2,410 research outputs found
The star formation process in the Magellanic Clouds
The Magellanic Clouds offer unique opportunities to study star formation both
on the global scales of an interacting system of gas-rich galaxies, as well as
on the scales of individual star-forming clouds. The interstellar media of the
Small and Large Magellanic Clouds and their connecting bridge, span a range in
(low) metallicities and gas density. This allows us to study star formation
near the critical density and gain an understanding of how tidal dwarfs might
form; the low metallicity of the SMC in particular is typical of galaxies
during the early phases of their assembly, and studies of star formation in the
SMC provide a stepping stone to understand star formation at high redshift
where these processes can not be directly observed. In this review, I introduce
the different environments encountered in the Magellanic System and compare
these with the Schmidt-Kennicutt law and the predicted efficiencies of various
chemo-physical processes. I then concentrate on three aspects that are of
particular importance: the chemistry of the embedded stages of star formation,
the Initial Mass Function, and feedback effects from massive stars and its
ability to trigger further star formation.Comment: 12pages, 5figures, invited review at the IAUS 256, The Magellanic
System: Stars, Gas, and Galaxies, eds. Jacco van Loon, Joana Oliveir
AMBER and CRIRES observations of the binary sgB[e] star HD 327083: evidence of a gaseous disc traced by CO bandhead emission
HD 327083 is a sgB[e] star that forms a binary system with an orbital
semi-major axis of ~1.7 AU. Our previous observations using the VLTI and AMBER
in the medium resolution K-band mode spatially resolved the environment of HD
327083. The continuum visibilities obtained indicate the presence of a
circumbinary disc. CO bandhead emission was also observed. However, due to the
limited spectral resolution of the previous observations, the kinematic
structure of the emitting material was not constrained. In this paper, we
address this and probe the source of the CO emission with high spectral
resolution and spatial precision. We have observed HD 327083 with high spectral
resolution (25 & 6 km/s) using AMBER and CRIRES. The observations are compared
to kinematical models to constrain the source of the emission. It is shown that
the CO bandhead emission can be reproduced using a model of a Keplerian disc
with an inclination and size consistent with our previous VLTI observations.
The model is compared to AMBER differential phase measurements, which have a
precision as high as 30-micro-arcseconds. A differential phase signal
corresponding to 0.15 milli-arcseconds (~5 sigma) is seen over the bandhead
emission, which is in excellent agreement with the model that fits the CRIRES
observations. In comparison, a model of an equatorial outflow, as envisaged in
the standard sgB[e] scenario, does not reproduce the observations well. The
excellent agreement between the disc model and observations in the spatial and
spectral domains is compelling evidence that the CO bandhead emission of HD
327083 originates in a circumbinary Keplerian disc. In contrast, the model of
an equatorial outflow cannot reproduce the observations well. This suggests
that the standard sgB[e] scenario is not applicable to HD 327083, which
supports the hypothesis that the B[e] behaviour of HD 327083 is due to binarity
(ABRIDGED).Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Embedded AGN and star formation in the central 80 pc of IC 3639
[Abridged] Methods: We use interferometric observations in the -band with
VLTI/MIDI to resolve the mid-IR nucleus of IC 3639. The origin of the nuclear
infrared emission is determined from: 1) the comparison of the correlated
fluxes from VLTI/MIDI with the fluxes measured at subarcsec resolution
(VLT/VISIR, VLT/ISAAC); 2) diagnostics based on IR fine-structure line ratios,
the IR continuum emission, IR bands produced by polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH) and silicates; and 3) the high-angular resolution spectral
energy distribution. Results: The unresolved flux of IC 3639 is at , measured with three different baselines in
VLTI (UT1-UT2, UT3-UT4, and UT2-UT3; -), making this the
faintest measurement so far achieved with mid-IR interferometry. The correlated
flux is a factor of - times fainter than the VLT/VISIR total flux
measurement. The observations suggest that most of the mid-IR emission has its
origin on spatial scales between and (-). A composite scenario where the star formation component dominates
over the AGN is favoured by the diagnostics based on ratios of IR
fine-structure emission lines, the shape of the IR continuum, and the PAH and
silicate bands. Conclusions: A composite AGN-starburst scenario is able to
explain both the mid-IR brightness distribution and the IR spectral properties
observed in the nucleus of IC 3639. The nuclear starburst would dominate the
mid-IR emission and the ionisation of low-excitation lines (e.g. [NeII]) with a net contribution of . The AGN accounts for the
remaining of the mid-IR flux, ascribed to the unresolved component
in the MIDI observations, and the ionisation of high-excitation lines (e.g.
[NeV] and [OIV]).Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
On the Formation of Multiple-Shells Around Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
Two types of models for the formation of semi-periodic concentric multiple
shells (M-shells) around asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and in planetary
nebulae are compared against observations. Models that attribute the M-shells
to processes in an extended wind acceleration zone around AGB stars result in
an optically thick acceleration zone, which reduces the acceleration efficiency
in outer parts of the extended acceleration zone. This makes such models an
unlikely explanation for the formation of M-shells. Models which attribute the
M-shell to semi-periodic variation in one or more stellar properties are most
compatible with observations. The only stellar variation models on time scales
of 50-1500 years that have been suggested are based on an assumed solar-like
magnetic cycle. Although ad-hoc, the magnetic cycle assumption fits naturally
into the increasingly popular view that magnetic activity plays a role in
shaping the wind from upper AGB stars.Comment: 8 pages, Submitted to Ap
On the changes in the physical properties of the ionized region around the Weigelt structures in Eta Carinae over the 5.54-yr spectroscopic cycle
We present HST/STIS observations and analysis of two prominent nebular
structures around the central source of Eta Carinae, the knots C and D. The
former is brighter than the latter for emission lines from intermediate or high
ionization potential ions. The brightness of lines from intermediate and high
ionization potential ions significantly decreases at phases around periastron.
We do not see conspicuous changes in the brightness of lines from low
ionization potential (<13.6 eV) that the total extinction towards the Weigelt
structures is that the total extinction towards the Weigelt structures is AsubV
=2/0. that the total extinction towards the Weigelt structures is AV = 2.0.
Weigelt C and D are characterized by an electron density of that the total
extinction towards the Weigelt structures is AV = 2.0. Weigelt C and D are
characterized by an electron density of 10exp6.9 cm-3 that does not
significantly change throughout the orbital cycle. The electron temperature
varies from 5500 K (around periastron) to 7200 K (around apastron). The
relative changes in the brightness of He I lines are well reproduced by the
variations in the electron temperature alone. We found that, at phases around
periastron, the electron temperature seems to be higher for Weigelt C than that
of D. The Weigelt structures are located close to the Homunculus equatorial
plane, at a distance of about 1240 AU from the central source. From the
analysis of proper motion and age, the Weigelt complex can be associated with
the equatorial structure called the Butterfly Nebula surrounding the central
binary system.Comment: 19 pages, 18 figure
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