We report on the Bulge Asymmetries and Dynamic Evolution (BAaDE) survey which has observed 19 000 MSX color selected red giant stars for SiO maser emission at 43 GHz with the VLA and is in the process of observing 9 000 of these stars with ALMA at 86 GHz in the Southern sky. Our setup covers the main maser transitions, as well as those of isotopologues and selected lines of carbon-bearing species. Observations of this set of lines allow a far-reaching catalog of line-of-sight velocities in the dust-obscured regions where optical surveys cannot reach. Our preliminary detection rate is close to 70%, predicting a wealth of new information on the distribution of metal rich stars, their kinematics as function of location in the Galaxy, as well as the occurrence of lines and line ratios between the different transitions in combination with the spectral energy distribution from about 1 to 100 μm. Similar to the OH/IR stars, a clear kinematic signature between disk and bulge stars can be seen. Furthermore, the SiO J = →10 (v=3) line plays a prominent role in the derived maser properties.

Through the observations and the analysis of maser polarization it is possible to measure the magnetic field in several astrophysical environments (e.g., star-forming regions, evolved stars). In particular from the linearly and circularly polarized emissions we can determine the orientation and the strength of the magnetic field, respectively. In these proceedings the implications, on observed data, of the new estimation of the Landé g-factors for the CH3OH maser are presented. Furthermore, some example of the most recent results achieved in observing the polarized maser emission from several maser species will also be reported.

Maser observations of both linearly and circularly polarized emission have provided unique information on the magnetic field in the densest parts of star forming regions, where non-maser magnetic field tracers are scarce. While linear polarization observations provide morphological constraints, magnetic field strengths are determined by measuring the Zeeman splitting in circularly polarized emission. Methanol is of special interest as it is one of the most abundant maser species and its different transitions probe unique areas around the protostar. However, its precise Zeeman-parameters are unknown. Experimental efforts to determine these Zeeman-parameters have failed. Here we present quantum-chemical calculations of the Zeeman-parameters of methanol, along with calculations of the hyperfine structure that are necessary to interpret the Zeeman effect in methanol. We use this model in re-analyzing methanol maser polarization observations. We discuss different mechanisms for hyperfine-state preference in the pumping of torsion-rotation transitions involved in the maser-action.

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) is providing key information to the study of maser processes in the Universe, from star formation regions or circumstellar envelopes around evolved stars, to Galactic structure and cosmology, through precise astrometry. VLBI networks offer various capabilities and, most importantly, support to users, to ensure that these infrastructures are fully accesible and that the best science can emerge. In this paper we describe the advances in VLBI that enable exciting maser studies.

Ring−like sources of 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission were discovered a decade ago with the European VLBI Network. In the past years we have been incessantly working to understand the nature of these rings. In general, the methanol rings do not coincide with H II regions nor they show 22 GHz water maser emission. Here, we present a proper motion study over a time baseline up to 10.5 years for the first sub-sample of methanol maser rings. Our findings suggest that in three targets G23.207−00.377, G23.389+00.185, and G23.657−00.127, such rings form in outflows or even in winds close to the central sources, and the masers trace slow proper motions of a few km s−1 typically.

In the lead-up to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, several next-generation radio telescopes and upgrades are already being built around the world. These include APERTIF (The Netherlands), ASKAP (Australia), e-MERLIN (UK), VLA (USA), e-EVN (based in Europe), LOFAR (The Netherlands), MeerKAT (South Africa), and the Murchison Widefield Array. Each of these new instruments has different strengths, and coordination of surveys between them can help maximise the science from each of them. A radio continuum survey is being planned on each of them with the primary science objective of understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies over cosmic time, and the cosmological parameters and large-scale structures which drive it. In pursuit of this objective, the different teams are developing a variety of new techniques, and refining existing ones. To achieve these exciting scientific goals, many technical challenges must be addressed by the survey instruments. Given the limited resources of the global radio-astronomical community, it is essential that we pool our skills and knowledge. We do not have sufficient resources to enjoy the luxury of re-inventing wheels. We face significant challenges in calibration, imaging, source extraction and measurement, classification and cross-identification, redshift determination, stacking, and data-intensive research. As these instruments extend the observational parameters, we will face further unexpected challenges in calibration, imaging, and interpretation. If we are to realise the full scientific potential of these expensive instruments, it is essential that we devote enough resources and careful study to understanding the instrumental effects and how they will affect the data. We have established an SKA Radio Continuum Survey working group, whose prime role is to maximise science from these instruments by ensuring we share resources and expertise across the projects. Here we describe these projects, their science goals, and the technical challenges which are being addressed to maximise the science return.

