Pre-protostellar Cores Research Articles

Z45: A new 45-GHz band dual-polarization HEMT receiver for the NRO 45-m radio telescope

Abstract We developed a dual-linear-polarization HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor) amplifier receiver system of the 45-GHz band (hereafter Z45), and installed it in the Nobeyama 45-m radio telescope. The receiver system is designed to conduct polarization observations by taking the cross-correlation of two linearly polarized components, from which we process full Stokes spectroscopy. We aim to measure the magnetic field strength through the Zeeman effect of the emission line of CCS (JN = 43–32) toward pre-protostellar cores. A linear-polarization receiver system has a smaller contribution of instrumental polarization components to the Stokes V spectra than that of the circular polarization system, so that it is easier to obtain the Stokes V spectra. The receiver has an RF frequency of 42–46 GHz and an intermediate frequency (IF) band of 4–8 GHz. The typical noise temperature is about 50 K, and the system noise temperature ranges from 100 to 150 K over the frequency of 42–46 GHz. The receiver system is connected to two spectrometers, SAM45 and PolariS. SAM45 is a highly flexible FX-type digital spectrometer with a finest frequency resolution of 3.81 kHz. PolariS is a newly developed digital spectrometer with a finest frequency resolution of 60 Hz, and which has a capability to process the full-Stokes spectroscopy. The half-power beam width (HPBW) was measured to be 37″ at 43 GHz. The main beam efficiency of the Gaussian main beam was derived to be 0.72 at 43 GHz. The SiO maser observations show that the beam pattern is reasonably round at about 10% of the peak intensity and the side-lobe level was less than 3% of the peak intensity. Finally, we present some examples of astronomical observations using Z45.

Deuterium enrichment of ammonia produced by surface N+H/D addition reactions at low temperature

The surface formation of NH3 and its deuterated isotopologues – NH2D, NHD2, and ND3 – is investigated at low temperatures through the simultaneous addition of hydrogen and deuterium atoms to nitrogen atoms in CO-rich interstellar ice analogues. The formation of all four ammonia isotopologues is only observed up to 15 K, and drops below the detection limit for higher temperatures. Differences between hydrogenation and deuteration yields result in a clear deviation from a statistical distribution in favour of deuterium enriched species. The data analysis suggests that this is due to a higher sticking probability of D atoms to the cold surface, a property that may generally apply to molecules that are formed in low temperature surface reactions. The results found here are used to interpret ammonia–deuterium fractionation as observed in pre-protostellar cores.

DNC/HNC and N2D+/N2H+ ratios in high-mass star-forming cores

Chemical models predict that the deuterated fraction (the column density ratio between a molecule containing D and its counterpart containing H) of N2H+, Dfrac(N2H+), is high in massive pre-protostellar cores and rapidly drops of an order of magnitude after the protostar birth, while that of HNC, Dfrac(HNC), remains constant for much longer. We tested these predictions by deriving Dfrac(HNC) in 22 high-mass star forming cores divided in three different evolutionary stages, from high-mass starless core candidates (HMSCs, 8) to high-mass protostellar objects (HMPOs, 7) to Ultracompact HII regions (UCHIIs, 7). For all of them, Dfrac (N2H+) was already determined through IRAM-30m Telescope observations, which confirmed the theoretical rapid decrease of Dfrac(N2H+) after protostar birth (Fontani et al. 2011). Therefore our comparative study is not affected by biases introduced by the source selection. We have found average Dfrac(HNC) of 0.012, 0.009 and 0.008 in HMSCs, HMPOs and UCHIIs, respectively, with no statistically significant differences among the three evolutionary groups. These findings confirm the predictions of the chemical models, and indicate that large values of Dfrac(N2H+) are more suitable than large values of Dfrac(HNC) to identify cores on the verge of forming high-mass stars, likewise what found in the low-mass regime.

