Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey Research Articles

The rotation-tunneling spectrum of 3-hydroxypropenal and confirmation of its detection toward IRAS 16293-2422 B

Context. 3-Hydroxypropenal (HOCHCHCHO) is the lower energy tautomer of malonaldehyde which displays a complex rotation-tunneling spectrum. It was detected somewhat tentatively toward the solar-type protostellar system IRAS 16293-2422 with ALMA in the framework of the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS). Several transitions, however, had large residuals, preventing not only their detection, but also the excitation temperature of the species from being determined unambiguously. Aims. We want to extend the existing rotational line list of 3-hydroxypropenal to shed more light on the recent observational results and to facilitate additional radio astronomical searches for this molecule. Methods. We recorded and analyzed the rotation-tunneling spectrum of 3-hydroxypropenal in the frequency regions between 150 and 330 GHz and between 400 and 660 GHz. Transitions were searched for in the PILS observations of IRAS 16293-2422. Local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) models were carried out and compared to the observations to constrain the excitation temperature. Additional transitions were searched for in other ALMA archival data of the same source to confirm the presence of 3-hydroxypropenal. Results. More than 7500 different spectral lines, corresponding to more than 11 500 transitions, were assigned in the course of our investigation with quantum numbers 2 ≤ J ≤ 100, Ka ≤ 59, and Kc ≤ 97, resulting in a greatly improved set of spectroscopic parameters. The comparison between the LTE models and the observations yields an excitation temperature of 125 K with a column density N = 1.0 × 1015 cm−2 for this species. We identified seven additional lines of 3-hydroxypropenal that show a good agreement with the model in the ALMA archive data. Conclusions. The calculated rotation-tunneling spectrum of 3-hydroxypropenal has sufficient accuracy for radio astronomical searches. With the solution of the excitation temperature conundrum and the detection of seven more lines, we consider the detection of 3-hydroxypropenal toward IRAS 16293-2422 as secure.

Unveiling the gas phase H2NCO radical: Laboratory rotational spectroscopy and interstellar searches in the direction of IRAS16293-2422

The carbamoyl radical ( H2NCO ) is believed to play a central role in the ice-grain chemistry of crucial interstellar complex organic molecules such as formamide and acetamide. Yet, little is known about this radical, which remains elusive in laboratory gas-phase experiments. In order to enable interstellar searches of H2NCO we have undertaken a mandatory laboratory characterisation of its pure rotational spectrum. We report the gas-phase laboratory detection of H2NCO produced by H-atom abstraction from formamide, using pure rotational spectroscopy at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths. Millimetre-wave data were acquired using chirped-pulse Fourier-transform spectroscopy, while submillimetre-wave ones were obtained using Zeeman-modulated spectroscopy. Experimental measurements were guided by quantum-chemical calculations at the omega B97X-D/cc-pVQZ level of theory. Interstellar searches for the radical have been undertaken in the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS) towards the solar-type protostar IRAS 16293–2422. From the assignment and fit of experimental transitions up to 660\,GHz, reliable spectroscopic parameters for H2NCO in its ground vibrational state have been derived, enabling accurate spectral predictions. No transitions of the radical were detected in the PILS survey. The inferred upper limit shows that the H2NCO abundance is at least times below that of formamide and 160 times below that of HNCO in this source; a value that is in agreement with predictions from a physico-chemical model of this young protostar.

A deep search for large complex organic species toward IRAS16293-2422 B at 3 mm with ALMA

