NH3 observations of the AFGL 2591 region: a possible cavity in the molecular cloud

Using the VLA the (J, K) = (1, 1) and (2, 2) ammonia lines toward the IR object AFGL 2591 were observed. A clumpy medium was detect. A hot shell-like structure with large line widths is found coincident with a near-IR bubble. A central outflow has apparently produced a cavity in the molecular gas. The spatial distribution of the observed heating suggests that the exciting source is toward the eastern side of the shell structure. This central source may be related to the H2O maser, the compact radio source 3, and AFGL 2591. Given the uncertainties in relative registrations of IR and radio frames, it is possible that these are the same object. 23 refs.