A sub-arcsecond study of the hot molecular core in G023.01-00.41
  (Abridged) METHODS: We performed SMA observations at 1.3 mm with both the
most extended and compact array configurations, providing sub-arcsecond and
high sensitivity maps of various molecular lines, including both hot-core and
outflow tracers. We also reconstruct the spectral energy distribution of the
region from millimeter to near infrared wavelengths, using the Herschel/Hi-GAL
maps, as well as archival data. RESULTS: From the spectral energy distribution,
we derive a bolometric luminosity of about 4x10^4 Lsun. Our interferometric
observations reveal that the distribution of dense gas and dust in the HMC is
significantly flattened and extends up to a radius of 8000 AU from the center
of radio continuum and maser emission in the region. The equatorial plane of
this HMC is strictly perpendicular to the elongation of the collimated bipolar
outflow, as imaged on scales of about 0.1-0.5 pc in the main CO isotopomers as
well as in the SiO(5-4) line. In the innermost HMC regions (ca. 1000 AU), the
velocity field traced by the CH3CN(12_K-11_K) line emission shows that
molecular gas is both expanding along the outflow direction following a
Hubble-law, and rotating about the outflow axis, in agreement with the (3-D)
velocity field traced by methanol masers. The velocity field associated with
rotation indicates a dynamical mass of 19 Msun at the center of the core. The
latter is likely to be concentrated in a single O9.5 ZAMS star, consistent with
the estimated bolometric luminosity of G023.01-00.41. The physical properties
of the CO(2-1) outflow emission, such as its momentum rate 6x10^-3 Msun km/s
/yr and its outflow rate 2x10^-4 Msun/yr, support our estimates of the
luminosity (and mass) of the embedded young stellar object.