Complex organic molecules (COMs) have been detected ubiquitously in protostellar systems. However, at shorter wavelengths ($ sim 0.8$\,mm), it is generally more difficult to detect larger molecules than at longer wavelengths sim 3$\,mm) because of the increase in millimeter dust opacity, line confusion, and unfavorable partition function. We aim to search for large molecules (more than eight atoms) in the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Band 3 spectrum of IRAS 16293-2422 B. In particular, the goal is to quantify the usability of ALMA Band 3 for molecular line surveys in comparison to similar studies at shorter wavelengths. We used deep ALMA Band 3 observations of IRAS 16293-2422 B to search for more than 70 molecules and identified as many lines as possible in the spectrum. The spectral settings were set to specifically target three-carbon species such as i- and n-propanol and glycerol, the next step after glycolaldehyde and ethylene glycol in the hydrogenation of CO. We then derived the column densities and excitation temperatures of the detected species and compared the ratios with respect to methanol between Band 3 ($ sim 3$\,mm) and Band 7 sim 1$\,mm, Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey) observations of this source to examine the effect of the dust optical depth. We identified lines of 31 molecules including many oxygen-bearing COMs such as CH$_3$OH, CH$_2$OHCHO, CH$_3$CH$_2$OH, and c-C$_2$H$_4$O and a few nitrogen- and sulfur-bearing ones such as HOCH$_2$CN and CH$_3$SH. The largest detected molecules are gGg-(CH$_2$OH)$_2$ and CH$_3$COCH$_3$. We did not detect glycerol or i- and n-propanol, but we do provide upper limits for them which are in line with previous laboratory and observational studies. The line density in Band 3 is only $ sim 2.5$ times lower in frequency space than in Band 7. From the detected lines in Band 3 at a $ level sim 25-30<!PCT!>$ of them could not be identified indicating the need for more laboratory data of rotational spectra. We find similar column densities and column density ratios of COMs (within a factor $ sim 2$) between Band 3 and Band 7. The effect of the dust optical depth for IRAS 16293-2422 B at an off-source location on column densities and column density ratios is minimal. Moreover, for warm protostars, long wavelength spectra ($ sim 3$\,mm) are not only crowded and complex, but they also take significantly longer integration times than shorter wavelength observations sim 0.8$\,mm) to reach the same sensitivity limit. The 3\,mm search has not yet resulted in the detection of larger and more complex molecules in warm sources. A full deep ALMA Band $2-3$ (i.e. sim 3-4$\,mm wavelengths) survey is needed to assess whether low frequency data have the potential to reveal more complex molecules in warm sources.

Investigation of the rotational spectrum of CD3OD and an astronomical search toward IRAS 16293-2422

Solar-type prestellar cores and protostars frequently display large amounts of deuterated organic molecules and, in particular, high relative abundances of doubly and triply deuterated isotopologs. Recent findings on CHD2OH and CD3OH toward IRAS 16293–2422 suggest that even fully deuterated methanol, CD3OD, may be detectable as well. However, searches for CD3OD are hampered in particular by the lack of intensity information from a spectroscopic model. The objective of the present investigation is to develop a spectroscopic model of CD3OD in low-lying torsional states that is sufficiently accurate to facilitate searches for this isotopolog in space. We carried out a new measurement campaign for CD3OD involving two spectroscopic laboratories that covers the 34 GHz–1.1 THz range. A torsion-rotation Hamiltonian model based on the rho-axis method was employed for our analysis. Our resulting model describes the ground and first excited torsional states of CD3OD well up to quantum numbers J ⩽ 51 and Ka ⩽ 23. We derived a line list for radio-astronomical observations from this model that is accurate up to at least 1.1 THz and should be sufficient for all types of radio-astronomical searches for this methanol isotopolog. This line list was used to search for CD3OD in data from the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey of IRAS 16293–2422 obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. While we found several emission features that can be attributed largely to CD3OD, their number is still not sufficiently high enough to establish a clear detection. Nevertheless, the estimate of 2 × 1015 cm−2 derived for the CD3OD column density may be viewed as an upper limit that can be compared to column densities of CD3OH, CH3OD, and CH3OH. The comparison indicates that the CD3OD column density toward IRAS 16293–2422 is in line with the enhanced D/H ratios observed for multiply deuterated complex organic molecules.

Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey of the Cygnus-X region (PILS-Cygnus)

Context. Molecular lines are commonly detected towards protostellar sources. However, to get a better understanding of the chemistry of these sources we need unbiased molecular surveys over a wide frequency range for as many sources as possible to shed light on the origin of this chemistry, particularly any influence from the external environment. Aims. We present results from the PILS-Cygnus survey of ten intermediate- to high-mass protostellar sources in the nearby Cygnus-X complex, through high angular resolution interferometric observations over a wide frequency range. Methods. Using the Submillimeter Array (SMA), a spectral line survey of ten sources was performed in the frequency range 329–361 GHz, with an angular resolution of ~1″.5, or ~2000 AU at a source distance of 1.3 kpc from the Sun. Spectral modelling was performed to identify molecular emission and determine column densities and excitation temperatures for each source. Emission maps were made to study the morphology of emission. Finally, emission properties were compared across the sample. Results. We detect CH3OH towards nine of the ten sources, with CH3OCH3 and CH3OCHO towards three sources. We further detect CH3CN towards four sources. Towards five sources the chemistry is spatially differentiated, meaning that different species peak at different positions and are offset from the peak continuum emission. Low levels of deuteration are detected towards four sources in HDO emission, whereas deuterated complex organic molecule emission is detected towards one source (CH2DOH towards N63). The chemical properties of each source do not correlate with their position in the Cygnus-X complex, nor do the distance or direction to the nearest OB associations. However, the five sources located in the DR21 filament do appear to show less line emission compared to the five sources outside the filament. Conclusions. This work shows how important wide frequency coverage observations are combined with high angular resolution observations for studying the protostellar environment. Furthermore, based on the ten sources observed here, the external environment appears to only play a minor role in setting the chemical environment on these small scales (<2000 AU).

Rotational spectroscopy of oxirane-2,2-[formula omitted], [formula omitted]-CD[formula omitted]CH[formula omitted]O, and its tentative detection toward IRAS 16293-2422 B

We prepared a sample of oxirane doubly deuterated at one C atom and studied its rotational spectrum in the laboratory for the first time between 120 GHz and 1094 GHz. Accurate spectroscopic parameters up to eighth order were determined, and the calculated rest frequencies were used to identify c-CD2CH2O tentatively in the interstellar medium in the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS) of the Class 0 protostellar system IRAS 16293-2422. The c-CD2CH2O to c-C2H4O ratio was estimated to be ∼0.054 with Trot=125 K. This value translates to a D-to-H ratio of ∼0.16 per H atom which is higher by a factor of 4.5 than the ∼0.036 per H atom obtained for c-C2H3DO. Such increase in the degree of deuteration referenced to one H atom in multiply deuterated isotopologs compared to their singly deuterated variants have been observed commonly in recent years.

Millimetre and sub-millimetre spectroscopy of doubly deuterated acetaldehyde (CHD2CHO) and first detection towards IRAS 16293-2422

Context. The abundances of deuterated molecules with respect to their main isotopologue counterparts have been determined to be orders of magnitude higher than expected from the cosmic abundance of deuterium relative to hydrogen. The increasing number of singly and multi-deuterated species detections helps us to constrain the interplay between gas-phase and solid-state chemistry and to understand better deuterium fractionation in the early stages of star formation. Acetaldehyde is one of the most abundant complex organic molecules (COMs) in star-forming regions and its singly deuterated isotopologues have already been observed towards protostars. Aims. A spectroscopic catalogue for astrophysical purposes is built for doubly deuterated acetaldehyde (CHD2CHO) from measurements in the laboratory. With this accurate catalogue, we aim to search for and detect this species in the interstellar medium and retrieve its column density and abundance. Methods. Sub-millimetre wave transitions were measured for the non-rigid doubly deuterated acetaldehyde CHD2CHO displaying hindered internal rotation of its asymmetrical CHD2 methyl group. An analysis of a dataset consisting of previously measured microwave transitions and of the newly measured ones was carried out with an effective Hamiltonian which accounts for the tunnelling of the asymmetrical methyl group. Results. A line position analysis was carried out, allowing us to reproduce 853 transition frequencies with a weighted root mean square standard deviation of 1.7, varying 40 spectroscopic constants. A spectroscopic catalogue for astrophysical purposes was built from the analysis results. Using this catalogue, we were able to detect, for the first time, CHD2CHO towards the low-mass proto-stellar system IRAS 16293-2422 utilising data from the ALMA Proto-stellar Interferometric Line Survey. Conclusions. The first detection of the CHD2CHO species allowed for the derivation of its column density with a value of 1.3×1015 cm−2 and an uncertainty of 10–20%. The resulting D2/D ratio of ~20% is found to be coincident with D2/D ratios derived for other COMs towards IRAS 16293-2422, pointing to a common formation environment with enhanced deuterium fractionation.

