19 research outputs found
Circular polarization of circumstellar water masers around S Per
Wetensch. publicatieFaculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappe
Magnetic field measurements at milliarcsecond resolution around massive young stellar objects
Magnetic fields have only recently been included in theoretical simulations
of high-mass star formation. The simulations show that magnetic fields can play
a crucial role not only in the formation and dynamics of molecular outflows,
but also in the evolution of circumstellar disks. Therefore, new measurements
of magnetic fields at milliarcsecond resolution close to massive young stellar
objects (YSOs) are fundamental for providing new input for numerical
simulations and for understanding the formation process of massive stars. The
polarized emission of 6.7 GHz CH3OH masers allows us to investigate the
magnetic field close to the massive YSO where the outflows and disks are
formed. Recently, we have detected with the EVN CH3OH maser polarized emission
towards 10 massive YSOs. From a first statistical analysis we have found
evidence that magnetic fields are primarily oriented along the molecular
outflows. To improve our statistics we are carrying on a large observational
EVN campaign for a total of 19 sources, the preliminary results of the first
seven sources are presented in this contribution. Furthermore, we also describe
our efforts to estimate the Lande' g-factors of the CH3OH maser transition to
determine the magnetic field strength from our Zeeman-splitting measurements.Comment: Accepted for publication in the proceeding of the "12th European VLBI
Network Symposium and Users Meeting", eds Tarchi et al. PoS(EVN 2014)04
The magnetic field in the star-forming region Cepheus A. from H_2O maser polarization observations
Wetensch. publicatieFaculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappe
ALMA Observations of the Water Fountain Pre-Planetary Nebula IRAS 16342-3814: High-velocity bipolar jets and an Expanding Torus
R. Sahai, W.H.T. Vlemmings, T. Gledhill, C. Sanchez Contreras, E. Lagadec, L-A Nyman, and G. Quintana-Lacaci, âALMA Observations of the Water Fountain Pre-planetary Nebula IRAS 16342-3814: High-velocity Bipolar Jets and an Expanding Torusâ, The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol 835: L13 (6 pp), published 20 January 2017. The version of record is available online via doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/835/1/L13 © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.We have mapped 12CO J=3â2 and other molecular lines from the âwater fountainâ bipolar pre-planetary nebula (PPN) IRAS 16342-3814 with âŒ0.35âł resolution using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We find (i) two very high-speed knotty, jet-like molecular outflows; (ii) a central high-density (>few x106 cmâ3), expanding torus of diameter 1300 au; and (iii) the circumstellar envelope of the progenitor AGB, generated by a sudden, very large increase in the mass-loss rate to >3.5 x10-4 Ms yrâ1 in the past âŒ455 years. Strong continuum emission at 0.89 mm from a central source (690 mJy), if due to thermally emitting dust, implies a substantial mass (0.017 Ms) of very large (âŒmillimeter-sized) grains. The measured expansion ages of the above structural components imply that the torus (ageâŒ160 years) and the younger high-velocity outflow (ageâŒ110 years) were formed soon after the sharp increase in the AGB mass-loss rate. Assuming a binary model for the jets in IRAS 16342, the high momentum rate for the dominant jet-outflow in IRAS 16342 implies a high minimum accretion rate, ruling out standard BondiâHoyleâLyttleton wind accretion and wind Roche-lobe overflow (RLOF) models with white-dwarf or main-sequence companions. Most likely, enhanced RLOF from the primary or accretion modes operating within common-envelope evolution are needed.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio
Sheared Flow As A Stabilizing Mechanism In Astrophysical Jets
It has been hypothesized that the sustained narrowness observed in the
asymptotic cylindrical region of bipolar outflows from Young Stellar Objects
(YSO) indicates that these jets are magnetically collimated. The j cross B
force observed in z-pinch plasmas is a possible explanation for these
observations. However, z-pinch plasmas are subject to current driven
instabilities (CDI). The interest in using z-pinches for controlled nuclear
fusion has lead to an extensive theory of the stability of magnetically
confined plasmas. Analytical, numerical, and experimental evidence from this
field suggest that sheared flow in magnetized plasmas can reduce the growth
rates of the sausage and kink instabilities. Here we propose the hypothesis
that sheared helical flow can exert a similar stabilizing influence on CDI in
YSO jets.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure
Young and Intermediate-age Distance Indicators
Distance measurements beyond geometrical and semi-geometrical methods, rely
mainly on standard candles. As the name suggests, these objects have known
luminosities by virtue of their intrinsic proprieties and play a major role in
our understanding of modern cosmology. The main caveats associated with
standard candles are their absolute calibration, contamination of the sample
from other sources and systematic uncertainties. The absolute calibration
mainly depends on their chemical composition and age. To understand the impact
of these effects on the distance scale, it is essential to develop methods
based on different sample of standard candles. Here we review the fundamental
properties of young and intermediate-age distance indicators such as Cepheids,
Mira variables and Red Clump stars and the recent developments in their
application as distance indicators.Comment: Review article, 63 pages (28 figures), Accepted for publication in
Space Science Reviews (Chapter 3 of a special collection resulting from the
May 2016 ISSI-BJ workshop on Astronomical Distance Determination in the Space
Age
Theory of magnetically powered jets
The magnetic theory for the production of jets by accreting objects is
reviewed with emphasis on outstanding problem areas. An effort is made to show
the connections behind the occasionally diverging nomenclature in the
literature, to contrast the different points of view about basic mechanisms,
and to highlight concepts for interpreting the results of numerical
simulations. The role of dissipation of magnetic energy in accelerating the
flow is discussed, and its importance for explaining high Lorentz factors. The
collimation of jets to the observed narrow angles is discussed, including a
critical discussion of the role of `hoop stress'. The transition between disk
and outflow is one of the least understood parts of the magnetic theory; its
role in setting the mass flux in the wind, in possible modulations of the mass
flux, and the uncertainties in treating it realistically are discussed. Current
views on most of these problems are still strongly influenced by the
restriction to 2 dimensions (axisymmetry) in previous analytical and numerical
work; 3-D effects likely to be important are suggested. An interesting problem
area is the nature and origin of the strong, preferably highly ordered magnetic
fields known to work best for jet production. The observational evidence for
such fields and their behavior in numerical simulations is discussed. I argue
that the presence or absence of such fields may well be the `second parameter'
governing not only the presence of jets but also the X-ray spectra and timing
behavior of X-ray binaries.Comment: 29 pages. Publication delays offered the opportunity for further
corrections, an expansion of sect 4.2, and one more Fig. To appear in
Belloni, T. (ed.): The Jet Paradigm - From Microquasars to Quasars, Lect.
Notes Phys. 794 (2009