Envelopes Of Young Stellar Objects Research Articles

The molecular environment of the solar-type protostar IRAS 16293–2422

Context. Studying the physical and chemical processes leading to the formation of low-mass stars is crucial for understanding the origin of our Sun and the Solar System. In particular, analyzing the emission and absorption lines from molecules to derive their spatial distribution in the envelopes of young stellar objects is a fundamental tool to obtain information on the kinematics and chemistry at the very early stages of star formation. Aims. In this work we aim to examine in detail the spatial structures and molecular abundances of material surrounding the very well-known low-mass binary protostar IRAS 16293-2422 and the prestellar core 16293E, which are embedded in the Lynds 1689 N dark cloud. This analysis is performed to obtain information on the physical and chemical properties of these young objects and their interaction with the molecular outflows present across the region. Methods. We have used the LAsMA heterodyne array installed on the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) 12 meter submillimeter telescope to image a region of about 0.12 × 0.12 pc2 around IRAS 16293-2422 and 16293E and to study their molecular environment covering 45.6 GHz in a frequency range from 277 GHz to 375 GHz. We have also used the APEX FLASH+ receiver to observe and search for molecular lines in a frequency range between 476 GHz to 493 GHz. Results. We have identified 144 transitions from 36 molecular species, including isotopologues. This is the first time that such a large number of species have been mapped at large scales simultaneously in this region. The maps reveal the envelope to have a complex morphology around the cloud cores and the emission peaks known as E1, E2, W1, W2, and HE2, including the outflow structure arising from IRAS 16293-2422. Using several transitions of para-H2CO, we have derived new lower limits for the kinetic temperatures toward IRAS 16293-2422 and the surrounding emission peaks. Based on these temperatures, new column densities for all detected species were derived around the cloud cores and all emission peaks using the radiative transfer codes CLASS-Weeds, CASSIS, and RADEX. We derived H2 volume densities in Lynds 1689 N based on ortho-H2CO transitions with different upper level energies, varying between 5 × 106 cm−3 and 63 K at IRAS 16293-2422 to values on the order of 1 × 106 cm−3 and 35 K at the other emission peaks. Conclusions. Our new observations further confirm the scenario of an outflow arising from IRAS 16293-2422 interacting with the prestellar core 16293E. This is inferred from the velocity and linewidth gradient shown by several deuterated species closer to the outflow-core interaction region in 16293E. We observe a large-scale velocity gradient across the molecular cloud which coincides with the rotation of the envelope around IRAS 16293-2422 reported previously in the literature. A comparison with JCMT SCUBA-2 450 μm dust continuum maps and our data suggests that emission peak W2 may be related to a colder dust source rather than a shocked region. The newly derived column densities and temperatures for different species, combined with the molecular spatial distribution in all sources, indicate clear chemical differences between the protostellar source, the prestellar core and the shocked positions as a result of the diverse physical conditions at different locations in this region.

Modeling of Circumstellar Dust by the DUSTY Code

AbstractWe present a circumstellar dust model around the symbiotic Mira RR Tel obtained by modeling the near-infrared JHKL magnitudes and ISO spectra. In order to follow the evolution of infrared colours in time, the published JHKL magnitudes were corrected by removing the Mira pulsations. The RR Tel light curves show three obscuration events in the near-IR. Using the simultaneously available JHKL magnitudes and ISO spectra in three different epochs, we obtained SEDs in the near- and mid-IR spectral region (1-20 μm) in epochs with and without obscuration.The DUSTY numerical code was used to solve the radiative transfer and to determine the circumstellar dust properties of the inner dust regions around the Mira, assuming a spherical dust temperature distribution in its close neighbourhood. The physical properties of the dust, mass loss and optical depth during intervals with and without obscuration have been obtained. Both JHKL and ISO observations during the obscuration period can be reproduced with a spherical dust envelope, while ISO spectra outside obscuration show a different behaviour. The dynamical behaviour of the circumstellar dust was obtained by modeling the JHKL magnitudes observed during the span of more than 30 years.The DUSTY code was also successfully applied in the modeling of circumstellar dust envelopes of young stellar objects, such as Herbig Ae/Be stars.

