10 research outputs found
Giant Molecular Outflows Powered by Protostars in L1448
We present sensitive, large-scale maps of the CO J=1-0 emission of the L1448
dark cloud. These maps were acquired using the On-The-Fly capability of the
NRAO 12-meter telescope. CO outflow activity is seen in L1448 on parsec-scales
for the first time. Careful comparison of the spatial and velocity distribution
of our high-velocity CO maps with previously published optical and
near-infrared images and spectra has led to the identification of six distinct
CO outflows. We show the direct link between the heretofore unknown, giant,
highly-collimated, protostellar molecular outflows and their previously
discovered, distant optical manifestations. The outflows traced by our CO
mapping generally reach the projected cloud boundaries. Integrated intensity
maps over narrow velocity intervals indicate there is significant overlap of
blue- and red-shifted gas, suggesting the outflows are highly inclined with
respect to the line-of-sight, although the individual outflow position angles
are significantly different. The velocity channel maps also show that the
outflows dominate the CO line cores as well as the high-velocity wings. The
magnitude of the combined flow momenta, as well as the combined kinetic energy
of the flows, are sufficient to disperse the 50 solar mass NH3 cores in which
the protostars are currently forming, although some question remains as to the
exact processes involved in redirecting the directionality of the outflow
momenta to effect the complete dispersal of the parent cloud.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, to be published in the Astronomical Journa
Infall models of Class 0 protostars
We have carried out radiative transfer calculations of infalling, dusty
envelopes surrounding embedded protostars to understand the observed properties
of the recently identified ``Class 0'' sources. To match the far-infrared peaks
in the spectral energy distributions of objects such as the prototype Class 0
source VLA 1623, pure collapse models require mass infall rates
\sim10^{-4}\msunyr. The radial intensity distributions predicted by
such infall models are inconsistent with observations of VLA 1623 at sub-mm
wavelengths, in agreement with the results of Andre et al. (1993) who found a
density profile of rather than the expected gradient. To resolve this conflict, while still invoking
infall to produce the outflow source at the center of VLA 1623, we suggest that
the observed sub-mm intensity distribution is the sum of two components: an
inner infall zone, plus an outer, more nearly constant-density region. This
explanation of the observations requires that roughly half the total mass
observed within 2000 AU radius of the source lies in a region external to the
infall zone. The column densities for this external region are comparable to
those found in the larger Oph A cloud within which VLA 1623 is embedded. The
extreme environments of Class 0 sources lead us to suggest an alternative or
additional interpretation of these objects: rather than simply concluding with
Andre et al. that Class 0 objects only represent the earliest phases of
protostellar collapse, and ultimately evolve into older ``Class I'' protostars,
we suggest that many Class 0 sources could be the protostars of very dense
regions. (Shortened)Comment: 22 pages, including 3 PostScript figures, accepted for publication in
The Astrophysical Journa
L1448 IRS2E: A candidate first hydrostatic core
Intermediate between the prestellar and Class 0 protostellar phases, the
first core is a quasi-equilibrium hydrostatic object with a short lifetime and
an extremely low luminosity. Recent MHD simulations suggest that the first core
can even drive a molecular outflow before the formation of the second core
(i.e., protostar). Using the Submillimeter Array and the Spitzer Space
Telescope, we present high angular resolution observations towards the embedded
dense core IRS2E in L1448. We find that source L1448 IRS2E is not visible in
the sensitive Spitzer infrared images (at wavelengths from 3.6 to 70 um), and
has weak (sub-)millimeter dust continuum emission. Consequently, this source
has an extremely low bolometric luminosity (< 0.1 L_sun). Infrared and
(sub-)millimeter observations clearly show an outflow emanating from this
source; L1448 IRS2E represents thus far the lowest luminosity source known to
be driving a molecular outflow. Comparisons with prestellar cores and Class 0
protostars suggest that L1448 IRS2E is more evolved than prestellar cores but
less evolved than Class 0 protostars, i.e., at a stage intermediate between
prestellar cores and Class 0 protostars. All these results are consistent with
the theoretical predictions of the radiative/magneto hydrodynamical
simulations, making L1448 IRS2E the most promising candidate of the first
hydrostatic core revealed so far.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, to be published by Ap
Structure and Colors of Diffuse Emission in the Spitzer Galactic First Look Survey
We investigate the density structure of the interstellar medium using new
high-resolution maps of the 8 micron, 24 micron, and 70 micron surface
brightness towards a molecular cloud in the Gum Nebula, made as part of the
Spitzer Space Telescope Galactic First Look Survey. The maps are correlated
with 100 micron images measured with IRAS. At 24 and 70 micron, the spatial
power spectrum of surface brightness follows a power law with spectral index
-3.5. At 24 micron, the power law behavior is remarkably consistent from the
0.2 degree size of our maps down to the 5 arcsecond spatial resolution. Thus,
the structure of the 24 micron emission is self-similar even at milliparsec
scales. The combined power spectrum produced from Spitzer 24 micron and IRAS 25
micron images is consistent with a change in the power law exponent from -2.6
to -3.5. The decrease may be due to the transition from a two-dimensional to
three-dimensional structure. Under this hypothesis, we estimate the thickness
of the emitting medium to be 0.3 pc.Comment: 13 Pages, 3 Figures, to be published in Astrophysical Journal
Supplement Series (Spitzer Special Issue), volume 154. Uses aastex v5.
