612 research outputs found
Lack of PAH emission toward low-mass embedded young stellar objects
PAHs have been detected toward molecular clouds and some young stars with
disks, but have not yet been associated with embedded young stars. We present a
sensitive mid-IR spectroscopic survey of PAH features toward a sample of
low-mass embedded YSOs. The aim is to put constraints on the PAH abundance in
the embedded phase of star formation using radiative transfer modeling.
VLT-ISAAC L-band spectra for 39 sources and Spitzer IRS spectra for 53
sources are presented. Line intensities are compared to recent surveys of
Herbig Ae/Be and T Tauri stars. The radiative transfer codes RADMC and RADICAL
are used to model the PAH emission from embedded YSOs consisting of a PMS star
with a circumstellar disk embedded in an envelope. The dependence of the PAH
feature on PAH abundance, stellar radiation field, inclination and the
extinction by the surrounding envelope is studied.
The 3.3 micron PAH feature is undetected for the majority of the sample
(97%), with typical upper limits of 5E-16 W/m^2. Compact 11.2 micron PAH
emission is seen directly towards 1 out of the 53 Spitzer Short-High spectra,
for a source that is borderline embedded. For all 12 sources with both VLT and
Spitzer spectra, no PAH features are detected in either. In total, PAH features
are detected toward at most 1 out of 63 (candidate) embedded protostars (<~
2%), even lower than observed for class II T Tauri stars with disks (11-14%).
Assuming typical class I stellar and envelope parameters, the absence of PAHs
emission is most likely explained by the absence of emitting carriers through a
PAH abundance at least an order of magnitude lower than in molecular clouds but
similar to that found in disks. Thus, most PAHs likely enter the protoplanetary
disks frozen out in icy layers on dust grains and/or in coagulated form.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in A&
A New Raytracer for Modeling AU-Scale Imaging of Lines from Protoplanetary Disks
The material that formed the present-day solar system originated in feeding zones in the inner solar nebula located at distances within ~20 AU from the Sun, known as the planet-forming zone. Meteoritic and cometary material contain abundant evidence for the presence of a rich and active chemistry in the planet-forming zone during the gas-rich phase of solar system formation. It is a natural conjecture that analogs can be found among the zoo of protoplanetary disks around nearby young stars. The study of the chemistry and dynamics of planet formation requires: (1) tracers of dense gas at 100-1000 K and (2) imaging capabilities of such tracers with 5-100 mas (0.5-20 AU) resolution, corresponding to the planet-forming zone at the distance of the closest star-forming regions. Recognizing that the rich infrared (2-200 μm) molecular spectrum recently discovered to be common in protoplanetary disks represents such a tracer, we present a new general ray-tracing code, RADLite, that is optimized for producing infrared line spectra and images from axisymmetric structures. RADLite can consistently deal with a wide range of velocity gradients, such as those typical for the inner regions of protoplanetary disks. The code is intended as a back-end for chemical and excitation codes, and can rapidly produce spectra of thousands of lines for grids of models for comparison with observations. Such radiative transfer tools will be crucial for constraining both the structure and chemistry of planet-forming regions, including data from current infrared imaging spectrometers and extending to the Atacama Large Millimeter Array and the next generation of Extremely Large Telescopes, the James Webb Space Telescope and beyond
Adaptation to altered interaural time differences in a virtual reality environment
Interaural time differences (ITDs) are important cues for determining the azimuth location of a sound source and need to be accurately reproduced, in a virtual reality (VR) environment, to achieve a realistic sense of sound location for the listener. ITDs are usually included in head related transfer functions (HRTFs) used for audio rendering, and can be individualised to match the user’s head size (e.g. longer ITDs are needed for larger head sizes). In recent years, studies have shown that it is possible to train subjects to adapt and improve their performance in sound localisation skills to non-individualized HRTFs. The analysis of such improvements has focused mainly on adaptation to monoaural spectral cues rather than binaural cues such as ITDs. In this work listeners are placed in a VR environment and are asked to localise the source of a noise burst in the horizontal plane. Using a generic non-individualized HRTF with its ITD modified to match the head size of each participant, test and training phases are alternated, with the latter providing continuous auditory feedback. The experiment is then repeated with ITDs simulating larger (150%) and smaller (50%) head sizes. Comparing localisation accuracy before and after training, it is observed that while training seems to improve sound localisation performance, this varies according to the simulated head size and target location
Modeling Spitzer observations of VV Ser. I. The circumstellar disk of a UX Orionis star
We present mid-infrared Spitzer-IRS spectra of the well-known UX Orionis star
VV Ser. We combine the Spitzer data with interferometric and spectroscopic data
from the literature covering UV to submillimeter wavelengths. The full set of
data are modeled by a two-dimensional axisymmetric Monte Carlo radiative
transfer code. The model is used to test the prediction of (Dullemond et al.
