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Evolutionary Signatures In The Formation Of Low-Mass Protostars. II. Toward Reconciling Models And Observations
A long-standing problem in low-mass star formation is the "luminosity problem," whereby protostars are underluminous compared to the accretion luminosity expected both from theoretical collapse calculations and arguments based on the minimum accretion rate necessary to form a star within the embedded phase duration. Motivated by this luminosity problem, we present a set of evolutionary models describing the collapse of low-mass, dense cores into protostars. We use as our starting point the evolutionary model following the inside-out collapse of a singular isothermal sphere as presented by Young & Evans. We calculate the radiative transfer of the collapsing core throughout the full duration of the collapse in two dimensions. From the resulting spectral energy distributions, we calculate standard observational signatures (L(bol), T(bol), L(bol)/L(smm)) to directly compare to observations. We incorporate several modifications and additions to the original Young & Evans model in an effort to better match observations with model predictions; we include (1) the opacity from scattering in the radiative transfer, (2) a circumstellar disk directly in the two-dimensional radiative transfer, (3) a two-dimensional envelope structure, taking into account the effects of rotation, (4) mass-loss and the opening of outflow cavities, and (5) a simple treatment of episodic mass accretion. We find that scattering, two-dimensional geometry, mass-loss, and outflow cavities all affect the model predictions, as expected, but none resolve the luminosity problem. On the other hand, we find that a cycle of episodic mass accretion similar to that predicted by recent theoretical work can resolve this problem and bring the model predictions into better agreement with observations. Standard assumptions about the interplay between mass accretion and mass loss in our model give star formation efficiencies consistent with recent observations that compare the core mass function and stellar initial mass function. Finally, the combination of outflow cavities and episodic mass accretion reduces the connection between observational class and physical stage to the point where neither of the two commonly used observational signatures (T(bol) and L(bol)/L(smm)) can be considered reliable indicators of physical stage.NASA 1224608, 1288664, 1288658, RSA 1377304, NNX 07-AJ72GNSF AST0607793UT Austin University Continuing FellowshipAstronom
A "Starless" Core that Isn't: Detection of a Source in the L1014 Dense Core with the Spitzer Space Telescope
We present observations of L1014, a dense core in the Cygnus region previously thought to be starless, but data from the Spitzer Space Telescope show the presence of an embedded source. We propose a model for this source that includes a cold core, heated by the interstellar radiation field, and a low-luminosity internal source. The low luminosity of the internal source suggests a substellar object. If L1014 is representative, other "starless" cores may turn out to harbor central sources
7-Li(p,n) Nuclear Data Library for Incident Proton Energies to 150 MeV
We describe evaluation methods that make use of experimental data, and
nuclear model calculations, to develop an ENDF-formatted data library for the
reaction p + Li7 for incident protons with energies up to 150 MeV. The
important 7-Li(p,n_0) and 7-Li(p,n_1) reactions are evaluated from the
experimental data, with their angular distributions represented using Lengendre
polynomial expansions. The decay of the remaining reaction flux is estimated
from GNASH nuclear model calculations. The evaluated ENDF-data are described in
detail, and illustrated in numerous figures. We also illustrate the use of
these data in a representative application by a radiation transport simulation
with the code MCNPX.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, LaTeX, submitted to Proc. 2000 ANS/ENS
International Meeting, Nuclear Applications of Accelerator Technology
(AccApp00), November 12-16, Washington, DC, US
The Spitzer c2d Survey of Nearby Dense Cores: VI. The Protostars of Lynds Dark Nebula 1221
Observations of Lynds Dark Nebula 1221 from the Spitzer Space Telescope are
presented. These data show three candidate protostars towards L1221, only two
of which were previously known. The infrared observations also show signatures
of outflowing material, an interpretation which is also supported by radio
observations with the Very Large Array. In addition, molecular line maps from
the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory are shown.