Maser emission plays an important role as a tool in star formation studies. It is widely used for deriving kinematics, as well as the physical conditions of different structures, hidden in the dense environment very close to the young stars, for example associated with the onset of jets and outflows. We will summarize here the recent observational and theoretical progress on this topic since the last maser symposium: the IAU Symposium 242 in Alice Springs.

The bright and narrow spectral line emission of masers is ideal for measuring the Zeeman-splitting as well as for determining the orientation of magnetic fields in 3-dimensions around massive protostars. Recently, polarization observations at milliarcsecond resolution of 6.7-GHz CH3OH masers have uniquely been able to resolve the morphology of magnetic fields close to massive protostars. The observations reveal that the magnetic fields are along outflows and/or on the surfaces of circumstellar tori. Here we present three different examples selected from a total number of 7 massive star-forming regions that were investigated at 6.7-GHz with the EVN in the last years.

To understand the origin of the CH3OH maser emission, we map the distribution and excitation of the thermal CH3OH emission in a sample of 14 relatively nearby (<6 kpc) high-mass star forming regions that are identified through 6.7 GHz maser emission. The images are velocity-resolved and allow us to study the kinematics of the regions. Further, rotation diagrams are created to derive rotation temperatures and column densities of the large scale molecular gas. The effects of optical depth and subthermal excitation are studied with population diagrams. For eight of the sources in our sample the thermal CH3OH emission is compact and confined to a region <0.4 pc and with a central peak close (<0.03 pc) to the position of the CH3OH maser emission. Four sources have more extended thermal CH3OH emission without a clear peak, and for the remaining two sources, the emission is too weak to map. The compact sources have linear velocity gradients along the semi-major axis of the emission of 0.3 – 13 kms−1 pc−1. The rotation diagram analysis shows that in general the highest rotation temperature is found close to the maser position. The confined and centrally peaked CH3OH emission in the compact sources indicates a single source for the CH3OH gas and the velocity fields show signs of outflow in all but one of the sources. The high detection rate of the torsionally excited vt = 1 line and signs of high-K lines at the maser position indicate radiative pumping, though the general lack of measurable beam dilution effects may mean that the masing gas is not sampled well and originates in a very small region.

Planetary nebulae (PNe) often show large departures from spherical symmetry. The origin and development of these asymmetries is not clearly understood. The most striking structures are the highly collimated jets that are already observed in a number of evolved stars before they enter the PN phase. The aim of this project is to observe the Zeeman splitting of the OH maser of the W43A star and determine the magnetic field strength in the low density region. The 1612 MHz OH masers of W43A were observed with MERLIN to measure the circular polarization due to the Zeeman splitting of 1612 OH masers in the envelope of the evolved star W43A. We measured the circular polarization of the strongest 1612 OH masers of W43A and found a magnetic field strength of ~100μG. The magnetic field measured at the location of W43A OH masers confirms that a large scale magnetic field is present in W43A, which likely plays a role in collimating the jet.

In the course of following up compact methanol masers at 6.7 GHz which were found in the Torun blind survey (Szymczak et al. 2002), we discovered a ring structure in the source G23.657−00.127. This source provides interesting insights into whether methanol masers arise in rotating disks around massive stars, in their outflows, or behind shocks. By monitoring the 12.2 GHz masers, which fortunately follow the same structure, we hope to resolve the kinematics of the ring. Moreover, the symmetry of the source points to the existence of a central source. Early results on the nature of this source indicate the existence of a hyper–compact H II region.

We are carrying out a program to observe the 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission in high-mass star-forming regions using large FOV (~2'), astrometric, VLBI data. Here we report on the first results of the inner few arc seconds in Cepheus A East. We find a maser filament extending over ~1.7” (1200 AU), straddling the waist of Cep A HW2. The region in which the CH3OH masers are found contains several YSO's and it is not clear whether the CH3OH masers are associated with several different objects or rather the larger scale surrounding environment.