2003) that disks around UX Orionis stars must have a self-shadowed shape, and
that these disks are seen nearly edge-on, looking just over the edge of a
puffed-up inner rim, formed roughly at the dust sublimation radius. We find
that a single, relatively simple model is consistent with all the available
observational constraints spanning 4 orders of magnitude in wavelength and
spatial scales, providing strong support for this interpretation of UX Orionis
stars. The grains in the upper layers of the puffed-up inner rim must be small
(0.01-0.4 micron) to reproduce the colors (R_V ~ 3.6) of the extinction events,
while the shape and strength of the mid-infrared silicate emission features
indicate that grains in the outer disk (> 1-2 AU) are somewhat larger (0.3-3.0
micron). From the model fit, the location of the puffed-up inner rim is
estimated to be at a dust temperature of 1500 K or at 0.7-0.8 AU for small
grains. This is almost twice the rim radius estimated from near-infrared
interferometry. A best fitting model for the inner rim in which large grains in
the disk mid-plane reach to within 0.25 AU of the star, while small grains in
the disk surface create a puffed-up inner rim at ~0.7-0.8 AU, is able to
reproduce all the data, including the near-infrared visibilities. [Abstract
abridged]Comment: 12 pages, accepted for publication in Ap
Testing particle trapping in transition disks with ALMA
We present new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) continuum
observations at 336GHz of two transition disks, SR21 and HD135344B. In
combination with previous ALMA observations from Cycle 0 at 689GHz, we compare
the visibility profiles at the two frequencies and calculate the spectral index
(). The observations of SR21 show a clear shift in the
visibility nulls, indicating radial variations of the inner edge of the cavity
at the two wavelengths. Notable radial variations of the spectral index are
also detected for SR21 with values of in the
inner region ( AU) and outside. An
axisymmetric ring (which we call the ring model) or a ring with the addition of
an azimuthal Gaussian profile, for mimicking a vortex structure (which we call
the vortex model), is assumed for fitting the disk morphology. For SR21, the
ring model better fits the emission at 336GHz, conversely the vortex model
better fits the 689GHz emission. For HD135344B, neither a significant shift in
the null of the visibilities nor radial variations of are
detected. Furthermore, for HD135344B, the vortex model fits both frequencies
better than the ring model. However, the azimuthal extent of the vortex
increases with wavelength, contrary to model predictions for particle trapping
by anticyclonic vortices. For both disks, the azimuthal variations of
remain uncertain to confirm azimuthal trapping. The
comparison of the current data with a generic model of dust evolution that
includes planet-disk interaction suggests that particles in the outer disk of
SR21 have grown to millimetre sizes and have accumulated in a radial pressure
bump, whereas with the current resolution there is not clear evidence of radial
trapping in HD135344B, although it cannot be excluded either.Comment: Minor changes after language edition. Accepted for publication in A&A
(abstract slightly shortened for arXiv
Emission from Water Vapor and Absorption from Other Gases at 5-7.5 Microns in Spitzer-IRS Spectra of Protoplanetary Disks
We present spectra of 13 T Tauri stars in the Taurus-Auriga star-forming
region showing emission in Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Spectrograph (IRS)
5-7.5 micron spectra from water vapor and absorption from other gases in these
stars' protoplanetary disks. Seven stars' spectra show an emission feature at
6.6 microns due to the nu_2 = 1-0 bending mode of water vapor, with the shape
of the spectrum suggesting water vapor temperatures > 500 K, though some of
these spectra also show indications of an absorption band, likely from another
molecule. This water vapor emission contrasts with the absorption from warm
water vapor seen in the spectrum of the FU Orionis star V1057 Cyg. The other
six of the thirteen stars have spectra showing a strong absorption band,
peaking in strength at 5.6-5.7 microns, which for some is consistent with
gaseous formaldehyde (H2CO) and for others is consistent with gaseous formic
acid (HCOOH). There are indications that some of these six stars may also have
weak water vapor emission. Modeling of these stars' spectra suggests these
gases are present in the inner few AU of their host disks, consistent with
recent studies of infrared spectra showing gas in protoplanetary disks.Comment: 33 pages, 9 figures, to appear in the 20 August, 2014, V791 - 2 issue
of the Astrophysical Journa
Projection of circumstellar disks on their environments
We use a 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code to study the projection of
large shadows by circumstellar disks around young stellar objects on
surrounding reflection nebulosity. It is shown that for a wide range of
parameters a small (10-100 AU) circumstellar disk can project a large (1 000-10
000 AU) dark band in the near-infrared that often resembles a massive edge-on
disk. The disk shadows are divided into two basic types, depending on the
distribution of the reflecting material and the resulting morphology of the
shadows in the near-infrared. Two YSOs associated with bipolar nebulosity, CK
3/EC 82 illuminating the Serpens Reflection Nebula (SRN) and Ced 110 IRS 4 in
the Chamaeleon I molecular cloud, are modelled in detail as disk shadows.