Microscopic simulation of methanol and formaldehyde ice formation in cold dense cores

Methanol and its precursor formaldehyde are among the most studied organic molecules in the interstellar medium and are abundant in the gaseous and solid phases. We recently developed a model to simulate CO hydrogenation via H atoms on interstellar ice surfaces, the most important interstellar route to H2CO and CH3OH, under laboratory conditions. We extend this model to simulate the formation of both organic species under interstellar conditions, including freeze-out from the gas and hydrogenation on surfaces. Our aim is to compare calculated abundance ratios with observed values and with the results of prior models. Simulations under different conditions, including density and temperature, have been performed. We find that H2CO and CH3OH form efficiently in cold dense cores or the cold outer envelopes of young stellar objects. The grain mantle is found to have a layered structure with CH3OH on top. The species CO and H2CO are found to exist predominantly in the lower layers of ice mantles where they are not available for hydrogenation at late times.

Evidence of warm and dense material along the outflow of a high-mass YSO

Context. Outflow cavities in envelopes of young stellar objects (YSOs) have been pr edicted to allow far-UV (FUV) photons to escape far from the central source, with significant observable e ffects, especially if the protostar is a forming high-mass star suspected of emitting a copious amount of FUV radiation. Indirect evidence of this picture has been provided by models and unresolved single-dish observations, but direct high-resolution data are necessary for con firmation. Previous chemical modeling has suggested that CS and HCN are good probes of the local FUV field, so make good target specie s. Aims. We directly probe the physical conditions of the material in the outflow walls to te st this prediction. Methods. Interferometric observations of the CS(7-6) and HCN(4-3) rotational lines in the high-mass star-forming region AFGL 2591 are carried out in the compact and extended configuration of the SubMillim eter Array (SMA). The velocity structure was analyzed, and integrated maps compared to K-band near-IR observations. A chemical model predicts abundances of CS and HCN for a gas under protostellar X-ray and FUV irradiation, and was used in conjunction with the data to distinguish between physical scenarios. Results. CS and HCN emission was found in spatial coincidence in extended sources displaced up to 7 ′′ from the position of the young star. Their line widths are small, excluding major shocks. Chemical model calculations predict an enhanced abundance of the two molecules in warm, dense, and FUV irradiated gas. Hot dust observed between the molecular emission and the outflow accounts for the necessary attenuation to prevent photodissociation of the molecule s. Conclusions. The SMA data suggest that the outflow walls are heated and chemically altere d by the FUV emission of the central high-mass object, providing the best direct evidence yet of large-sca le direct irradiation of outflow walls.

CHEMICAL MODELING OF YOUNG STELLAR OBJECTS. I. METHOD AND BENCHMARKS

Upcoming facilities such as the Herschel Space Observatory or Atacama Large Millimeter Array will deliver a wealth of molecular line observations of young stellar objects (YSOs). Based on line fluxes, chemical abundances can then be estimated by radiative transfer calculations. To derive physical properties from abundances, the chemical network needs to be modeled and fitted to the observations. This modeling process is however computationally exceedingly demanding, particularly if in addition to density and temperature, far-UV (FUV) irradiation, X-rays, and multi-dimensional geometry have to be considered. We develop a fast tool, suitable for various applications of chemical modeling in YSOs. A grid of the chemical composition of the gas having a density, temperature, FUV irradiation and X-ray flux is pre-calculated as a function of time. A specific interpolation approach is developed to reduce the database to a feasible size. Published models of AFGL 2591 are used to verify the accuracy of the method. A second benchmark test is carried out for FUV sensitive molecules. The novel method for chemical modeling is more than 250,000 times faster than direct modeling and agrees within a mean factor of 1.35. The tool is distributed for public use. Main applications are (1) fitting physical parameters to observed molecular line fluxes and (2) deriving chemical abundances for two- and three-dimensional models. They will be presented in two future publications of this series. In the course of developing the method, the chemical evolution is explored: we find that X-ray chemistry in envelopes of YSOs can be reproduced by means of an enhanced cosmic-ray ionization rate with deviations less than 25%, having the observational consequence that molecular tracers for X-rays are hard to distinguish from cosmic-ray ionization tracers. We provide the detailed prescription to implement this total ionization rate approach in any chemical model. We further find that the abundance of CH+ in low-density gas with high ionization can be enhanced by the recombination of doubly ionized carbon (C++) and suggest a new value for the initial abundance of the main sulfur carrier in the hot core.

