Galactic cold cores. V. Dust opacity

Local variations in the ratio {tau}(250{mu}m)/{tau}(J) are searched using the correlation plots and maps of the opacity ratio. We find a median ratio of {tau}(250{mu}m)/{mu}(J)=(1.6+/-0.2)*10^-3^, which is more than three times the mean value reported for the diffuse medium. Assuming an opacity spectral index {beta}=1.8 instead of {beta}=2.0, the value would be smaller by ~30%.

No significant systematic variation is detected with Galactocentric distance or with Galactic height. Examination of the {tau}(250{mu}m)/{tau}(J) maps reveals half a dozen fields with clear indications of local increase of submillimetre opacity, up to {tau}(250{mu}m)/{tau}(J)~4*10^-3^, towards the densest clumps. These are all nearby fields with spatially resolved clumps of high column density.

We interpret the increase in the far-infrared opacity as a sign of grain growth in the densest and coldest regions of interstellar clouds.