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A. Karska

Publications and source records attributed to A. Karska.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The Cygnus Allscale Survey of Chemistry and Dynamical Environments: CASCADE: VI. Molecular outflows in the DR21 ridge

Star formation takes place in varied environments, from isolated clumps to massive molecular cloud complexes. However, whether the environment in which a star forms has any effect on the formation process remains a matter of debate. The molecular outflows, launched during the formation of protostars present a more easily accessible way to study star formation in different environments. The DR21 ridge, in the Cygnus-X high-mass star-forming complex, hosts a high number of massive dense cores and embedded protostars with outflows. We aim to identify molecular outflows associated with dense molecular cores along the DR21 ridge, and investigate whether the extended environment impacts the formation process of stars within it. We identified molecular outflows along the DR21 ridge using HCO+ J=1-0, H13CO+ J=1-0, and SiO J=2-1 observations obtained with the IRAM 30m telescope and NOEMA as part of the CASCADE program. We calculated outflow properties and performed statistical comparisons between the DR21 ridge sources and a literature sample of low- to high-mass outflow sources. Based on the morphology of HCO+, H13CO+ and SiO, we identify molecular outflows in 14 out of 34 dense cores (41%) along the DR21 ridge. Despite the high density of star formation in DR21, the resulting outflow properties are found to be in good agreement with the established correlations between outflow and source properties. Little variation is seen in the outflow properties of sources along the ridge, with the exception of sources located at the intersection of the DR21 ridge with large-scale (~1 pc) accretion filaments. These sources are found to drive the most powerful outflows. Overall, our results indicate that protostellar outflow properties, even when driven by sources forming in an extreme and clustered region, such as the DR21 ridge, remain largely unaffected.

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Spectroscopic surveys with the SKA probing the ionized and molecular Milky Way

Radio spectroscopic surveys provide us with a comprehensive picture of the Milky Way across many physical and chemical regimes. Spectral lines primarily probe the multi-phase gaseous interstellar medium (ISM) from its ionized to atomic and molecular phases, and constrain both local and galaxy-scale kinematics and structure through Doppler shifts. By investigating the physical and chemical properties and distribution of the ISM, the processes driving star formation and galaxy evolution can be studied in detail. This motivates line surveys of our Galaxy that allow us to use the range of physical conditions found in the Milky Way as a template for understanding star formation in extragalactic environments. In this chapter, we describe the science enabled by the spectroscopy of small molecules and radio recombination lines of atoms toward a range of Galactic environments with the SKA. We address questions concerning the processes that dictate the formation of molecular clouds (OH, CH), the properties of warm, ionized gas and the potential of HII regions in understanding the structure of the Galaxy (radio recombination lines), and the impact of CO-dark molecular gas across various density regimes on star formation and galaxy evolution (OH, H2CO). We propose a survey that includes the inner and outer Galaxy disk, characterized by a broad range of densities, temperatures, and metallicities. Deep, wide-field observations of small molecules will be uniquely accessible with SKA, providing key insights on the condition of interstellar medium in galaxies and its impact on star formation.

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The 10-15 GHz radio continuum survey of the Galactic Plane with SKAO

Star formation emerges from the complex interplay between gravity, turbulence, magnetic fields, and stellar feedback, all of which vary across spatial scales and Galactic environments. Over the past decades, extensive multiwavelength surveys of the Galactic Plane have progressively unveiled this complexity. Far-infrared and sub-millimetre surveys have identified and characterized tens of thousands of star-forming regions, revealing their mass, temperature, and evolutionary stage. Complementary molecular-line surveys, spanning several CO transitions and isotopologues, have mapped the gas kinematics from giant molecular clouds down to sub-parsec structures. The advent of interferometers such as ALMA has revolutionized this field, enabling systematic studies of gas dynamics, fragmentation, and collapse in dense clumps at scales of a few thousand astronomical units. At the same time, mid-infrared and radio surveys at frequencies 0.8 <= nu <= 5 GHz have traced ionised gas associated with the earliest and latest phases of massive-star evolution, including thermal radio jets, hypercompact and ultracompact HII regions, supernova remnants, planetary nebulae, and evolved massive stars. Yet, a uniform, Galaxy-wide census of ionised structures and feedback processes remains elusive. A transformational leap forward requires a sensitive, high-resolution radio survey of the Galactic Plane at 10-15 GHz, capable of resolving physical scales smaller than 0.05 pc at distances up to 20 kpc. This is precisely the goal of the SKA-Mid Galactic Plane survey, which will, with its unprecedented sensitivity, angular resolution, and mapping speed, provide the first panoptic view of ionised gas and stellar feedback across the Milky Way.

