Large scale mapping of molecular gas in the vicinity of 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We present a large scale ¹²CO(1-0) map at unprecedented angular and velocity resolution of a prominent molecular ridge in the Large Magellanic Cloud obtained with the Mopra 22m telescope. The region stretches from 30 Doradus, the most vigorous star forming region in the Local Group, southward by ∼ 2.5 degrees. The position of this molecular ridge is truly unique as it allows us to study the properties of the molecular gas as a continuous function of the ambient radiation field in a low metallicity environment (LMC metallicity ∼ 30% solar). We show our first results of the clump mass distribution and the CO-to-H₂ conversion factor for different strengths of the radiation field. Due to the extreme UV flux of the 30 Doradus region and the low metallicity of the LMC, this region may represent the best nearby laboratory to investigate the physical conditions of molecular gas of actively star forming galaxies in the early Universe.