23 research outputs found
High mass star formation in the infrared dark cloud G11.11-0.12
We report detection of moderate to high-mass star formation in an infrared
dark cloud (G11.11-0.12) where we discovered class II methanol and water maser
emissions at 6.7 GHz and 22.2 GHz, respectively. We also observed the object in
ammonia inversion transitions. Strong emission from the (3,3) line indicates a
hot (~60 K) compact component associated with the maser emission. The line
width of the hot component (4 km/s), as well as the methanol maser detection,
are indicative of high mass star formation. To further constrain the physical
parameters of the source, we derived the spectral energy distribution (SED) of
the dust continuum by analysing data from the 2MASS survey, HIRAS, MSX, the
Spitzer Space Telescope, and interferometric 3mm observations. The SED was
modelled in a radiative transfer program: a) the stellar luminosity equals 1200
L_sun corresponding to a ZAMS star of 8 M_sun; b) the bulk of the envelope has
a temperature of 19 K; c) the mass of the remnant protostellar cloud in an area
8x10^17 cm or 15 arcsec across amounts to 500M_sun, if assuming standard dust
of the diffuse medium, and to about 60 M_sun, should the grains be fluffy and
have ice mantles; d) the corresponding visual extinction towards the star is a
few hundred magnitudes. The near IR data can be explained by scattering from
tenuous material above a hypothetical disk. The class II methanol maser lines
are spread out in velocity over 11 km/s. To explain the kinematics of the
masing spots, we propose that they are located in a Kepler disk at a distance
of about 250 AU. The dust temperatures there are around 150 K, high enough to
evaporate methanol--containing ice mantles.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysics Journa
Dust emission from young outflows: the case of L1157
We present new high-sensitivity 1.3 mm bolometer observations of the young
outflow L1157. These data show that the continuum emission arises from four
distinct components: a circumstellar disk, a protostellar envelope, an extended
flattened envelope --the dense remnant of the molecular cloud in which the
protostar was formed--, and the outflow itself, which represents ~20% of the
total flux. The outflow emission exhibits two peaks that are coincident with
the two strong shocks in the southern lobe of L1157. We show that the mm
continuum is dominated by thermal dust emission arising in the high velocity
material. The spectral index derived from the new 1.3 mm data and 850 mu
observations from Shirley et al. (2000), is ~5 in the outflow, significantly
higher than in the protostellar envelope (~3.5). This can be explained by an
important line contamination of the 850 mu map, and/or by different dust
characteristics in the two regions, possibly smaller grains in the post-shocks
regions of the outflow. Our observations show that bipolar outflows can present
compact emission peaks which must not be misinterpreted as protostellar
condensations when mapping star forming regions
Accuracy of core mass estimates in simulated observations of dust emission
We study the reliability of mass estimates obtained for molecular cloud cores
using sub-millimetre and infrared dust emission. We use magnetohydrodynamic
simulations and radiative transfer to produce synthetic observations with
spatial resolution and noise levels typical of Herschel surveys. We estimate
dust colour temperatures using different pairs of intensities, calculate column
densities and compare the estimated masses with the true values. We compare
these results to the case when all five Herschel wavelengths are available. We
investigate the effects of spatial variations of dust properties and the
influence of embedded heating sources. Wrong assumptions of dust opacity and
its spectral index beta can cause significant systematic errors in mass
estimates. These are mainly multiplicative and leave the slope of the mass
spectrum intact, unless cores with very high optical depth are included.