Inferring the Structure of the Pre-Protostellar Core L1498

We present a study of the pre-protostellar core (PPC) L1498. A series of self-consistent, three-dimensional continuum radiative transfer models are constructed. The outputs of these models are convolved with appropriate telescope beam responses, including the effect of beam chopping to simulate SCUBA observations. The simulated observations are compared with existing observational data. An automated search is conducted in the multi-dimensional parameter space to identify the best-fit model. Grids of models are constructed in the vicinity of the best fit in order to understand the sensitivity/uncertainty of the results. We find that the source is well fit by a prolate spheroid of cutoff (and thus approximately outer) radius rcut = 0.073 ± 0.005 pc, axis ratio q = 2.0 ± 0.2, a central luminosity L* -3 Lsun, and an optical depth in the visible of τv = 20 ± 5. We find that the PPC is illuminated by two external radiation fields: a uniform ISRF of strength sISRF= 0.5 ± 0.25 and a local plane-parallel radiation field sPPRF = 1.0 ± 0.5. Both of these radiation fields are locally attenuated, with τISRF = 1.0 ± 0.25, and τPPRF = 1.25 ± 0.75, consistent with the fact that L1498 is embedded in a larger cloud. Most interestingly, the density fall-off at the outer edge is extremely steep, having a power law of m > 10. This is effectively a “sharp edge” to the PPC, and together with the constant density interior, is interpreted as potential signs of a pressure-confined core.

The NH2D/NH3ratio toward pre-protostellar cores around the UC$\ion{H}{ii}$ region in IRAS 20293+3952

The deuterium fractionation, Dfrac, has been proposed as an evolutionary indicator in pre-protostellar and protostellar cores of low-mass star-forming regions. We investigate Dfrac, with high angular resolution, in the cluster environment surrounding the UCHII region IRAS 20293+3952. We performed high angular resolution observations with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) of the ortho-NH2D 1_{11}-1_{01} line at 85.926 GHz and compared them with previously reported VLA NH3 data. We detected strong NH2D emission toward the pre-protostellar cores identified in NH3 and dust emission, all located in the vicinity of the UCHII region IRAS 20293+3952. We found high values of Dfrac~0.1-0.8 in all the pre-protostellar cores and low values, Dfrac<0.1, associated with young stellar objects. The high values of Dfrac in pre-protostellar cores could be indicative of evolution, although outflow interactions and UV radiation could also play a role.

Nitrogen chemistry and depletion in starless cores

We investigated the chemistry of nitrogen--containing species, principally isotopomers of CN, HCN, and HNC, in a sample of pre-protostellar cores. We used the IRAM 30 m telescope to measure the emission in rotational and hyperfine transitions of CN, HCN, 13CN, H13CN, HN13C, and HC15N, in L 1544, L 183, Oph D, L 1517B, L 310. The observations were made along axial cuts through the dust emission peak, at a number of regularly--spaced offset positions. The observations were reduced and analyzed to obtain the column densities, using the measurements of the less abundant isotopic variants in order to minimize the consequences of finite optical depths in the lines. The observations were compared with the predictions of a free--fall gravitational collapse model, which incorporates a non-equilibrium treatment of the relevant chemistry. We found that CN, HCN, and HNC remain present in the gas phase at densities well above that at which CO depletes on to grains. The CN:HCN and the HNC:HCN abundance ratios are larger than unity in all the objects of our sample. Furthermore, there is no observational evidence for large variations of these ratios with increasing offset from the dust emission peak and hence with density. Whilst the differential freeze--out of CN and CO can be understood in terms of the current chemistry, the behaviour of the CN:HCN ratio is more difficult to explain. Models suggest that most nitrogen is not in the gas phase but may be locked in ices. Unambiguous conclusions require measurements of the rate coefficients of the key neutral--neutral reactions at low temperatures.

The depletion of NO in pre-protostellar cores

Understanding the depletion of heavy elements is a fundamental step towards determining the structure of pre-protostellar cores just prior to collapse. We study the dependence of the NO abundance on position in the pre-protostellar cores L1544 and L183. We observed the 150 GHz and 250~GHz transitions of NO and the 93 GHz transitions of \NTHP \ towards L1544 and L183 using the IRAM 30 m telescope. We compare the variation of the NO column density with position in these objects with the H column density derived from dust emission measurements. We find that NO behaves differently from \NTHP \ and appears to be partially depleted in the high density core of L1544. Other oxygen-containing compounds are also likely to be partially depleted in dense-core nuclei. The principal conclusions are that: the prestellar core L1544 is likely to be 'carbon-rich'; the nitrogen chemistry did not reach equilibrium prior to gravitational collapse, and nitrogen is initially (at densities of the order of $10^4$~cm$^{-3}$) mainly in atomic form; the grain sticking probabilities of atomic C, N and, probably, O are significantly smaller than unity.

