} 300 - 1600 M{\sun} and 0.2 - 1.1 pc, respectively which qualifies them as high-mass star forming clumps. Modelling of the spectral energy distribution of these clumps indicates the presence of high luminosity, high accretion rate, massive young stellar objects possibly in the accelerating accretion phase. Further, based on the radio and MIR morphology, the occurrence of a possible bow-wave towards the likely ionizing star is explored., Comment: 34 pages, 13 figures