Millimetre-wave spectroscopy of 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal and an astronomical search with ALMA

Context. Several sugar-like molecules have been found in the interstellar medium (ISM). The molecule studied in this work, 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal, is among the candidates to be searched for, as it is a dehydration product of C3 sugars and contains structural motifs that are typical for some interstellar molecules. Furthermore, it has recently been predicted that it is more abundant in the ISM than its tentatively detected isomer 3-hydroxypropenal. Aims. So far, only low-frequency microwave data of 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal have been published. The aim of this work is to deepen our knowledge about the millimetre-wave spectrum of 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal, enabling its detailed search towards astronomical objects. In particular, we target the solar-type protostar IRAS 16293-2422 and the star-forming region Sagittarius (Sgr) B2(N). Methods. The rotational spectrum of 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal was measured and analysed in the frequency regions of 128-166 GHz and 285-329 GHz. The interstellar exploration towards IRAS 16293-2422 was based on the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) data of the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS). We also used the imaging spectral line survey ReMoCA performed with ALMA towards Sgr B2(N) to search for 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal in the ISM. We modelled the astronomical spectra under the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). Results. We provide laboratory analysis of hundreds of rotational transitions of 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal in the ground state and the lowest lying excited vibrational state. We report its non-detection towards IRAS 16293 B. The 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal/3-hydroxypropenal abundance ratio is estimated to be ≲0.9–1.3, in agreement with the predicted value of ~1.4. We report the non-detection of 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal towards the hot molecular core Sgr B2(N1), and we did not detect the related aldehydes 2-hydroxypropanal and 3-hydroxypropenal either. We find that these three molecules are at least nine, four, and ten times less abundant than acetaldehyde in this source, respectively. Conclusions. Despite the non-detections of 2-hydroxyprop-2-enal, the results of this work represent a significant improvement on previous investigations in the microwave region and meet the requirements for further searches for this molecule in the ISM.

Rotational spectroscopy of mono-deuterated oxirane (c-C2H3DO) and its detection towards IRAS 16293−2422 B

ABSTRACT We prepared a sample of mono-deuterated oxirane and studied its rotational spectrum in the laboratory between 490 and 1060 GHz in order to improve its spectroscopic parameters and consequently the calculated rest frequencies of its rotational transitions. The updated rest frequencies were employed to detect c-C2H3DO for the first time in the interstellar medium in the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS) of the Class 0 protostellar system IRAS 16293−2422. Fits of the detected lines using the rotation diagrams yield a temperature of Trot = 103 ± 19 K, which in turn agrees well with 125 K derived for the c-C2H4O main isotopologue previously. The c-C2H3DO to c-C2H4O ratio is found to be ∼0.15 corresponding to a D-to-H ratio of ∼0.036 per H atom, which is slightly higher than the D-to-H ratio of species such as methanol, formaldehyde, and ketene but lower than those of the larger complex organic species such as ethanol, methyl formate, and glycolaldehyde. This may reflect that oxirane is formed fairly early in the evolution of the prestellar cores. The identification of doubly deuterated oxirane isotopomers in the PILS data may be possibly judged by the amount of mono-deuterated oxirane and the observed trend that multiply deuterated isotopologues have higher deuteration rates than their mono-deuterated variants.

The ALMA-PILS survey: First tentative detection of 3-hydroxypropenal (HOCHCHCHO) in the interstellar medium and chemical modeling of the C3H4O2 isomers

Characterizing the molecular composition of solar-type protostars is useful for improving our understanding of the physico-chemical conditions under which the Sun and its planets formed. In this work, we analyzed the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) data of the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS), an unbiased spectral survey of the solar-type protostar IRAS 16293–2422, and we tentatively detected 3-hydroxypropenal (HOCHCHCHO) for the first time in the interstellar medium towards source B. Based on the observed line intensities and assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium, its column density is constrained to be ∼1015 cm−2, corresponding to an abundance of 10−4 relative to methanol, CH3OH. Additional spectroscopic studies are needed to constrain the excitation temperature of this molecule. We included HOCHCHCHO and five of its isomers in the chemical network presented in Manigand et al. (2021, A&A, 645, A53) and we predicted their chemical evolution with the Nautilus code. The model reproduces the abundance of HOCHCHCHO within the uncertainties. This species is mainly formed through the grain surface reaction CH2CHO + HCO → HCOCH2CHO, followed by the tautomerization of HCOCH2CHO into HOCHCHCHO. Two isomers, CH3COCHO and CH2COHCHO, are predicted to be even more abundant than HOCHCHCHO. Spectroscopic studies of these molecules are essential in searching for them in IRAS 16293–2422 and other astrophysical sources.