Kinematics of Protostellar Objects in the ρ Ophiuchus A Region

We present the detection of infall, rotation and outflow kinematic signatures towards both a protostellar source, VLA 1623 and what was initially thought to be a pre-protostellar core, SM1N, in the rho-Ophiuchus A region. The kinematic signatures of early star formation were detected in the dense molecular gas surrounding the embedded sources using high signal-to-noise millimeter and submillimeter data. Centroid velocity maps made with HCO+ J=4->3 and J=1->0 line emission exhibit the blue bulge signature of infall, which is predicted to be seen when infall motion dominates over rotational motion. Further evidence for infalling gas is found in the HCO+ blue asymmetric line profiles and red asymmetric opacity profiles. We also performed CO J=3->2 and J=1->0 observations to determine the direction, orientation, and extent of molecular outflows, and report the discovery of a new bipolar outflow possibly driven by SM1N.

A Pre‐Protostellar Core in L1551. II. State of Dynamical and Chemical Evolution

Both analytic and numerical radiative transfer models applied to high spectral resolution CS and N2H+ data give insight into the evolutionary state of L1551 MC. This recently discovered pre-protostellar core in L1551 appears to be in the early stages of dynamical evolution. Line-of-sight infall velocities of 0.1 km s-1 are needed in the outer regions of L1551 MC to adequately fit the data. This translates to an accretion rate of ~10-6 M☉ yr-1, uncertain to within a factor of 5 owing to unknown geometry. The observed dynamics are not due to spherically symmetric gravitational collapse and are not consistent with the standard model of low-mass star formation. The widespread, fairly uniform CS line asymmetries are more consistent with planar infall. There is modest evidence for chemical depletion in the radial profiles of CS and C18O, suggesting that L1551 MC is also chemically young. The models are not very sensitive to chemical evolution. L1551 MC lies within a quiescent region of L1551 and is evidence for continued star formation in this evolved cloud.

Modeling the Physical Structure of the Low‐Density Pre‐Protostellar Core Lynds 1498

Lynds 1498 is a pre-protostellar core (PPC) and was one of the initial objects toward which molecular depletion and differentiation was detected. Despite the considerable scrutiny of L1498, there has not been a extensive study of the density and temperature structure as derived from radiative transfer modeling of dust continuum observations. We present deep SCUBA observations of L1498 at 850 and 450 micron, high resolution BEARS maps of the N2H+ 1-0 transition, CSO observations of the N2H+ 3-2 transition, and GBT observations of the C3S 4-3 transition. We also present a comparison of derived properties between L1498 and nearby PPCs that have been observed at far-infrared and submillimeter wavelengths. We present a more realistic treatment of PPC heating which varies the strength of the ISRF, Sisrf, and includes attenuation of the ISRF due to dust grains at the outer radius of the core, Av. The best-fitted model consists of a Bonner-Ebert sphere with a central density of 1 - 3 x 10^4 cm-3, R_o ~ 0.29 pc, 0.5 <= Sisrf <= 1, Av ~ 1 mag, and a nearly isothermal temperature profile of ~ 10.5 K for OH8 opacities. C3S emission shows a central depletion hole while N2H+ emission is centrally peaked. The observed depletions of C3S and H2CO, the modest N2H+ abundance, and a central density that is an order of magnitude lower than other modeled PPCs suggests that L1498 may be a forming PPC. Our derived temperature and density profile will improve modeling of molecular line observations that will explicate the core's kinematical and chemical state. (abridged)