It has been established that massive stars form in dense clusters, when large molecular clouds collapse. However, the high obscuration and small spatial scales make it difficult to investigate the earliest stage of high–mass protostellar objects (HMPOs). Therefore methanol masers are of special interests as they are closely associated with HMPOs and offer high spatial resolution; they probe the massive star formation environment at the unique scale of a few AU (1 mas corresponds to 5 AU at 5 kpc).

We present VLBI observations of methanol masers discovered in an unbiased survey along the Galactic plane. We compare their positions with infrared surveys. In general, the masers do not coincide with infrared objects. That implies they are already present at a very early evolution stage of HMPOs when the dense surroundings still absorb other radiation. In addition we present maps of five methanol masers towards HMPOs with milliarcsecond resolution taken with the recently extended European VLBI Network. These sources show a wide variety of morphologies, indicating they arise in different events going on in close surroundings of HMPOs, i.e. outflows, discs or shocks. One source G23.657−00.127 displays a regularly shaped ring which appears as a great laboratory for further research of a single HMPO. Proper motion studies should reveal an expansion or rotation of the maser components in 2–3 years.

The strength and structure of the magnetic fields in circumstellar envelopes have been measured through polarization observations of OH and SiO masers. Here we present the first results obtained by observing the circular polarization of the H2O masers using VLBI. SiO masers are probes of the high temperature and density regime close to the central star. OH masers are found at much lower densities and temperatures, generally much further out in the circumstellar envelope. The detection of the Zeeman splitting of the (616-523) rotational transition of the H2O maser allows us to determine the magnetic field strength in the intermediate temperature and density regime.

We present VLBI and BIMA observations of the Class II methanol maser source G 59.783+0.065. The methanol emission arises from the centre of a compact molecular core, supporting the view that methanol masers trace an early stage of massive star formation. The velocity spread of the masers is significantly larger than that of the parent molecular cloud, which is consistent with the methanol coming from a rotating structure within the molecular core. However, there is also weak evidence that the methanol is aligned with an outflow.

Using VLBI phase referencing, we have been registering the position of the most blue-shifted OH 1667 MHz maser spot with respect to nearby extragalactic reference sources for almost seven years. The data for these 10 epochs allow us to determine the proper motion and parallax of U Her. It also yields the opportunity to compare the maser position to the position of the star, as measured by the Hipparcos satellite. Results support the theory that the compact bright spot is the amplified stellar image.

During the red supergiant (RSG) stage of massive star evolution, emission from dust and molecules allows the copious stellar winds to be studied in great detail. This help us understand not only the evolutionary stages of the star (which are highly dependent on mass loss rates), but also the morphology of the eventual supernova remnant. Maser emission from OH and H2O has been mapped with milli-arcsec resolution (using MERLIN and the EVN/global VLBI) around RSG including VY CMa, S Per and VX Sgr. The H2O masers originate in clouds accelerating away from the star and OH mainlines masers interleave the outer parts of the H2O maser shell. Zeeman splitting of OH maser lines reveals the orientation and strength of stellar-centred magnetic fields.

The European VLBI Network (EVN) is involved in a number of projects to enhance its performance and capabilities. The gradual implementation of the MkIV recording standard has introduced a number of new possibilities. As well as wider bandwidth recording, allowing the detection of ever fainter continuum sources, the system has improved flexibility for doing spectral line VLBI. This is especially true when combined with the very large correlation capacity that the EVN MkIV data processor offers. This correlator, at the Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE), Dwingeloo, is now providing the main correlator capacity for the EVN, and its capabilities are still being upgraded.

Two projects are discussed in which a phase referencing technique is used to determine stellar parallaxes and/or proper motions by means of the circumstellar masers. The observations are special in the sense that both continuum and line sources need to be detected. To obtain stellar motions assumptions on the location of the maser with respect to the star need to be made.

We observed the four OH 18 cm transitions against the Cen A VLBI source. With high spatial resolution we detect the same molecular absorption as previously seen with ATCA. Both the excitation and VLBI absorption suggest a cloud size of ≲ 1 pc.