Connecting Galactic and extragalactic outflows: From the Cygnus-X cluster to active galaxies

Context. Molecular outflows are commonly detected originating from both protostellar and extragalactic sources. Separate studies of low-mass, isolated high-mass, and extragalactic sources reveal scaling relations connecting the force carried by an outflow and the properties of the source that drives it, as for example the mass and luminosity. Aims. The aim of this work is twofold: first, to examine the effects, if any, of clustered star formation on the protostellar outflows and their scaling relations and, second, to explore the possibility that outflows varying in scale and energetics by many orders of magnitude are consistent with being launched by the same physical processes. Methods. To that end, high-angular resolution CO J = 3–2 observations were used of ten high-mass protostars in the Cygnus-X molecular cloud, obtained at the SubMilliMeter Array as part of the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey of Cygnus-X (PILS-Cygnus). From these data, the outflow force, that is the momentum ejection rate, was measured. In addition, an extended sample of protostellar and extragalactic outflow-force measurements was assembled from existing literature to allow for a direct comparison of the scaling relations of the two types of outflows. Results. Molecular outflows were detected originating from all ten sources of the PILS-Cygnus survey, and their outflow forces are found to be in close agreement with measurements from the literature. In addition, the comparison of the protostellar and extragalactic sources reveals, with 95% confidence, that Class 0 protostars and extragalactic sources follow the same outflow force–bolometric luminosity correlation. Conclusions. The close agreement between the Cygnus-X sources and sources of similar envelope mass and bolometric luminosity suggests that clustered star formation has no significant effect on protostellar outflows. We find a strong indication that protostellar and extragalactic outflows are consistent with having a similar launch mechanism. The existence of such a mechanism would enable the development of a single universal outflow launch model, although more observations are required in order to verify this connection.

Successive deuteration in low-mass star-forming regions: The case of D2-methanol (CHD2OH) in IRAS 16293-2422

Context. Di-deuterated molecules are observed in the earliest stages of star formation at abundances of a few percent relative to their nondeuterated isotopologs, which is unexpected considering the scarcity of deuterium in the interstellar medium. With sensitive observations leading to the detection of a steadily increasing number of di-deuterated species, it is becoming possible to explore successive deuteration chains. Aims. The accurate quantification of the column density of di-deuterated methanol is a key piece of the puzzle that is missing in the otherwise thoroughly constrained family of D-bearing methanol in the deeply embedded low-mass protostellar system and astrochemical template source IRAS 16293-2422. A spectroscopic dataset for astrophysical purposes was built for CHD2OH and made publicly available to facilitate the accurate characterization of this species in astrochemical surveys. Methods. The newly computed line list and partition function were used to search for CHD2OH toward IRAS 16293-2422 A and B in data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS). Only nonblended, optically thin lines of CHD2OH were used for the synthetic spectral fitting. Results. The constructed spectroscopic database contains line frequencies and strengths for 7417 transitions in the 0–500 GHz frequency range. ALMA-PILS observations in the 329–363 GHz range were used to identify 105 unique, nonblended, optically thin line frequencies of CHD2OH for synthetic spectral fitting. The derived excitation temperatures and column densities yield high D/H ratios of CHD2OH in IRAS 16293-2422 A and B of 7.5 ± 1.1% and 7.7 ± 1.2%, respectively. Conclusions. Deuteration in IRAS 16293-2422 is not higher than in other low-mass star-forming regions (L483, SVS13-A, NGC 1333-IRAS2A, -IRAS4A, and -IRAS4B). Di-deuterated molecules consistently have higher D/H ratios than their mono-deuterated counterparts in all low-mass protostars, which may be a natural consequence of H–D substitution reactions as seen in laboratory experiments. The Solar System’s natal cloud, as traced by comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, may have had a lower initial abundance of D, been warmer than the cloud of IRAS 16293-2422, or been partially reprocessed. In combination with accurate spectroscopy, a careful spectral analysis, and the consideration of the underlying assumptions, successive deuteration is a robust window on the physicochemical provenance of star-forming systems.