Near‐Infrared Silhouette Object Survey in M17

To study how the structure of the envelopes of young stellar objects (YSOs) evolve, we carried out a deep JHK'-band imaging survey of the M17 star-forming region using a near-infrared camera and the Infrared Camera and Spectrograph with adaptive optics mounted on the Subaru Telescope. In this survey, we found 51 dark silhouettes against bright near-infrared nebula emissions as background lights. They are regarded as envelopes associated with YSOs due to their size and association with the YSOs. We derived size, morphology, extinction, and mass for each silhouette envelope. The average mass of the envelopes was ~0.02 M☉, and the radius ranged from 1.5'' to 2.8'' (2250-4200 AU). We compared the properties of envelopes with the properties of the central YSO derived from color-color and color-magnitude diagrams. The radius and the mass of the envelope were found to decrease with the decrease in infrared excess, consistent with the widely accepted view in which the envelope accretes onto the central star/disk system during its evolution from Class I to Class II. However, the envelope still exists around the Class II object for which accretion is barely discernible, and it may have escaped detection due to its dimness. The envelope associated with Class II objects may not accrete onto the star or the disk, but it may dissipate in the future.

Calculation and observation of x-ray-sensitive molecules in envelopes of young stellar objects

Calculation and observation of x-ray-sensitive molecules in envelopes of young stellar objects

Continuum and CO/HCO+Emission from the Disk Around the T Tauri Star LkCa 15

We present Owens Valley Radio Observatory Millimeter Array λ = 3.4-1.2 mm dust continuum and spectral line observations of the accretion disk encircling the T Tauri star LkCa 15. The 1.2 mm dust continuum emission is resolved and gives a minimum diameter of 190 AU and an inclination angle of 57° ± 5°. There is a noticeable but, at present, poorly constrained decrease in the continuum spectral slope with frequency that may result from the coupled processes of grain growth and dust settling. Imaging of the fairly intense emission from the lowest rotational transitions of CO, ^(13)CO, and HCO^+ reveals a rotating disk substantially larger than that observed in the dust continuum. Emission extends to ~750 AU and the characteristic radius of the disk is determined to be ~425 AU (HWHM), based on model fits to the CO velocity field. The measured line ratios demonstrate that the emission from these species is optically thick, while that from C^(18)O and H^(13)CO^+ is optically thin, or nearly so. The disk mass derived from the CO isotopologues with typical dense cloud abundances is still nearly 2 orders of magnitude less than that inferred from the dust emission, the most probable explanation being extensive molecular depletion in the cold, dense disk midplane. Thus, while CO, HCO^+, and their isotopologues are excellent tracers of the disk velocity field, they are not reliable tracers of the disk mass. N_2H^+ 1 → 0 emission has also been detected which, along with HCO^+, sets a lower limit to the fractional ionization of 10^(-8) in the near-surface regions of protoplanetary disks. This first detection of N_2H^+ in circumstellar disks has also made possible a determination of the N_2/CO ratio (~2) that is at least an order of magnitude larger than those in the envelopes of young stellar objects and dense clouds. The large N_2/CO ratio indicates that our observations probe disk layers in which CO is depleted but some N_2 remains in the gas phase. Such differential depletion can lead to large variations in the fractional ionization with height in the outer reaches of circumstellar disks and may help to explain the relative nitrogen deficiency observed in comets.

Model scattering envelopes of young stellar objects. II - Infalling envelopes

We present scattered light images for models of young stellar objects surrounded by dusty envelopes. The envelopes are assumed to have finite angular momentum and are falling in steady flow onto a disk. The model envelopes include holes, such as might be created by energetic bipolar flows. We calculate images using the Monte Carlo method to follow the light scattered in the dusty envelope and circumstellar disk, assuming that the photons originate from the central source. Adopting typical interstellar medium dust opacities and expected mass infall rates for protostars of about 10 exp -6 solar mass/yr, we find that detectable amounts of optical radiation can escape from envelopes falling into a disk as small as about 10-100 AU, depending upon the viewing angle and the size of the bipolar flow cavity. We suggest that the extended optical and near-IR light observed around several young stars is scattered by dusty infalling envelopes rather than disks.

Model scattering envelopes of young stellar objects. I - Method and application to circumstellar disks

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