Freeze-out and coagulation in pre-protostellar collapse

We study the changes in physical and chemical conditions during the early stages of collapse of a pre-protostellar core, starting from initial conditions appropriate to a dense molecular cloud and proceeding to the “completely depleted” limit. We allow for molecular desorption from the grain surfaces and follow the evolution of the ionization degree and the ionic composition as functions of time and density. The timescale for collapse is treated as a parameter and taken equal to either the free-fall or the ambipolar diffusion time. The processes of freeze-out on to the dust grains and of coagulation of the grains were treated simultaneously with the chemical evolution of the medium in the course of its collapse. When proceeding at close to its maximum rate, coagulation has important consequences for the degree of ionization and the ionic composition of the medium, but its effect on the freeze-out of the neutral species is modest. An innovation of our study is to calculate the grain charge distribution; this is done in parallel with the chemistry and the dynamics. The grain charge distribution is significant because H + ions recombine predominantly on the surfaces of negatively charged grains. We have also attempted to reproduce with our models the observational result that nitrogen-containing species, such as NH 3 and N 2 H + , remain in the gas phase at densities for which CO and other C-containing molecules appear to have frozen on to grain surfaces. We conclude that recent measurements of the adsorption energies of N 2 and CO invalidate the interpretation of these observations in terms of the relative volatilities of N 2 and CO. We consider an alternative explanation, in terms of low sticking coefficients for either molecular or atomic N; but this hypothesis requires experimental confirmation. We find that, irrespective of the nitrogen chemistry, the main gas phase ion is either H + or H$_3^+$ (and its deuterated isotopes) at densities above 10 5 cm -3 ; whether H + or H$_3^+$ predominates depends sensitively on the rate of increase in grain size (decrease in grain surface area per unit volume of gas) during core contraction. Our calculations show that H + will predominate if grain coagulation proceeds at close to its maximum rate, and H$_3^+$ otherwise.

Constraining the structure of the non-spherical pre-protostellar core L1544

We present a study of the pre-protostellar core L1544. A series of self-consistent, three-dimensional continuum radiative transfer models is constructed. The outputs of these models are convolved with appropriate telescope beam responses, and compared with existing SCUBA data. The resulting comparison allows us to constrain the structure of L1544. We find that the source is well-fitted by a prolate spheroid, having an ellipsoidal power-law density distribution of index m ∼ 2(1.75 < m < 2.25) in to at least r ∼ 1600 au. For r < 1600 au, the data are consistent with either an extension of the power law to smaller radii, or a flattened (Bonner-Ebert-like) density distribution. Furthermore, we find an optical depth along the short axis at 1300 μm of τ 1300,short = 5 x 10 -3 (2 x 10 -3 < τ 1300,short < 8 x 10 -3 ), a central luminosity L* =0(<10 -3 L ○. ), a long-axis diameter D = 0.1 pc [0.08 < D(pc) < 0.16; 16000 < D(au) < 32 000], an axis ratio q = 2 (1.7 < q < 2.5), and an external interstellar radiation field (ISRF) defined by Mathis et al. to within 50 per cent. The outer diameter and axis ratio may each be somewhat larger due to potential on-source chopping in the observations, and the projection of the long axis on to the plane of the sky. While these results are similar to those inferred directly from observations or spherical modelling due to the source transparency at submillimetre wavelengths, we infer a smaller size, lower mass, and higher optical depth/column density, exposed to a stronger external radiation field than previously assumed. Finally, we find that both the spectral energy distribution (SED) and surface brightness distribution are necessary to constrain the source properties in this way, and even a modest variation in X 2 can significantly alter the fit quality.

Multiply-deuterated species in prestellar cores

We have studied the ortho, para, and, in the case of D + , meta forms of the multiply-deuterated isotopes of H + , under physical conditions believed to be appropriate to pre-protostellar cores. As deuterons have integral nuclear spin, I = 1, Bose-Einstein statistical laws apply. Having extended the network of chemical reactions used in our previous study (Walmsley et al. 2004), we have calculated the population densities of ortho- and para-D2H + and of ortho- and meta-D + . In the former case, comparison is made with the recent observations of para-D2H + in the prestellar core 16293E (Vastel et al. 2004). Using radiative transition probabilities computed by Ramanlal & Tennyson (2004), we have predicted the intensities of the near infrared vibrational transitions of the deuterated isotopes of H + . Many of these transitions can be observed, in absorption, only from above the Earth's atmosphere, but some might be detectable through atmospheric windows.