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A multiscale evolutionary study of molecular gas in STARFORGE. I. Synthetic observations of SEDIGISM-like molecular clouds

Molecular clouds are active sites of star formation in galaxies, and their formation and evolution are largely affected by stellar feedback. This includes outflows and winds from newly formed stars, radiation from young clusters, and supernova explosions. High-resolution molecular line observations allow for the identification of individual star-forming regions and the study of their integrated properties. Moreover, simulations are now capable of accurately replicating the evolution of MCs including all key stellar feedback processes. We present 13CO(2-1) synthetic observations of the STARFORGE simulations produced using the radiative transfer code RADMC-3D, matching the observational setup of the SEDIGISM survey. From these, we identified the population of MCs using hierarchical clustering and analysed them to provide insights into the interpretation of observed MCs as they evolve. The flux distributions of the post-processed synthetic observations and the properties of the MCs, namely radius, mass, velocity dispersion, virial parameter and surface density, are consistent with those of SEDIGISM. Both samples of MCs occupy the same regions in the scaling relation plots; however, the average distributions of MCs at different evolutionary stages do not overlap on the plots. This highlights the reliability of our approach in modelling SEDIGISM and suggests that MCs at different evolutionary stages contribute to the scatter in observed scaling relations. We study the trends in MC properties over time to analyse their physical structure as they evolve. MCs appear as small, diffuse cloudlets in early stages, followed by their evolution to filamentary structures, before being shaped by stellar feedback into 3D bubbles and getting dispersed. These trends in the observable properties of MCs provide strong evidence that clouds exhibit distinct morphologies over the course of their evolution.

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UV-irradiated outflows from low-mass protostars in Ophiuchus with JWST/MIRI

The main accretion phase of protostars is characterized by the ejection of material in the form of jets/outflows. External UV irradiation can potentially have a significant impact on the excitation conditions within these outflows. High-resolution observations in the mid-infrared allow us to investigate the details of those energetic processes through the emission of shock-excited H$_2$ . Our aim is to spatially resolve H$_2$ and ionic/atomic emission within the outflows of low-mass protostars, and investigate its origin in connection to shocks influenced by external ultraviolet irradiation. We analyze spectral maps of 5 Class I protostars in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MIRI/MRS). Four out of five protostars show strong H$_2$, [\ion{Ne}{II}], and [\ion{Fe}{II}] emission associated with outflows/jets. Pure rotational H$_2$ transitions from S(1) to S(8) are found and show two distinct temperature components on Boltzmann diagrams with rotational temperatures of $\sim$500-600 K and $\sim$1000-3000 K respectively. Both $C$-type shocks propagating at high pre-shock densities (n$_\text{H} \ge$10$^4$ cm$^{-3}$) and $J$-type shocks at low pre-shock densities (n$_\text{H} \le$10$^3$ cm$^{-3}$) reproduce the observed line ratios. However, only $C$-type shocks produce sufficiently high column densities of H$_2$, whereas predictions from a single $J$-type shock reproduce the observed rotational temperatures of the gas better. A combination of various types of shocks could play a role in protostellar outflows as long as UV irradiation is included in the models. The origin of this radiation is likely internal, since no significant differences in the excitation conditions of outflows are seen at various locations in the cloud.

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OGHReS: Star formation in the Outer Galaxy II ($\ell = 180^\circ$-$280^\circ$)

The Outer Galaxy High-Resolution Survey (OGHReS) covers 100 square degrees ($180^\circ < \ell < 280^\circ$) in the (2--1) transitions of three CO-isotopologues. We use the spectra to refine the velocities and physical properties to 6706 \higal\ clumps located in the OGHReS region. In a previous paper, we analysed 3584 clumps between $\ell = 250^\circ$ and $280^\circ$. Here, we cover a further 3122 clumps ($180^\circ < \ell < 250^\circ$) and determine reliable velocities for \withVLSR\ of these, finding good agreement with the previously assigned velocities ($\sim$80 percent within 5 \kms). We update velocities for 288 clumps and provide new values for an additional 411. Combining these with the previous results, we have velocities and physical properties for 6193 clumps (92.3 percent). The \allnonDetections\ non-detections are low surface density clumps or likely contamination by evolved stars and galaxies. Key findings: i) improved correlation between clumps and spiral arm loci, and the discovery of clumps beyond the outer arm supports the existence of a new spiral structure; ii) decreasing trend in the $L/M$-ratio consistent with less high-mass star formation in the outer Galaxy; iii) increase in the star formation fraction (SFF) in the outer Galaxy, suggesting that more clumps are forming stars despite their lower mass; iv) discrepancies in velocity assignments across different surveys that could affect $\sim$10000 clumps, especially in the fourth quadrant.

