ATCA and Spitzer Observations of the Binary Protostellar Systems CG30 and BHR71

We present interferometric observations with resolution of ~3 arcsecs of the isolated, low-mass protostellar double cores CG30 and BHR71 in the N2$H+(1-0) line and at 3mm dust continuum, using the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The results are complemented by infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope. In CG30, the 3mm dust continuum images resolve two compact sources with a separation of ~21.7 arcsecs (~8700 AU). In BHR71, strong dust continuum emission is detected at the position of the mid-infrared source IRS1, while only weak emission is detected from the secondary mid-infrared source IRS2. Assuming optically thin 3mm dust continuum emission, we derive hydrogen gas masses of 0.05--2.1$M_\odot$for the four sub-cores. N2H+(1-0) line emission is detected in both CG30 and BHR71, and is spatially associated with the thermal dust continuum emission. We derive the velocity fields and find symmetric velocity gradients in both sources. Assuming that these gradients are due to core rotation, we estimate the specific angular momenta and ratios of rotational energy to gravitational energy for all cores. We also find that the N2H+ emission is strongly affected by the outflows, both in terms of entrainment and molecule destruction.$Spitzer$images show the mid-infrared emission from all four sub-cores. All four sources appear to drive their own outflows. Based on the ATCA and$Spitzer$ observations, we construct spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and derive temperatures and luminosities for all cores. Based on the morphology and velocity structure, we suggest that the sub-cores in CG30 were formed by initial fragmentation of a filamentary prestellar core, while those in BHR71 could originate from rotational fragmentation of a single collapsing protostellar core.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figures, to be published by ApJ in Sep. 200

A close view on the protoplanetary disk in the Bok globule CB26

We present new sub-arcsecond-resolution near-infrared polarimetric imaging and millimetre interferometry data on the circumstellar disk system in the Bok globule CB26. The data imply the presence of a M > 0.01 M_sun edge-on disk of >400 AU in diameter, being in Keplerian rotation around a young ~0.35 M_sun star. The mm dust emission from the inner 200 AU is highly optically thick, but the outer parts are optically thin and made of small dust grains. Planetesimal growth in the inner disk could neither be comfirmed nor excluded. The outer optically thin part of the disk is strongly warped. We argue that the CB 26 disk is a very young protoplanetary disk and show that it is comparable to the early solar system.Comment: Conference proceeding "Origins of stars and planets: The VLT view", ESO, Garching, April 24-27 200

Search for Binary Protostars

In an effort to shed more light on the formation process of binary stars, we have started a program to study multiplicity among nearby low- and intermediate-mass protostars using the OVRO Millimeter Array. Here, we describe the project and present the first results on the protostellar core in the Bok globule CB230 (L1177). At 10 arcsec resolution, the molecular core is resolved into two components separated by 5000 AU. The morphology and kinematics of the double core suggest that it formed from a single cloud core due to rotational fragmentation.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, ALMA conference proceeding

OVRO N2H+ Observations of Class 0 Protostars: Constraints on the Formation of Binary Stars

We present the results of an interferometric study of the N2H+(1--0) emission from nine nearby, isolated, low-mass protostellar cores, using the OVRO millimeter array. The main goal of this study is the kinematic characterization of the cores in terms of rotation, turbulence, and fragmentation. Eight of the nine objects have compact N2H+ cores with FWHM radii of 1200 -- 3500 AU, spatially coinciding with the thermal dust continuum emission. The only more evolved (Class I) object in the sample (CB 188) shows only faint and extended N2H+ emission. The mean N2H+ line width was found to be 0.37 km/s. Estimated virial masses range from 0.3 to 1.2 M_sun. We find that thermal and turbulent energy support are about equally important in these cores, while rotational support is negligible. The measured velocity gradients across the cores range from 6 to 24 km/s/pc. Assuming these gradients are produced by bulk rotation, we find that the specific angular momenta of the observed Class 0 protostellar cores are intermediate between those of dense (prestellar) molecular cloud cores and the orbital angular momenta of wide PMS binary systems. There appears to be no evolution (decrease) of angular momentum from the smallest prestellar cores via protostellar cores to wide PMS binary systems. In the context that most protostellar cores are assumed to fragment and form binary stars, this means that most of the angular momentum contained in the collapse region is transformed into orbital angular momentum of the resulting stellar binary systems.Comment: 35 pages, 9 figures (one in color), 6 tables. Accepted by ApJ (to appear in Nov. 2007

A young protoplanetary disk in the Bok globule CB26?

