3,631 research outputs found
Aberrations in shift-invariant linear optical imaging systems using partially coherent fields
Here the role and influence of aberrations in optical imaging systems
employing partially coherent complex scalar fields is studied. Imaging systems
require aberrations to yield contrast in the output image. For linear
shift-invariant optical systems, we develop an expression for the output
cross-spectral density under the space-frequency formulation of statistically
stationary partially coherentfields. We also develop expressions for the output
cross{spectral density and associated spectral density for weak-phase,
weak-phase-amplitude, and single-material objects in one transverse spatial
dimension
SiO collimated outflows driven by high-mass YSOs in G24.78+0.08
We imaged the molecular outflows towards the cluster of high-mass young
stellar objects G24.78+0.08 at high-angular resolution using SiO emission,
which is considered the classical tracer of protostellar jets. We performed SiO
observations with the VLA interferometer in the J = 1-0 v=0 transition and with
the SMA array in the 5-4 transition. A complementary IRAM 30-m single-dish
survey in the (2-1), (3-2), (5-4), and (6-5) SiO lines was also carried out.
Two collimated SiO high-velocity outflows driven by the A2 and C millimeter
continuum massive cores have been imaged. On the other hand, we detected no SiO
outflow driven by the young stellar objects in more evolved evolutionary phases
that are associated with ultracompact (B) or hypercompact (A1) HII regions. The
LVG analysis reveals high-density gas (10^3-10^4 cm-3), with well constrained
SiO column densities (0.5-1 10^15 cm-2). The driving source of the A2 outflow
is associated with typical hot core tracers such as methyl formate, vinyl
cyanide, cyanoacetilene, and acetone. The driving source of the main SiO
outflow in G24 has an estimated luminosity of a few 10^4 Lsun (typical of a
late O-type star) and is embedded in the 1.3 mm continuum core A2, which in
turn is located at the centre of a hot core that rotates on a plane
perpendicular to the outflow main axis. The present SiO images support a
scenario similar to the low-mass case for massive star formation, where jets
that are clearly traced by SiO emission, create outflows of swept-up ambient
gas usually traced by CO.Comment: Astronomy & Astrophysics, in pres
Evolution and excitation conditions of outflows in high-mass star-forming regions
Theoretical models suggest that massive stars form via disk-mediated
accretion, with bipolar outflows playing a fundamental role. A recent study
toward massive molecular outflows has revealed a decrease of the SiO line
intensity as the object evolves. The present study aims at characterizing the
variation of the molecular outflow properties with time, and at studying the
SiO excitation conditions in outflows associated with massive YSOs. We used the
IRAM30m telescope to map 14 massive star-forming regions in the SiO(2-1),
SiO(5-4) and HCO+(1-0) outflow lines, and in several dense gas and hot core
tracers. Hi-GAL data was used to improve the spectral energy distributions and
the L/M ratio, which is believed to be a good indicator of the evolutionary
stage of the YSO. We detect SiO and HCO+ outflow emission in all the sources,
and bipolar structures in six of them. The outflow parameters are similar to
those found toward other massive YSOs. We find an increase of the HCO+ outflow
energetics as the object evolve, and a decrease of the SiO abundance with time,
from 10^(-8) to 10^(-9). The SiO(5-4) to (2-1) line ratio is found to be low at
the ambient gas velocity, and increases as we move to high velocities,
indicating that the excitation conditions of the SiO change with the velocity
of the gas (with larger densities and/or temperatures for the high-velocity gas
component). The properties of the SiO and HCO+ outflow emission suggest a
scenario in which SiO is largely enhanced in the first evolutionary stages,
probably due to strong shocks produced by the protostellar jet. As the object
evolves, the power of the jet would decrease and so does the SiO abundance.
During this process, however, the material surrounding the protostar would have
been been swept up by the jet, and the outflow activity, traced by entrained
molecular material (HCO+), would increase with time.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figures and 5 tables (plus 2 figures and 3 tables in the
appendix). Accepted for publication in A&A. [Abstract modified to fit the
arXiv requirements.
Physical properties of high-mass clumps in different stages of evolution
(Abridged) Aims. To investigate the first stages of the process of high-mass
star formation, we selected a sample of massive clumps previously observed with
the SEST at 1.2 mm and with the ATNF ATCA at 1.3 cm. We want to characterize
the physical conditions in such sources, and test whether their properties
depend on the evolutionary stage of the clump.
Methods. With ATCA we observed the selected sources in the NH3(1,1) and (2,2)
transitions and in the 22 GHz H2O maser line. Ammonia lines are a good
temperature probe that allow us to accurately determine the mass and the
column-, volume-, and surface densities of the clumps. We also collected all
data available to construct the spectral energy distribution of the individual
clumps and to determine if star formation is already occurring, through
observations of its most common signposts, thus putting constraints on the
evolutionary stage of the source. We fitted the spectral energy distribution
between 1.2 mm and 70 microns with a modified black body to derive the dust
temperature and independently determine the mass.
Results. The clumps are cold (T~10-30 K), massive (M~10^2-10^3 Mo), and dense
(n(H2)>~10^5 cm^-3) and they have high column densities (N(H2)~10^23 cm^-2).
All clumps appear to be potentially able to form high-mass stars. The most
massive clumps appear to be gravitationally unstable, if the only sources of
support against collapse are turbulence and thermal pressure, which possibly
indicates that the magnetic field is important in stabilizing them.
Conclusions. After investigating how the average properties depend on the
evolutionary phase of the source, we find that the temperature and central
density progressively increase with time. Sources likely hosting a ZAMS star
show a steeper radial dependence of the volume density and tend to be more
compact than starless clumps.Comment: Published in A&A, Vol. 556, A1
The B1 shock in the L1157 outflow as seen at high spatial resolution
We present high spatial resolution (750 AU at 250 pc) maps of the B1 shock in
the blue lobe of the L1157 outflow in four lines: CS (3-2), CH3OH (3_K-2_K),
HC3N (16-15) and p-H2CO (2_02-3_01). The combined analysis of the morphology
and spectral profiles has shown that the highest velocity gas is confined in a
few compact (~ 5 arcsec) bullets while the lowest velocity gas traces the wall
of the gas cavity excavated by the shock expansion. A large velocity gradient
model applied to the CS (3-2) and (2-1) lines provides an upper limit of 10^6
cm^-3 to the averaged gas density in B1 and a range of 5x10^3< n(H2)< 5x10^5
cm^-3 for the density of the high velocity bullets. The origin of the bullets
is still uncertain: they could be the result of local instabilities produced by
the interaction of the jet with the ambient medium or could be clump already
present in the ambient medium that are excited and accelerated by the expanding
outflow. The column densities of the observed species can be reproduced
qualitatively by the presence in B1 of a C-type shock and only models where the
gas reaches temperatures of at least 4000 K can reproduce the observed HC3N
column density.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figure
- …