Temperature variations bias colour temperature estimates and, in quiescent
cores with optical depths higher than for normal stable cores, masses can be
underestimated by up to one order of magnitude. When heated by internal
radiation sources the observations recover the true mass spectra. The shape,
although not the position, of the mass spectrum is reliable against
observational errors and biases introduced in the analysis. This changes only
if the cores have optical depths much higher than expected for basic
hydrostatic equilibrium conditions. Observations underestimate the value of
beta whenever there are temperature variations along the line of sight. A bias
can also be observed when the true beta varies with wavelength. Internal
heating sources produce an inverse correlation between colour temperature and
beta that may be difficult to separate from any intrinsic beta(T) relation of
the dust grains. This suggests caution when interpreting the observed mass
spectra and the spectral indices.Comment: Revised version, 17 pages, 17 figures, submitted to A&
Probing the formation of intermediate- to high-mass stars in protoclusters: A detailed millimeter study of the NGC 2264 clumps
We present the results of dust continuum and molecular line observations of
two massive cluster-forming clumps, NGC 2264-C and NGC 2264-D, including
extensive mapping performed with the MAMBO bolometer array and the HERA
heterodyne array on the IRAM 30m telescope. Both NGC 2264 clumps are located in
the Mon OB1 giant molecular cloud complex, adjacent to one another. Twelve and
fifteen compact millimeter continuum sources (i.e. MMSs) are identified in
clumps C and D, respectively. Evidence for widespread infall motions is found
in, e.g., HCO+(3-2) or CS(3-2) in both NGC 2264-C and NGC 2264-D. A sharp
velocity discontinuity ~ 2 km/s in amplitude is observed in N_2H+(1-0) and
H^{13}CO+(1-0) in the central, innermost part of NGC 2264-C, which we interpret
as the signature of a strong dynamical interaction between two MMSs and their
possible merging with the central MMS C-MM3. Radiative transfer modelling
supports the idea that NGC 2264-C is a highly unstable prolate clump in the
process of collapsing along its long axis on a near free-fall dynamical
timescale ~ 1.7x10^5 yr. Our model fit of this large-scale collapse suggests a
maximum mass inflow rate ~ 3x10^{-3} Msun/yr toward the central protostellar
object C-MM3. Such infall rates are sufficiently high to overcome radiation
pressure and allow the formation of ~ 20 Msun stars by accretion in ~ 1.7x10^5
yr, i.e., a time similar to the global dynamical timescale of the central part
of NGC 2264-C. We conclude that we are likely witnessing the formation of a
high-mass (> 10 Msun) protostar in the central part of NGC 2264-C. Our results
suggest a picture of massive star formation intermediate between the scenario
of stellar mergers of Bonnell et al. (1998) and the massive turbulent core
model of McKee & Tan (2003).Comment: 22 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in A&A. Most of the
Figures have been de-resolved in order to reduce file size
MAMBO Mapping of Spitzer c2d Small Clouds and Cores
AIMS: To study the structure of nearby (< 500 pc) dense starless and
star-forming cores with the particular goal to identify and understand
evolutionary trends in core properties, and to explore the nature of Very Low
Luminosity Objects (< 0.1 L_sun; VeLLOs). METHODS: Using the MAMBO bolometer
array, we create maps unusually sensitive to faint (few mJy per beam) extended
(approx. 5 arcmin) thermal dust continuum emission at 1.2 mm wavelength.
Complementary information on embedded stars is obtained from Spitzer, IRAS, and
2MASS. RESULTS: Our maps are very rich in structure, and we characterize
extended emission features (``subcores'') and compact intensity peaks in our
data separately to pay attention to this complexity. We derive, e.g., sizes,
masses, and aspect ratios for the subcores, as well as column densities and
related properties for the peaks. Combination with archival infrared data then
enables the derivation of bolometric luminosities and temperatures, as well as
envelope masses, for the young embedded stars. CONCLUSIONS: (abridged) Starless
and star-forming cores occupy the same parameter space in many core properties;
a picture of dense core evolution in which any dense core begins to actively
form stars once it exceeds some fixed limit in, e.g., mass, density, or both,
is inconsistent with our data. Comparison of various evolutionary indicators
for young stellar objects in our sample (e.g., bolometric temperatures) reveals
inconsistencies between some of them, possibly suggesting a revision of some of
these indicators.Comment: Accepted to A&A. In total 46 pages, with 20 pages of tables, figures,
and appendices. High-resolution version of this article at
https://www.xythosondemand.com/home/harvard_iic/Users/jkauffma/Public/mambo_spitzer.pd
Molecular Gas and Star Formation in Lynds 870
We present molecular line and submillimeter dust continuum observations of
the Lynds 870 cloud in the vicinity of IRAS 20231+3440.
