Correlated Molecular Maser Flares in IRAS 18566+0408

We report observations conducted with the 305m Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico, showing multiple correlated molecular maser flares in IRAS 18566+0408. This is the only massive star-forming region where correlated variability of three molecular maser species has been found. The three molecular species monitored were 6.7$\,$GHz methanol (CH$_{3}$OH), 6$\,$cm formaldehyde (H$_{2}$CO), and 6.035$\,$GHz hydroxyl (OH). The spectrum of the CH$_{3}$OH reveals at least 9 different molecular clouds moving at different LSR velocities, the fastest CH$_{3}$OH (87.8$\,$km s$^{-1}$) component simultaneously flares with the H$_{2}$CO (79.5$\,$km s$^{-1}$) maser. The flare peaks from most of the remaining CH$_3$OH maser components, in addition to the OH (85.8$\,$km s$^{-1}$) maser, are delayed by approximately 3 months with respect to the H$_{2}$CO maser peak. We discuss results of a statistical analysis that suggests that multiple pumping mechanisms may be causing the flares instead of a simple time delay.