Star formation in massive clumps in Milky Way

Physical properties of the clumps are calculated from 870 micron dust continuum emission and NH_3_ line emission. Linear correlations are identified between the star formation rate surface density, Sigma_SFR and the quantities Sigma_H2/tau_ff and Sigma_H2/tau_cross, suggesting that star formation is regulated at the local scales of molecular clouds. The measured fraction of star forming clumps is 23%.

Accounting for star formation within clumps that are excluded from our sample due to 24 micron saturation, this fraction can be as high as 31%, which is similar to previous results. Dense, massive clumps form primarily low mass (<1-2M_{sun}_) stars with emergent 24 micron fluxes below our sensitivity limit or are incapable of forming any stars for the initial 70% of their lifetimes. The low fraction of star forming clumps in the Galactic center relative to those located in the disk of the Milky Way is verified.