Do we need to know the temperature in prestellar cores?

Molecular line observations of starless (prestellar) cores combined with a chemical evolution modeling and radiative transfer calculations are a powerful tool to study the earliest stages of star formation. However, conclusions drawn from such a modeling may noticeably depend on the assumed thermal structure of the cores. The assumption of isothermality, which may work well in chemo-dynamical studies, becomes a critical factor in molecular line formation simulations. We argue that even small temperature variations, which are likely to exist in starless cores, can have a non-negligible effect on the interpretation of molecular line data and derived core properties. In particular, ``chemically pristine'' isothermal cores (low depletion) can have centrally peaked C$^{18}$O and C$^{34}$S radial intensity profiles, while having ring-like intensity distributions in models with a colder center and/or warmer envelope assuming the same underlying chemical structure. Therefore, derived molecular abundances based on oversimplified thermal models may lead to a mis-interpretation of the line data.Comment: ApJL, accepte

Turbulent convection in protoplanetary discs and its role in angular momentum transfer

We present a model for the transport of anisotropic turbulence in an accretion disc. The model uses the Reynolds stress tensor approach in the mean field approximation. To study the role of convection in a protoplanetary disc, we combine the turbulence model with a radiative transfer calculation, and also include convection using the mixing length approximation. We find that the turbulence generated by convection causes the angular momentum of the accretion disc to be directed outwards. We also confirm the conclusions of other authors that turbulent convection is unable to provide the observed disc accretion rates as well as a heat source sufficient for the convection to be self-sustaining. The reasons for the latter are the strong anisotropy of the turbulence together with the low efficiency of the energy transfer from the background velocity shear to the turbulent stress tensor.Comment: MNRAS accepted | 15 pages, 8 figure

Simulation of Thermal Surface Waves in a Protoplanetary Disk in a Two-Dimensional Approximation

Theoretical models predict that the obscuration of stellar radiation by irregularities on the surface of a protoplanetary disk can cause self-generating waves traveling towards the star. However, this process is traditionally simulated using the 1+1D approach, the key approximations of which - vertical hydrostatic equilibrium of the disk and vertical diffusion of IR radiation - can distort the picture. This article presents a two-dimensional radiative hydrodynamic model of the evolution of an axially symmetric gas and dust disk. Within this model, but using simplified assumptions from 1+1D models, we have reproduced the spontaneous generation and propagation of thermal surface waves. The key conclusion of our work is that taking into account two-dimensional hydrodynamics and diffusion of IR radiation suppresses the spontaneous generation and development of thermal waves observed in the 1+1D approximation. The search for the possibility of the existence of surface thermal waves should be continued by studying the problem for various parameters of protoplanetary disks.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy Reports (2022

Modeling of Protostellar Clouds and their Observational Properties

A physical model and two-dimensional numerical method for computing the evolution and spectra of protostellar clouds are described. The physical model is based on a system of magneto-gasdynamical equations, including ohmic and ambipolar diffusion, and a scheme for calculating the thermal and ionization structure of a cloud. The dust and gas temperatures are determined during the calculations of the thermal structure of the cloud. The results of computing the dynamical and thermal structure of the cloud are used to model the radiative transfer in continuum and in molecular lines. We presented the results for clouds in hydrostatic and thermal equilibrium. The evolution of a rotating magnetic protostellar cloud starting from a quasi-static state is also considered. Spectral maps for optically thick lines of linear molecules are analyzed. We have shown that the influence of the magnetic field and rotation can lead to a redistribution of angular momentum in the cloud and the formation of a characteristic rotational velocity structure. As a result, the distribution of the velocity centroid of the molecular lines can acquire an hourglass shape. We plan to use the developed program package together with a model for the chemical evolution to interpret and model observed starless and protostellar cores.Comment: Accepted to Astronomy Report