We present sub-arcsecond resolution millimeter-wave images of a circumstellar disk in the Bok globule CB26. The presence of an edge-on disk is confirmed by the dust continuum morphology and the velocity field of 13CO emission, which displays a Keplerian rotation pattern about an axis perpendicular to the long axis of the dust emission. We deduce a mass ~0.3 Msun for the obscured central star. The disk is optically thick at mm wavelengths inside 120 AU, has a symmetric 20 degree warp beyond 120 AU, an outer radius of ~200 AU, and a mass of at least 0.1 Msun. We suggest that the CB26 system is in an intermediate stage between deeply embedded protostellar accretion disks and the more evolved, perhaps protoplanetary, disks around T Tauri stars.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Accepted by ApJ Letter

Looking into the hearts of Bok globules: MM and submm continuum images of isolated star-forming cores

We present the results of a comprehensive infrared, submillimetre, and millimetre continuum emission study of isolated low-mass star-forming cores in 32 Bok globules, with the aim to investigate the process of star formation in these regions. The submillimetre and millimetre dust continuum emission maps together with the spectral energy distributions are used to model and derive the physical properties of the star-forming cores, such as luminosities, sizes, masses, densities, etc. Comparisons with ground-based near-infrared and space-based mid and far-infrared images from Spitzer are used to reveal the stellar content of the Bok globules, association of embedded young stellar objects with the submm dust cores, and the evolutionary stages of the individual sources. Submm dust continuum emission was detected in 26 out of the 32 globule cores observed. For 18 globules with detected (sub)mm cores we derive evolutionary stages and physical parameters of the embedded sources. We identify nine starless cores, most of which are presumably prestellar, nine Class 0 protostars, and twelve Class I YSOs. Specific source properties like bolometric temperature, core size, and central densities are discussed as function of evolutionary stage. We find that at least two thirds (16 out of 24) of the star-forming globules studied here show evidence of forming multiple stars on scales between 1,000 and 50,000 AU. However, we also find that most of these small prototstar and star groups are comprised of sources with different evolutionary stages, suggesting a picture of slow and sequential star formation in isolated globulesComment: 60 pages, 28 figures, accepted by The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Serie

High-Resolution NIR Observations of the Circumstellar Disk System in the Bok Globule CB 26

We report on results of near-infrared and optical observations of the mm disk embedded in the Bok globule CB 26 (Launhardt & Sargent 2001). The near-infrared images show a bipolar reflection nebula with a central extinction lane which coincides with the mm disk. Imaging polarimetry of this object yielded a polarization pattern which is typical for a young stellar object surrounded by a large circumstellar disk and an envelope, seen almost edge-on. The strong linear polarization in the bipolar lobes is caused by single scattering at dust grains and allowed to locate the illuminating source which coincides with the center of the mm disk. The spectral energy distribution of the YSO embedded in CB 26 resembles that of a ClassI source with a luminosity of 0.5 L_sun.Using the pre-main-sequence evolutionary tracks and the stellar mass inferred from the rotation curve of the disk, we derive an age of the system of <10^6 yr. H_alpha and [SII] narrow-band imaging as well as optical spectroscopy revealed an Herbig-Haro object 6.15 arcmin northwest of CB 26 YSO 1, perfectly aligned with the symmetry axis of the bipolar nebula. This Herbig-Haro object (HH 494) indicates ongoing accretion and outflow activity in CB 26 YSO 1. Its excitation characteristics indicate that the Herbig-Haro flow is propagating into a low-density environment. We suggest that CB 26 YSO 1 represents the transition stage between embedded protostellar accretion disks and more evolved protoplanetary disks around T Tauri stars in an undisturbed environment.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures (reduced resolution), ApJ accepte