MSX high-contrast IRDCs with NH_3_

We detected ammonia (1,1)-inversion transition lines in 109 of our IRDC candidates. Using the data we were able to study the physical conditions within the star-forming regions statistically. We compared them with the conditions in more evolved regions which have been observed in the same fashion as our sample sources.

Our results show that IRDCs have, on average, rotation temperatures of 15K, are turbulent (with line width FWHMs around 2km/s), have ammonia column densities on the order of 10^14^cm^-2^ and molecular hydrogen column densities on the order of 10^22^cm^-2^. Their virial masses are between 100 and a few 1000M_{sun}_. The comparison of bulk kinetic and potential energies indicate that the sources are close to virial equilibrium.

IRDCs are on average cooler and less turbulent than a comparison sample of high-mass protostellar objects, and have lower ammonia column densities. Virial parameters indicate that the majority of IRDCs are currently stable, but are expected to collapse in the future.