Physical Properties of Galactic Planck Cold Cores revealed by the Hi-GAL
  survey
  Previous studies of the initial conditions of massive star formation have
mainly targeted Infrared-Dark Clouds (IRDCs) toward the inner Galaxy. This is
due to the fact that IRDCs were first detected in absorption against the bright
mid-IR background, requiring a favourable location to be observed. By
selection, IRDCs represent only a fraction of the Galactic clouds capable of
forming massive stars and star clusters. Due to their low dust temperatures,
IRDCs are bright in the far-IR and millimeter and thus, observations at these
wavelengths have the potential to provide a complete sample of star-forming
massive clouds across the Galaxy. Our aim is to identify the clouds at the
initial conditions of massive star formation across the Galaxy and compare
their physical properties as a function of their Galactic location. We have
examined the physical properties of a homogeneous galactic cold core sample
obtained with the Planck satellite across the Galactic Plane. With the use of
Herschel Hi-GAL observations, we have characterized the internal structure of
them. By using background-subtracted Herschel images, we have derived the H2
column density and dust temperature maps for 48 Planck clumps. Their basic
physical parameters have been calculated and analyzed as a function of location
within the Galaxy. These properties have also been compared with the empirical
relation for massive star formation derived by Kauffmann & Pillai (2010). Most
of the Planck clumps contain signs of star formation. About 25% of them are
massive enough to form high mass stars. Planck clumps toward the Galactic
center region show higher peak column densities and higher average dust
temperatures than those of the clumps in the outer Galaxy. Although we only
have seven clumps without associated YSOs, the Hi-GAL data show no apparent
differences in the properties of Planck cold clumps with and without star
formation.
