3,271 research outputs found
A Mid-Infrared Study of the Class 0 Cluster in LDN 1448
We present ground-based mid-infrared observations of Class 0 protostars in
LDN 1448. Of the five known protostars in this cloud, we detected two, L1448N:A
and L1448C, at 12.5, 17.9, 20.8, and 24.5 microns, and a third, L1448 IRS 2, at
24.5 microns. We present high-resolution images of the detected sources, and
photometry or upper limits for all five Class 0 sources in this cloud. With
these data, we are able to augment existing spectral energy distributions
(SEDs) for all five objects and place them on an evolutionary status diagram.Comment: Accepted by the Astronomical Journal; 26 pages, 9 figure
Two Bipolar Outflows and Magnetic Fields in a Multiple Protostar System, L1448 IRS 3
We performed spectral line observations of CO J=2-1, 13CO J=1-0, and C18O
J=1-0 and polarimetric observations in the 1.3 mm continuum and CO J=2-1 toward
a multiple protostar system, L1448 IRS 3, in the Perseus molecular complex at a
distance of ~250 pc, using the BIMA array. In the 1.3 mm continuum, two sources
(IRS 3A and 3B) were clearly detected with estimated envelope masses of 0.21
and 1.15 solar masses, and one source (IRS 3C) was marginally detected with an
upper mass limit of 0.03 solar masses. In CO J=2-1, we revealed two outflows
originating from IRS 3A and 3B. The masses, mean number densities, momentums,
and kinetic energies of outflow lobes were estimated. Based on those estimates
and outflow features, we concluded that the two outflows are interacting and
that the IRS 3A outflow is nearly perpendicular to the line of sight. In
addition, we estimated the velocity, inclination, and opening of the IRS 3B
outflow using Bayesian statistics. When the opening angle is ~20 arcdeg, we
constrain the velocity to ~45 km/s and the inclination angle to ~57 arcdeg.
Linear polarization was detected in both the 1.3 mm continuum and CO J=2-1. The
linear polarization in the continuum shows a magnetic field at the central
source (IRS 3B) perpendicular to the outflow direction, and the linear
polarization in the CO J=2-1 was detected in the outflow regions, parallel or
perpendicular to the outflow direction. Moreover, we comprehensively discuss
whether the binary system of IRS 3A and 3B is gravitationally bound, based on
the velocity differences detected in 13CO J=1-0 and C18O J=1-0 observations and
on the outflow features. The specific angular momentum of the system was
estimated as ~3e20 cm^2/s, comparable to the values obtained from previous
studies on binaries and molecular clouds in Taurus.Comment: ApJ accepted, 20 pages, 2 tables, 10 figure
Dust emission from young outflows: the case of L1157
We present new high-sensitivity 1.3 mm bolometer observations of the young
outflow L1157. These data show that the continuum emission arises from four
distinct components: a circumstellar disk, a protostellar envelope, an extended
flattened envelope --the dense remnant of the molecular cloud in which the
protostar was formed--, and the outflow itself, which represents ~20% of the
total flux. The outflow emission exhibits two peaks that are coincident with
the two strong shocks in the southern lobe of L1157. We show that the mm
continuum is dominated by thermal dust emission arising in the high velocity
material. The spectral index derived from the new 1.3 mm data and 850 mu
observations from Shirley et al. (2000), is ~5 in the outflow, significantly
higher than in the protostellar envelope (~3.5). This can be explained by an
important line contamination of the 850 mu map, and/or by different dust
characteristics in the two regions, possibly smaller grains in the post-shocks
regions of the outflow. Our observations show that bipolar outflows can present
compact emission peaks which must not be misinterpreted as protostellar
condensations when mapping star forming regions
Giant Molecular Outflows Powered by Protostars in L1448
We present sensitive, large-scale maps of the CO J=1-0 emission of the L1448
dark cloud. These maps were acquired using the On-The-Fly capability of the
NRAO 12-meter telescope. CO outflow activity is seen in L1448 on parsec-scales
for the first time. Careful comparison of the spatial and velocity distribution
of our high-velocity CO maps with previously published optical and
near-infrared images and spectra has led to the identification of six distinct
CO outflows. We show the direct link between the heretofore unknown, giant,
highly-collimated, protostellar molecular outflows and their previously
discovered, distant optical manifestations. The outflows traced by our CO
mapping generally reach the projected cloud boundaries. Integrated intensity
maps over narrow velocity intervals indicate there is significant overlap of
blue- and red-shifted gas, suggesting the outflows are highly inclined with
respect to the line-of-sight, although the individual outflow position angles
are significantly different. The velocity channel maps also show that the
outflows dominate the CO line cores as well as the high-velocity wings. The
magnitude of the combined flow momenta, as well as the combined kinetic energy
of the flows, are sufficient to disperse the 50 solar mass NH3 cores in which
the protostars are currently forming, although some question remains as to the
exact processes involved in redirecting the directionality of the outflow
momenta to effect the complete dispersal of the parent cloud.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, to be published in the Astronomical Journa
First evidence for molecular interfaces between outflows and ambient clouds in high-mass star-forming regions?
