High-resolution observations of 6.7-GHz methanol masers with the Long Baseline Array

Abstract

We have used the Australian Long Baseline Array (LBA) to produce milliarcsecond images of five sites of methanol (CH3OH) maser emission at 6.7 GHz. These are all sites that have linear morphologies at arcsecond resolutions, which have been hypothesized to be due to the masers forming in edge-on circumstellar discs. We find that a simple disc model cannot explain the observations. We discuss various alternatives, and suggest a new model that explains how linear velocity gradients can be produced in methanol masers that arise in planar shocks propagating nearly perpendicular to the line of sight.