Probing Sulfur Chemistry in starless cores

Starless cores characterize the earliest stage in star formation and act as ideal laboratories for studying the different physical and chemical processes devoid of protostellar feedback. Over time, they evolve into pre-stellar cores nearing the gravitational collapse to form stars. At this stage, the core contains material that eventually will contribute to star and planet formation. While evolved starless cores are better suited for studying the most molecules (e.g., water and COMs [Complex Organic Molecules]), sulfur-bearing molecules represent an exception, as they show a significant depletion in dense cores compared to their abundance in diffuse regions. In this work, a sample of 8 starless cores at different evolutionary stages was observed. The targeted molecules contain families covering carbon/ oxygen and sulfur (e.g., CS, SO, SO2) and combinations of carbon, oxygen, and sulfur (e.g., OCS). Additionally different isotopologues such as 34S or 13C were detected. The objective is to investigate their correlation with indicators such as the CO depletion factor, the dust temperature, and the H2 column density to enhance the understanding of sulfur's crucial role in the chemistry of starless cores and its broader implications for star formation.