Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2 (GASTON): Evidence of mass accretion
  onto dense clumps
  High-mass stars ($m_* \gtrsim 8 \, M_\odot$) play a crucial role in the
evolution of galaxies, and so it is imperative that we understand how they are
formed. We have used the New IRAM KIDs Array 2 (NIKA2) camera on the Institut
de Radio Astronomie Millim\'{e}trique (IRAM) 30-m telescope to conduct
high-sensitivity continuum mapping of $\sim2$ deg$^2$ of the Galactic plane
(GP) as part of the Galactic Star Formation with NIKA2 (GASTON) large program.
We have identified a total of 1467 clumps within our deep 1.15 mm continuum
maps and, by using overlapping continuum, molecular line, and maser parallax
data, we have determined their distances and physical properties. By placing
them upon an approximate evolutionary sequence based upon 8 $\mu$m
$\textit{Spitzer}$ imaging, we find evidence that the most massive dense clumps
accrete material from their surrounding environment during their early
evolution, before dispersing as star formation advances, supporting clump-fed
models of high-mass star formation.