Probing Pre‐Protostellar Cores with Formaldehyde

We present maps of the 6 cm and 1.3 mm transitions of H2CO toward three cold, dense pre-protostellar cores (PPCs): L1498, L1512, and L1544. The 6 cm transition is a unique probe of high-density gas at low temperature. However, our models unequivocally indicate that H2CO is depleted in the interiors of PPCs, and depletion significantly affects how H2CO probes the earliest stages of star formation. Multistage, self-consistent models, including gas-dust energetics, of both H2CO transitions are presented, and the implications of the results are discussed.

Complete depletion in prestellar cores

We have carried out calculations of ionization equilibrium and deuterium fractionation for conditions appropriate to a completely depleted, low mass pre-protostellar core, where heavy elements such as C, N, and O have vanished from the gas phase and are incorporated in ice mantles frozen on dust grain surfaces. We put particular emphasis on the interpretation of recent observations of H 2 D + towards the centre of the prestellar core L 1544 (Caselli et al. 2003) and also compute the ambipolar diffusion timescale. We consider explicitly the ortho and para forms of H 2 , H + 3, and H 2 D + . Our results show that the ionization degree under such conditions depends sensitively on the grain size distribution or, more precisely, on the mean grain surface area per hydrogen nucleus. Depending upon this parameter and upon density, the major ion may be H + , H + 3, or D + 3. We show that the abundance of ortho-H 2 D + observed towards L 1544 can be explained satisfactorily in terms of a complete depletion model and that this species is, as a consequence, an important tracer of the kinematics of prestellar cores.

The Physical and Chemical Status of Pre-Protostellar Core B68

We have investigated the physical and chemical status of the pre-protostellar core B68. A previous extinction study suggested that the density profile of B68 is remarkably consistent with a Bonnor-Ebert sphere with 2.1 M⊙ at 16 K. We mapped B68 in C3H2, CCS, and NH3 with the Deep Space Network (DSN) 70 m telescope at Goldstone. Our results show that the NH3 peak coincides with the dust continuum peak, whereas CCS and C3H2 are offset from the NH3 and dust peaks. The B68 chemical structure is consistent with that seen in other such pre-protostellar cores (L1498 and L1544) and is explained by time-dependent chemical models that include depletion. We measured the kinetic temperature of B68 with NH3 (1, 1) and (2, 2) spectra obtained with a DSN 34 m telescope. We find that the kinetic temperature of B68 is only 11 K, which is significantly lower than that previously assumed. We also derive the nonthermal line width in B68 and show that B68 is thermally dominated with little contribution from turbulence support (less than 10%). We consider a modified Bonnor-Ebert sphere to include effects of turbulence and magnetic fields and use it to constrain the uncertainties in its distance determination. We conclude that the distance to B68 is ∼95 pc with a corresponding mass of ∼1.0 M⊙. If some magnetic field is present, it can be further away (beyond ∼100 pc) and still satisfy the density structure of a Bonnor-Ebert sphere. The sulfur (CS and CCS) and carbon chain (C3H2) molecules are heavily depleted in B68 and do not trace the dense interior region. We see some evidence for depletion of NH3 at the core center roughly on a scale similar to that of N2H+. Our observations do not preclude any instability such as the onset of collapse, or slow contraction, occurring in the center of the core, which cannot be resolved with our beam size (45'').

Molecular Outflow Search in the ρ Ophiuchi A and B2 Regions

We have searched for CO molecular outflows associated with the cloud A and B2 of the ρ Ophiuchi star-forming region. On the basis of single -dish 12CO (J = 3-2) and interferometric 12CO (J = 1-0) observations, we have identified three molecular outflows in the ρ Oph A cloud and one in the ρ Oph B2 cloud. Out of the four outflows observed in these regions, one is the known outflow driven by the Class 0 source, VLA 1623, and the other three are newly discovered ones. The inclination and opacity corrected momentum flux FCO of newly detected outflows are roughly comparable to those of Class I objects observed by Bontemps et al. (1996). All the newly discovered outflows are likely to be driven by Class II sources or near-infrared sources, and none of them is associated with the cold submillimeter-millimeter sources without infrared counter parts. These results indicate that protostars associated with outflows whose mass and momentum flux exceed our detection limit are not formed yet in the high-density ridge of the ρ Oph A region and the northeastern condensation in the ρ Oph B2 region, suggesting that they are considered to be pre-protostellar cores.