One-dimensional dust continuum modelling of two of these protostars, IRS1 and
IRS3, is described. These models show two distinctly different protostars
forming in very similar environments. IRS1 shows a higher luminosity and larger
inner radius of the envelope than IRS3. The disparity could be caused by a
difference in age or mass, orientation of outflow cavities, or the impact of a
binary in the IRS1 core.Comment: accepted for publication in Ap
SCUBA Mapping of Spitzer c2d Small Clouds and Cores
We present submillimeter observations of dark clouds that are part of the
Spitzer Legacy Program, From Molecular Cores to Planet-Forming Disks (c2d). We
used the Submillimetre Common User's Bolometer Array to map the regions
observed by Spitzer by the c2d program to create a census of dense molecular
cores including data from the infrared to the submillimeter. In this paper, we
present the basic data from these observations: maps, fluxes, and source
attributes. We also show data for an object just outside the Perseus cloud that
was serendipitously observed in our program. We propose that this object is a
newly discovered, evolved protostar.Comment: 37 pages, accepted to The Astronomical Journa
From Molecular Cores to Planet-forming Disks: An SIRTF Legacy Program
Crucial steps in the formation of stars and planets can be studied only at midâ to farâinfrared wavelengths, where the Space Infrared Telescope (SIRTF) provides an unprecedented improvement in sensitivity. We will use all three SIRTF instruments (Infrared Array Camera [IRAC], Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF [MIPS], and Infrared Spectrograph [IRS]) to observe sources that span the evolutionary sequence from molecular cores to protoplanetary disks, encompassing a wide range of cloud masses, stellar masses, and starâforming environments. In addition to targeting about 150 known compact cores, we will survey with IRAC and MIPS (3.6â70 ÎŒm) the entire areas of five of the nearest large molecular clouds for new candidate protostars and substellar objects as faint as 0.001 solar luminosities. We will also observe with IRAC and MIPS about 190 systems likely to be in the early stages of planetary system formation (ages up to about 10 Myr), probing the evolution of the circumstellar dust, the raw material for planetary cores. Candidate planetâforming disks as small as 0.1 lunar masses will be detectable. Spectroscopy with IRS of new objects found in the surveys and of a select group of known objects will add vital information on the changing chemical and physical conditions in the disks and envelopes. The resulting data products will include catalogs of thousands of previously unknown sources, multiwavelength maps of about 20 deg^2 of molecular clouds, photometry of about 190 known young stars, spectra of at least 170 sources, ancillary data from groundâbased telescopes, and new tools for analysis and modeling. These products will constitute the foundations for many followâup studies with groundâbased telescopes, as well as with SIRTF itself and other space missions such as SIM, JWST, Herschel, and TPF/Darwin
Evolutionary Signatures in the Formation of Low-Mass Protostars. II. Towards Reconciling Models and Observations
A long-standing problem in low-mass star formation is the "luminosity
problem," whereby protostars are underluminous compared to the accretion
luminosity expected both from theoretical collapse calculations and arguments
based on the minimum accretion rate necessary to form a star within the
embedded phase duration. Motivated by this luminosity problem, we present a set
of evolutionary models describing the collapse of low-mass, dense cores into
protostars, using the Young & Evans (2005) model as our starting point. We
calculate the radiative transfer of the collapsing cores throughout the full
duration of the collapse in two dimensions. From the resulting spectral energy
distributions, we calculate standard observational signatures to directly
compare to observations. We incorporate several modifications and additions to
the original Young & Evans model in an effort to better match observations with
model predictions. We find that scattering, 2-D geometry, mass-loss, and
outflow cavities all affect the model predictions, as expected, but none
resolve the luminosity problem. A cycle of episodic mass accretion, however,
can resolve this problem and bring the model predictions into better agreement
with observations. Standard assumptions about the interplay between mass
accretion and mass loss in our model give star formation efficiencies
consistent with recent observations that compare the core mass function (CMF)
and stellar initial mass function (IMF). The combination of outflow cavities
and episodic mass accretion reduce the connection between observational Class
and physical Stage to the point where neither of the two common observational
signatures (bolometric temperature and ratio of bolometric to submillimeter
luminosity) can be considered reliable indicators of physical Stage.Comment: 27 pages. Accepted for publication in Ap
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