We present new observations of the Cep A East region of massive star formation and describe an extended and dynamically distinct feature not previously recognized. This feature is present in emission from H2CS, OCS, CH3OH, and HDO at â5.5 km sâ1 but is not traced by the conventional tracers of star-forming regions, H2S, SO2, SO, and CS. The feature is extended up to at least 0.1 pc. We show that the feature is neither a hot core nor a shocked outflow. However, the chemistry of the feature is consistent with predictions from a model of an eroding interface between a fast wind and a dense core; mixing between the two media occurs in the interface on a timescale of 10â50 yr. If these observations are confirmed by detailed maps and by detections in species also predicted to be abundant (e.g., HCO+, H2CO, and NH3), this feature would be the first detection of such an interface in regions of massive star formation. An important implication of the model is that a significant reservoir of sulfur in grain mantles is required to be in the form of OCS
A CO Survey of Young Planetary Nebulae
We report the results of a sensitive survey of young planetary nebulae in the
CO J=2-1 line that significantly increases the available data on warm, dense,
molecular gas in the early phases of planetary nebula formation. The
observations were made using the IRAM 30 m telescope with the 3 by 3 pixel
Heterodyne Receiver Array (HERA). The array provides an effective means of
discriminating the CO emission of planetary nebulae in the galactic plane from
contaminating emission of interstellar clouds along the line of sight. 110
planetary nebulae were observed in the survey and 40 were detected. The results
increase the number of young planetary nebulae with known CO emission by
approximately a factor of two. The CO spectra yield radial velocities for the
detected nebulae, about half of which have uncertain or no velocity
measurements at optical wavelengths. The CO profiles range from parabolic to
double-peaked, tracing the evolution of structure in the molecular gas. The
line widths are significantly larger than on the Asymptotic Giant Branch, and
many of the lines show extended wings, which probably result from the effects
on the envelopes of high velocity jets.Comment: 29 pages, 2 figures (with multiple panels), to be published in
Astrophysical Journal Supplement Serie
Chemical evolution in the environment of intermediate mass young stellar objects: NGC7129--FIRS2 and LkH234
We have carried out a molecular survey of the Class 0 IM protostar NGC 7129
-- FIRS 2 (hereafter FIRS 2) and the Herbig Be star LkH 234 with the
aim of studying the chemical evolution of the envelopes of intermediate-mass
(IM) young stellar objects (YSOs). Both objects have similar luminosities (~500
Lsun) and are located in the same molecular cloud which minimizes the chemical
differences due to different stellar masses or initial cloud conditions.
Moreover, since they are located at the same distance, we have the same spatial
resolution in both objects. A total of 17 molecular species (including rarer
isotopes) have been observed in both objects and the structure of their
envelopes and outflows is determined with unprecedent detail.
Our results show that the protostellar envelopes are dispersed and warmed up
during the evolution to become a pre-main sequence star. In fact, the envelope
mass decreases by a factor >5 from FIRS 2 to LkH234, while the kinetic
temperature increases from ~13K to 28K. On the other hand, there is no
molecular outflow associated with LkH234. The molecular outflow seems
to stop before the star becomes visible. These physical changes strongly affect
the chemistry of their envelopes.
Based on our results in FIRS2 and LkH 234, we propose some abundance
ratios that can be used as chemical clocks for the envelopes of IM YSOs. The
SiO/CS, CN/N2H+, HCN/N2H+, DCO+/HCO+ and D2CO/DCO+ ratios are good diagnostics
of the protostellar evolutionary stage.Comment: 24 pages, 17 figure
Neutral atomic carbon in the globules of the Helix
We report detection of the 609u line of neutral atomic carbon in globules of
the Helix nebula. The measurements were made towards the position of peak CO
emission. At the same position, we obtained high-quality CO(2-1) and 13CO(2-1)
spectra and a 135" x 135" map in CO(2-1). The velocity distribution of CI shows
six narrow (1 -> 2 km/sec) components which are associated with individual
globules traced in CO. The CI column densities are 0.5 -> 1.2 x 10^16/cm^2. CI
is found to be a factor of ~6 more abundant than CO. Our estimate for the mass
of the neutral envelope is an order of magnitude larger than previous
estimates. The large abundance of CI in the Helix can be understood as a result
of the gradual photoionisation of the molecular envelope by the central star's
radiation field.Comment: 5 pages, Latex, AAS macros, 3 EPS figures, to appear in Astrophysical
Journal Letter
Molecular ions in the protostellar shock L1157-B1
We perform a complete census of molecular ions with an abundance larger than
1e-10 in the protostellar shock L1157-B1 by means of an unbiased
high-sensitivity survey obtained with the IRAM-30m and Herschel/HIFI. By means
of an LVG radiative transfer code the gas physical conditions and fractional
abundances of molecular ions are derived. The latter are compared with
estimates of steady-state abundances in the cloud and their evolution in the
shock calculated with the chemical model Astrochem. We detect emission from
HCO+, H13CO+, N2H+, HCS+, and, for the first time in a shock, from HOCO+, and
SO+. The bulk of the emission peaks at blueshifted velocity, ~ 0.5-3 km/s with
respect to systemic, has a width of ~ 4-8 km/s, and is associated with the
outflow cavities (T_kin ~ 20-70 K, n(H2) ~ 1e5 cm-3). Observed HCO+ and N2H+
abundances are in agreement with steady-state abundances in the cloud and with
their evolution in the compressed and heated gas in the shock for cosmic rays
ionization rate Z = 3e-16 s-1. HOCO+, SO+, and HCS+ observed abundances,
instead, are 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than predicted in the cloud; on the
other hand they are strongly enhanced on timescales shorter than the shock age
(~2000 years) if CO2, S or H2S, and OCS are sputtered off the dust grains in
the shock. The performed analysis indicates that HCO+ and N2H+ are a fossil
record of pre-shock gas in the outflow cavity, while HOCO+, SO+, and HCS+ are
effective shock tracers and can be used to infer the amount of CO2 and
sulphur-bearing species released from dust mantles in the shock. The observed
HCS+ (and CS) abundance indicates that OCS should be one of the main sulphur
carrier on grain mantles. However, the OCS abundance required to fit the
observations is 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than observed. Further studies
are required to fully understand the chemistry of sulphur-bearing species.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, accepted by A&
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