Molecular clouds from NOEMA CO(1-0) obs. in M82

The distribution of clouds in the {sigma}^2^/R versus column density {Sigma} space suggests that external pressure does not play a significant role in setting their physical parameters in the outflow and streamers. We find that the clouds in the streamers stay approximately constant in size (R~50pc) and mass (M~10^5^M_{sun}_) and do not vary with their projected distance from M82's center. The clouds in the outflow, on the other hand, appear to decrease in size and mass with distance toward the southern outflow.

The reduction in the molecular gas luminosity could be indicative of cloud evaporation of embedded clouds in the hot outflow.