SWIRE: The SIRTF Wide‐Area Infrared Extragalactic Survey
The SIRTF Wide-Area Infrared Extragalactic Survey (SWIRE), the largest SIRTF Legacy program, is a wide-area imaging survey to trace the evolution of dusty, star-forming galaxies, evolved stellar populations, and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) as a function of environment, from redshifts to the current z ∼ 3 epoch. SWIRE will survey seven high-latitude fields, totaling 60–65 deg2 in all seven SIRTF bands: Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) 3.6, 4.5, 5.6, and 8 mm and Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF (MIPS) 24, 70, and 160 mm. Extensive modeling suggests that the Legacy Extragalactic Catalog may contain in excess of 2 million IR-selected galaxies, dominated by (1) ∼150,000 luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs; LFIR 1 1011 L,) detected by MIPS (and significantly more detected by IRAC), ∼7000 of these with ; (2) 1 million IRAC- z 1 2 detected early-type galaxies (∼ with and ∼10,000 with ); and (3) ∼20,000 classical AGNs 5 2 # 10 z 1 1 z 1 2 detected with MIPS, plus significantly more dust-obscured quasi-stellar objects/AGNs among the LIRGs. SWIRE will provide an unprecedented view of the evolution of galaxies, structure, and AGNs.
The key scientific goals of SWIRE are (1) to determine the evolution of actively star forming and passively evolving galaxies in order to understand the history of galaxy formation in the context of cosmic structure formation; (2) to determine the evolution of the spatial distribution and clustering of evolved galaxies, starbursts, and AGNs in the key redshift range over which much of cosmic evolution has occurred; and (3) to 0.5 ! z ! 3 determine the evolutionary relationship between “normal galaxies” and AGNs and the contribution of AGN accretion energy versus stellar nucleosynthesis to the cosmic backgrounds. The large area of SWIRE is important to establish statistically significant population samples over enough volume cells that we can resolve the star formation history as a function of epoch and environment, i.e., in the context of structure formation. The large volume is also optimized for finding rare objects.
The SWIRE fields are likely to become the next generation of large “cosmic windows” into the extragalactic sky. They have been uniquely selected to minimize Galactic cirrus emission over large scales. The Galaxy Evolution Explorer will observe them as part of its deep 100 deg2 survey, as will Herschel. SWIRE includes ∼9 deg2 of the unique large-area XMM Large Scale Structure hard X-ray imaging survey and is partly covered by the UKIDSS deep J and K survey. An extensive optical/near-IR imaging program is underway from the ground. The SWIRE data are nonproprietary; catalogs and images will be released twice yearly, beginning about 11 months after SIRTF launch. Details of the data products and release schedule are presented
Models for Multiband IR Surveys
Empirical 'backward' galaxy evolution models for IR-bright galaxies are
constrained using multiband IR surveys. A new Monte-Carlo algorithm is
developed for this task. It exploits a large library of realistic Spectral
Energy Distributions (SEDs) of 837 local IR galaxies (IRAS 25 selected)
from the UV (1000{\AA}) to the radio (20cm), including ISO-measured 3--13 unidentified broad features (UIBs). The basic assumption is that the local
correlation between SEDs and Mid-Infrared (MIR) luminosities can be applied to
earlier epochs of the Universe. Three populations of IR sources are considered
in the evolution models. These include (1) starburst galaxies, (2) normal
late-type galaxies, and (3) galaxies with AGN. A set of models so constructed
are compared with data from the literature. Predictions for number counts,
confusion limits, redshift distributions, and color-color diagrams are made for
multiband surveys using the upcoming SIRTF satellite.Comment: 40 pages latex. 32 GIF figures. New Version (July 8, 2001) to be
accepted by ApJ. High quality figures (included in a PS file of the paper)
can be found in
http://spider.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/cxu/papers/paper_model_3.ps.g