Rotational and rovibrational spectroscopy of CD3OH with an account of CD3OH toward IRAS 16293−2422

Solar-type protostars have been shown to harbor highly deuterated complex organics, as evidenced, for instance, by the high relative abundances of doubly and triply deuterated isotopologs. While this degree of deuteration may provide important clues in studying the formation of these species, spectroscopic information on multiply deuterated isotopologs is often insufficient. In particular, searches for triply deuterated methanol, CD3OH, are hampered to a large extent by the lack of intensity information from a spectroscopic model. The aim of the present study is to develop a spectroscopic model of CD3OH in low-lying torsional states that is sufficiently accurate to facilitate further searches for CD3OH in space. We performed a new measurement campaign for CD3OH involving three spectroscopic laboratories that covers the 34 GHz−1.1 THz and the 20−900 cm−1 ranges. The analysis was performed using the torsion-rotation Hamiltonian model based on the rho-axis method. We determined a model that describes the ground and first excited torsional states of CD3OH, up to quantum numbers J ≤ 55 and Ka ≤ 23, and we derived a line list for radio-astronomical observations. The resulting line list is accurate up to at least 1.1 THz and should be sufficient for all types of radio-astronomical searches for this methanol isotopolog. This line list was used to search for CD3OH in data from the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey of IRAS 16293−2422 using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. Specifically, CD3OH is securely detected in the data, with a large number of clearly separated and well-reproduced lines. We not only detected lines belonging to the ground torsional state, but also several belonging to the first excited torsional state. The derived column density of CD3OH and abundance relative to the non-deuterated isotopolog confirm the significant enhancement of this multiply deuterated variant. This finding is in line with other observations of multiply deuterated complex organic molecules and may serve as an important constraint on their formation models.

Torsional-rotational spectrum of doubly deuterated dimethyl ether (CH3OCHD2)

Context. In 2013, we published the first rotational analysis and detection of mono-deuterated dimethyl ether in the solar-type protostar IRAS 16293-2422 with the IRAM 30 m telescope. Dimethyl ether is one of the most abundant complex organic molecules in star-forming regions, and its D-to-H (D/H) ratios are important to understand its chemistry and trace the source history. Aims. We present the first analysis of doubly deuterated dimethyl ether (methoxy-d2-methane, 1,1-dideuteromethylether) in its ground-vibrational state, based on an effective Hamiltonian for an asymmetric rotor molecule with internal rotors. The analysis covers the frequency range 0.15–1.5 THz. Methods. The laboratory rotational spectrum of this species was measured between 150 and 1500 GHz with Lille’s submillimeter spectrometer. For the astronomical detection, we used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations from the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey. Results. New sets of spectroscopic parameters have been determined by a least squares fit with the ERHAM code for both symmetric and asymmetric conformers. As for the mono-deuterated species, these parameters have permitted the first identification in space of both conformers of a doubly deuterated dimethyl ether via detection near the B component of the Class 0 protostar IRAS 16293-2422.

The ALMA-PILS survey: inventory of complex organic molecules towards IRAS 16293–2422 A

