ALMA Observations of Molecular Complexity in the Large Magellanic Cloud: The N 105 Star-forming Region

Abstract The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is the nearest laboratory for detailed studies on formation and survival of complex organic molecules (COMs), including biologically important ones, in low-metallicity environments—typical earlier cosmological epochs. We report results 1.2 mm continuum molecular line observations three fields star-forming region N 105 with Atacama Millimeter/submillimeter Array. lies at western edge LMC bar ongoing star traced by H 2 O, OH, CH 3 OH masers, ultracompact ii regions, young stellar objects. Based spectral modeling, we estimated rotational temperatures, column densities, fractional abundances 12 sources. identified sources a range chemical makeups, two bona fide hot cores four core candidates. emission widespread associated all COMs CN OCH are detected toward together smaller typically found Galactic (e.g., SO , SO, HNCO) roughly scaling metallicity. tentative detection astrobiologically relevant formamide molecule (NH CHO) one cores; if confirmed, this would be first NH CHO an extragalactic subsolar metallicity environment. suggest that inhomogeneities resulting from tidal interactions between Small might have led to observed large variations COM cores.