Two submillimeter cores, SMM1 and SMM2, are identified mapping the 870 micron
dust continuum and ammonia emission. The total molecular mass is ~70-110 solar
mass. The northern core is warmer and denser than the southern one. Molecular
outflows are discovered in both cores. In the northern one a significant amount
of low velocity (1.3-2.8 km/s) outflowing gas is found, that is hidden in the
relatively broad CO lines but that is revealed by the narrower HCO+ spectra.
While IRAS 20231+3440 is most likely the exciting star of the northern outflow,
the driving source of the southern outflow is not detected by infrared surveys
and must be deeply embedded in the cloud core. Large scale (~0.2 pc) infall
motion is indicated by blue asymmetric profiles observed in the HCO+ J = 3-2
spectra. Red K_s band YSO candidates revealed by the 2MASS survey indicate
ongoing star formation throughout the cloud. The calculated masses and the
measured degree of turbulence are also reminiscent of clouds forming groups of
stars. The excitation of the molecular lines, molecular abundances, and outflow
properties are discussed. It is concluded that IRAS 20231+3440 is a ClassI
object, while the southern core most likely contains a Class0 source.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Effects of phone versus mail survey methods on the measurement of health-related quality of life and emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Telephone interviews have become established as an alternative to traditional mail surveys for collecting epidemiological data in public health research. However, the use of telephone and mail surveys raises the question of to what extent the results of different data collection methods deviate from one another. We therefore set out to study possible differences in using telephone and mail survey methods to measure health-related quality of life and emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1700 German children aged 8-18 years and their parents were interviewed randomly either by telephone or by mail. Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and mental health problems (MHP) were assessed using the KINDL-R Quality of Life instrument and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) children's self-report and parent proxy report versions. Mean Differences ("d" effect size) and differences in Cronbach alpha were examined across modes of administration. Pearson correlation between children's and parents' scores was calculated within a multi-trait-multi-method (MTMM) analysis and compared across survey modes using Fisher-Z transformation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Telephone and mail survey methods resulted in similar completion rates and similar socio-demographic and socio-economic makeups of the samples. Telephone methods resulted in more positive self- and parent proxy reports of children's HRQoL (SMD ≤ 0.27) and MHP (SMD ≤ 0.32) on many scales. For the phone administered KINDL, lower Cronbach alpha values (self/proxy Total: 0.79/0.84) were observed (mail survey self/proxy Total: 0.84/0.87). KINDL MTMM results were weaker for the phone surveys: mono-trait-multi-method mean r = 0.31 (mail: r = 0.45); multi-trait-mono-method mean (self/parents) r = 0.29/0.36 (mail: r = 0.34/0.40); multi-trait-multi-method mean r = 0.14 (mail: r = 0.21). Weaker MTMM results were also observed for the phone administered SDQ: mono-trait-multi-method mean r = 0.32 (mail: r = 0.40); multi-trait-mono-method mean (self/parents) r = 0.24/0.30 (mail: r = 0.20/0.32); multi-trait-multi-method mean r = 0.14 (mail = 0.14). The SDQ classification into borderline and abnormal for some scales was affected by the method (OR = 0.36-1.55).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The observed differences between phone and mail surveys are small but should be regarded as relevant in certain settings. Therefore, while both methods are valid, some changes are necessary. The weaker reliability and MTMM validity associated with phone methods necessitates improved phone adaptations of paper and pencil questionnaires. The effects of phone versus mail survey modes are partly different across constructs/measures.</p
Estimation of mislocated fixations from eye-movement data
Source code in MATLAB (The MathWorks) for the estimation of mislocated fixations from eye-movement recordings during sentence readin