Context.Complex organic molecules are detected in many sources in the warm inner regions of envelopes surrounding deeply embedded protostars. Exactly how these species form remains an open question.Aims.This study aims to constrain the formation of complex organic molecules through comparisons of their abundances towards the Class 0 protostellar binary IRAS 16293–2422.Methods.We utilised observations from the ALMA Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey of IRAS 16293–2422. The species identification and the rotational temperature and column density estimation were derived by fitting the extracted spectra towards IRAS 16293–2422 A and IRAS 16293–2422 B with synthetic spectra. The majority of the work in this paper pertains to the analysis of IRAS 16293–2422 A for a comparison with the results from the other binary component, which have already been published.Results.We detect 15 different complex species, as well as 16 isotopologues towards the most luminous companion protostar IRAS 16293–2422 A. Tentative detections of an additional 11 isotopologues are reported. We also searched for and report on the first detections of methoxymethanol (CH3OCH2OH) and trans-ethyl methyl ether (t-C2H5OCH3) towards IRAS 16293–2422 B and the follow-up detection of deuterated isotopologues of acetaldehyde (CH2DCHO and CH3CDO). Twenty-four lines of doubly-deuterated methanol (CHD2OH) are also identified.Conclusions.The comparison between the two protostars of the binary system shows significant differences in abundance for some of the species, which are partially correlated to their spatial distribution. The spatial distribution is consistent with the sublimation temperature of the species; those with higher expected sublimation temperatures are located in the most compact region of the hot corino towards IRAS 16293–2422 A. This spatial differentiation is not resolved in IRAS 16293–2422 B and will require observations at a higher angular resolution. In parallel, the list of identified CHD2OH lines shows the need of accurate spectroscopic data including their line strength.

Temperature profiles of young disk-like structures

Context. Temperature is a crucial parameter in circumstellar disk evolution and planet formation because it governs the resistance of the gas to gravitational instability and sets the chemical composition of the planet-forming material. Aims. We set out to determine the gas temperature of the young disk-like structure around the Class 0 protostar IRAS 16293–2422A. Methods. We used Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of multiple H2CS J = 7 − 6 and J = 10 − 9 lines from the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS) to create a temperature map for the inner ~200 AU of the disk-like structure. This molecule is a particularly useful temperature probe because transitions between energy levels with different Ka quantum numbers operate only through collisions. Results. Based on the H2CS line ratios, the temperature is between ~100–175 K in the inner ~150 AU, and drops to ~75 K at ~200 AU. At the current resolution (0.5′′~70 AU), no jump is seen in the temperature at the disk–envelope interface. Conclusions. The temperature structure derived from H2CS is consistent with envelope temperature profiles that constrain the temperature from 1000 AU scales down to ~100 AU, but does not follow the temperature rise seen in these profiles at smaller radii. Higher angular resolution observations of optically thin temperature tracers are needed to establish whether cooling by gas-phase water, the presence of a putative disk, or the dust optical depth influences the gas temperature at ≲100 AU scales. The temperature at 100 AU is higher in IRAS 16293A than in the embedded Class 0/I disk L1527, consistent with the higher luminosity of the former.

The ALMA-PILS survey: propyne (CH3CCH) in IRAS 16293–2422

Context. Propyne (CH3CCH), also known as methyl acetylene, has been detected in a variety of environments, from Galactic star-forming regions to extragalactic sources. These molecules are excellent tracers of the physical conditions in star-forming regions, allowing the temperature and density conditions surrounding a forming star to be determined. Aims. This study explores the emission of CH3CCH in the low-mass protostellar binary, IRAS 16293–2422, and examines the spatial scales traced by this molecule, as well as its formation and destruction pathways. Methods. Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations from the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS) were used to determine the abundances and excitation temperatures of CH3CCH towards both protostars. This data allows us to explore spatial scales from 70 to 2400 au. This data is also compared with the three-phase chemical kinetics model MAGICKAL, to explore the chemical reactions of this molecule. Results. CH3CCH is detected towards both IRAS 16293A and IRAS 16293B, and is found the hot corino components, one around each source, in the PILS dataset. Eighteen transitions above 3σ are detected, enabling robust excitation temperatures and column densities to be determined in each source. In IRAS 16293A, an excitation temperature of 90 K and a column density of 7.8 × 1015 cm−2 best fits the spectra. In IRAS 16293B, an excitation temperature of 100 K and 6.8 × 1015 cm−2 best fits the spectra. The chemical modelling finds that in order to reproduce the observed abundances, both gas-phase and grain-surface reactions are needed. The gas-phase reactions are particularly sensitive to the temperature at which CH4 desorbs from the grains. Conclusions. CH3CCH is a molecule whose brightness and abundance in many different regions can be utilised to provide a benchmark of molecular variation with the physical properties of star-forming regions. It is essential when making such comparisons, that the abundances are determined with a good understanding of the spatial scale of the emitting region, to ensure that accurate abundances are derived.