Spectral energy distributions of the two sources are collected using both
archival ISO data and new Spitzer-IRS data. An axisymmetric model consisting of
a small disk and a spherically symmetric envelope can reproduce the
near-infrared images and full spectral energy distributions of the two disk
shadow candidates. It is shown that the model fits can be used to constrain the
geometry of the central disks due to the magnifying effect of the projection.
We find that a disk unresolved in near-infrared images, but casting a large
disk shadow, can be modelled at a level of sophistication approaching that of
an edge-on disk with resolved near-infrared images. It is found that the most
obvious observable difference between a disk shadow and a large optically thick
disk is that the disk shadows have a compact near-infrared source near the
center of the dark band. High resolution imaging and/or polarimetry should
reveal the compact source in the center of a disk shadow as an edge-on disk.
[Abstract abridged]Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
LkH 330: Evidence for dust clearing through resolved submillimeter imaging
Mid-infrared spectrophotometric observations have revealed a small sub-class
of circumstellar disks with spectral energy distributions (SEDs) suggestive of
large inner gaps with low dust content. However, such data provide only an
indirect and model dependent method of finding central holes. We present here
the direct characterization of a 40 AU radius inner gap in the disk around LkHa
330 through 340 GHz (880 micron) dust continuum imaging with the Submillimeter
Array (SMA). This large gap is fully resolved by the SMA observations and
mostly empty of dust with less than 1.3 x 10^-6 M_solar of solid particles
inside of 40 AU. Gas (as traced by accretion markers and CO M-band emission) is
still present in the inner disk and the outer edge of the gap rises steeply --
features in better agreement with the underlying cause being gravitational
perturbation than a more gradual process such as grain growth. Importantly, the
good agreement of the spatially resolved data and spectrophometry-based model
lends confidence to current interpretations of SEDs with significant dust
emission deficits as arising from disks with inner gaps or holes. Further
SED-based searches can therefore be expected to yield numerous additional
candidates that can be examined at high spatial resolution.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, accepted to ApJ
Protostellar holes: Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the protostellar binary IRAS16293-2422
Mid-infrared (23-35 micron) emission from the deeply embedded "Class 0"
protostar IRAS16293-2422 is detected with the Spitzer Space Telescope infrared
spectrograph. A detailed radiative transfer model reproducing the full spectral
energy distribution (SED) from 23 micron to 1.3 mm requires a large inner
cavity of radius 600 AU in the envelope to avoid quenching the emission from
the central sources. This is consistent with a previous suggestion based on
high angular resolution millimeter interferometric data. An alternative
interpretation using a 2D model of the envelope with an outflow cavity can
reproduce the SED but not the interferometer visibilities. The cavity size is
comparable to the centrifugal radius of the envelope and therefore appears to
be a natural consequence of the rotation of the protostellar core, which has
also caused the fragmentation leading to the central protostellar binary. With
a large cavity such as required by the data, the average temperature at a given
radius does not increase above 60-80 K and although hot spots with higher
temperatures may be present close to each protostar, these constitute a small
fraction of the material in the inner envelope. The proposed cavity will also
have consequences for the interpretation of molecular line data, especially of
complex species probing high temperatures in the inner regions of the envelope.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
Evolution of dust and ice features around FU Orionis objects
(abridged) We present spectroscopy data for a sample of 14 FUors and 2 TTauri
stars observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope or with the Infrared Space
Observatory (ISO). Based on the appearance of the 10 micron silicate feature we
define 2 categories of FUors. Objects showing the silicate feature in
absorption (Category 1) are still embedded in a dusty and icy envelope. The
shape of the 10 micron silicate absorption bands is compared to typical dust
compositions of the interstellar medium and found to be in general agreement.
Only one object (RNO 1B) appears to be too rich in amorphous pyroxene dust, but
a superposed emission feature can explain the observed shape. We derive optical
depths and extinction values from the silicate band and additional ice bands at
6.0, 6.8 and 15.2 micron. In particular the analysis of the CO_2 ice band at
15.2 micron allows us to search for evidence for ice processing and constrains
whether the absorbing material is physically linked to the central object or in
the foreground. For objects showing the silicate feature in emission (Category
2), we argue that the emission comes from the surface layer of accretion disks.
Analyzing the dust composition reveals that significant grain growth has
already taken place within the accretion disks, but no clear indications for
crystallization are present. We discuss how these observational results can be
explained in the picture of a young, and highly active accretion disk. Finally,
a framework is proposed as to how the two categories of FUors can be understood
in a general paradigm of the evolution of young, low-mass stars. Only one
object (Parsamian 21) shows PAH emission features. Their shapes, however, are
often seen toward evolved stars and we question the object's status as a FUor
and discuss other possible classifications.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ; 63 pages preprint style including 8
tables and 24 figure
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