Chemistry and Dynamics in Pre‐protostellar Cores

We have compared the intensity distribution of molecular line emission with that of dust continuum emission, and modeled molecular line profiles in three different preprotostellar cores in order to test how dynamical evolution is related to chemical evolution, and whether we can use different chemical tracers to identify specific dynamical evolutionary stages. We used dust continuum emission to obtain the input density and temperature structures by calculating radiative transfer of dust emission. Our results show that chemical evolution is dependent on dynamical processes, which can give different evolutionary timescales, as well as the density structure of the core.

Water Maser Survey toward Low‐Mass Young Stellar Objects in the Northern Sky with the Nobeyama 45 Meter Telescope and the Very Large Array

We give a detailed presentation of all the data from a multiepoch 22 GHz H2O maser survey mainly toward low-mass young stellar objects (YSOs) using the Nobeyama 45 m telescope and the Very Large Array (VLA). Our major results are already published (our Paper I). The Nobeyama survey is the first complete H2O maser survey toward known Class 0 sources in the northern sky (δ > -35°) and is one of the most sensitive surveys ever performed. The survey was conducted from 1996 May through 1999 March over 32 periods. A total of 606 observations were carried out toward 173 YSOs, including 36 unknown luminosity sources, and toward 31 preprotostellar cores (PPSCs) in the Ophiuchus star-forming region. We detected 149 spectra toward 39 YSOs and zero spectra toward the 31 PPSCs. Subsequent to the Nobeyama survey, we performed a follow-up interferometric survey with the VLA in order to associate 19 maser sources detected by the 45 m telescope with individual YSOs. In this paper we compile properties of 142 YSOs together with their H2O maser activity. On the basis of this data set, we use properties of water maser emission as a probe of jet phenomena in low-mass stars.

The structure and stability of molecular cloud cores in external radiation fields

We have considered the thermal equilibrium in pre-protostellar cores in the approximation where the dust tempera- ture is independent of interactions with the gas and where the gas is heated both by collisions with dust grains and ionization by cosmic rays. We have then used these results to study the stability of cores in hydrostatic equilibrium in the limit where thermal pressure dominates over magnetic field and turbulence. We compare the density distribution derived in this manner with results obtained in the isothermal case. We find that for cores with characteristics similar to those observed in nearby molecular clouds, the gas and dust temperatures are coupled in the core interior with densities above ∼3×10 4 cm −3 . As a consequence, one expects that the gas temperature like the dust temperature decreases towards the center of these objects. However, the regime where gas and dust temperatures are coupled coincides approximately with that in which CO and many other molecular species deplete onto dust grain surfaces. At larger radii and lower densities, the gas and dust temperatures decouple and the gas temperature tends to the value expected for cosmic ray heating alone. The density structure which one computes taking into account such deviations from isothermality are not greatly different from that expected for an isothermal Bonnor-Ebert sphere. It is impossi- ble in the framework of these models to have a stable equilibrium core with mass above ∼5 Mand column density compatible with observed values (NH > 2 × 10 22 cm −2 or AV > 10 mag). We conclude from this that observed high mass cores are either supported by magnetic field or turbulence or are already in a state of collapse. Lower mass cores on the other hand have stable states where thermal pressure alone provides support against gravitation and we conclude that the much studied object B68 may be in a state of stable equilibrium if the internal gas temperature is computed in self-consistent fashion. Finally we note that in molecular clouds such as Ophiuchus and Orion with high radiation fields and pressures, gas and dust temperatures are expected to be well coupled and hence in the absence of an internal heat source, one expects temperatures to decrease towards core centers and to be relatively high as compared to low pressure clouds like Taurus.