Ingredients for solar-like systems: protostar IRAS 16293-2422 B versus comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

ABSTRACT Our modern day Solar System has 4.6 × 109 yr of evolution behind it with just a few relics of its birth conditions remaining. Comets are thought to be some of the most pristine tracers of the initial ingredients that were combined to produce the Earth and the other planets. Other low-mass protostars may be analogous to our proto-Sun and hence, could be used to study the building blocks necessary to form Solar-like systems. This study tests this idea on the basis of new high sensitivity, high spatial resolution ALMA data on the protoplanetary disc-scales (∼70 au) of IRAS 16293-2422 and the bulk composition of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, as determined for the first time with the unique in situ monitoring carried out by Rosetta. The comparative analysis of the observations from the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS) and the measurements made with Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) shows that the relative abundances of CHO-, N-, and S-bearing molecules correlate, with some scatter, between protostellar and cometary data. A tentative correlation is seen for the first time for P- and Cl-bearing compounds. The results imply that the volatile composition of cometesimals and planetesimals is partially inherited from the pre- and protostellar phases of evolution.

Astrophysical detections and databases for the mono deuterated species of acetaldehyde CH2DCOH and CH3COD

Context. Detection of deuterated species may provide information on the evolving chemistry in the earliest phases of star-forming regions. For molecules with two isomeric forms of the same isotopic variant, gas-phase and solid-state formation pathways can be differentiated using their abundance ratio. Aims. Spectroscopic databases for astrophysical purposes are built for the two mono deuterated isomeric species CH2DCOH and CH3COD of the complex organic molecule acetaldehyde. These databases can be used to search and detect these two species in astrophysical surveys, retrieving their column density and therefore abundances. Methods. Submillimeter wave and terahertz transitions were measured for mono deuterated acetaldehyde CH2DCOH which is a non-rigid species displaying internal rotation of its asymmetrical CH2D methyl group. An analysis of a dataset consisting of previously measured microwave data and the newly measured transition was carried out with a model accounting for the large amplitude torsion. Results. The frequencies of 2556 transitions are reproduced with a unitless standard deviation of 2.3 yielding various spectroscopic constants. Spectroscopic databases for astrophysical purposes were built for CH2DCOH using the results of the present analysis and for CH3COD using the results of a previous spectroscopic investigation. These two species were both searched for and are detected toward a low-mass star-forming region. Conclusions. We report the first detection of CH2DCOH (93 transitions) and the detection of CH3COD (43 transitions) species in source B of the IRAS 16293−2422 young stellar binary system located in the ρ Ophiuchus cloud region, using the publicly available ALMA Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey.

Laboratory spectroscopic study of the 15N isotopomers of cyanamide, H2NCN, and a search for them toward IRAS 16293−2422 B

Context. Cyanamide is one of the few interstellar molecules containing two chemically different N atoms. It was detected recently toward the solar-type protostar IRAS 16293−2422 B together with H2N13CN and HDNCN in the course of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS). The detection of the 15N isotopomers or the determination of upper limits to their column densities was hampered by the lack of accurate laboratory data at the frequencies of the survey. Aims. We wanted to determine spectroscopic parameters of the 15N isotopomers of cyanamide that are accurate enough for predictions well into the submillimeter region and to search for them in the PILS data. Methods. We investigated the laboratory rotational spectra of H215NCN and H2NC15N in the selected region between 192 and 507 GHz employing a cyanamide sample in natural isotopic composition. Additionally, we recorded transitions of H2N13CN. Results. We obtained new or improved spectroscopic parameters for the three isotopic species. Neither of the 15N isotopomers of cyanamide were detected unambiguously in the PILS data. Two relatively clean lines can be tentatively assigned to H215NCN. If confirmed, their column densities would imply a low 14N/15N ratio for cyanamide toward this source. Conclusions. The resulting line lists should be accurate enough for observations up to about 1 THz. More sensitive observations, potentially at different frequencies, may eventually lead to the astronomical detection of these isotopic species.