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SOFIA FIFI-LS spectroscopy of DR21 Main: energetics of the spatially-resolved outflow from a high-mass protostar

Massive star formation is associated with energetic processes that may influence the physics and chemistry of parental molecular clouds and impact galaxy evolution. The high-mass protostar DR21 Main in Cygnus X possesses one of the largest and most luminous outflows ever detected in the Galaxy, but the origin of its structure and driving mechanisms is still debated. Our aim is to spatially resolve the far-infrared line emission from DR21 Main and to investigate the gas physical conditions, energetics, and current mass loss rates along its outflow. Far-infrared SOFIA FIFI-LS spectra covering selected high-J CO lines, OH, [O I], [CII] and [O III] lines are analyzed across the almost full extent of the DR21 Main outflow using 2.00' x 3.75' mosaic. The spatial extent of far-infrared emission follows closely the well-known outflow direction of DR21 Main in case of high-J CO, [O I] 63.18 um, and the OH line at 163.13 um. On the contrary, the emission from the [C II] 157.74 um and [O I] 145.53 um lines arises mostly from the eastern part of the outflow, and it is likely linked with a photodissociation region. Comparison of non-LTE radiative transfer models with the observed [O I] line ratios suggest H2 densities of ~10^5 cm^(-3) in the western part of the outflow and ~10^4 cm^(-3) in the East. Such densities are consistent with the predictions of UV-irradiated non-dissociative shock models for the observed ratios of CO and [O I] along the DR21 Main. Main outflow. Assuming that the bulk of emission arises in shocks, the outflow power of DR21 Main of 4.3-4.8x10^2 Lsol and the mass-loss rate of 3.3-3.7x10^(-3) Msol/yr are determined. Observations provide strong support for its origin in outflow shocks, and the stratification of physical conditions along the outflow. The total line cooling provides additional evidence that DR21 Main drives one of the most energetic outflows in the Milky Way.

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Extended atomic carbon around molecular clouds

Models predict that atomic carbon occurs at the surface and in the process of the formation of molecular clouds, making its fine structure transitions a diagnostic of cloud formation. We study the distribution of atomic carbon in a small inconspicuous region towards the outer Galaxy that might be representative for a large fraction of the molecular gas of the Milky Way that is not directly affected by star formation. We observed a small strip of 5 arcminutes in the ``Forgotten Quadrant'', the third quadrant of the Milky Way, with the APEX telescope in the $^3P_1-^3P_0$ [CI] transition of atomic carbon and the $J=2-1$ transition of the three most abundant CO isotopologues and compared their distribution with existing measurements of gas column density and of ionized carbon. The atomic carbon shows a very smooth distribution with the smallest gradient along the strip compared to the other lines. It is always brighter than $^{13}$CO and in one velocity-component even brighter than CO. In contrast to observations of many star-forming regions, the [CI] emission seems to extend beyond the molecular gas, in line with the models of photon-dominated regions (PDRs). However, a standard PDR model fit to the observations fails because the models either predict more molecular gas, traced through C$^{18}$O, or more diffuse gas, traced through [CII], than observed. The carbon-budget in the gas phase does not add up to the same column seen through dust emission. To understand the [CI] emission from galaxies it is necessary to get the full statistics for the quiescent gas outside of the star-forming regions that behaves significantly different from dense gas exposed to high ultraviolet fields.

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Effects of stellar feedback on cores in STARFORGE

Stars form in dense cores within molecular clouds and newly formed stars influence their natal environments. How stellar feedback impacts core properties and evolution is subject to extensive investigation. We performed a hierarchical clustering (dendrogram) analysis of a STARFORGE simulation modelling a giant molecular cloud to identify gas overdensities (cores) and study changes in their radius, mass, velocity dispersion, and virial parameter with respect to stellar feedback. We binned these cores on the basis of the fraction of gas affected by protostellar outflows, stellar winds, and supernovae and analysed the property distributions for each feedback bin. We find that cores that experience more feedback influence are smaller. Feedback notably enhances the velocity dispersion and virial parameter of the cores, more so than it reduces their radius. This is also evident in the linewidth-size relation, where cores in higher feedback bins exhibit higher velocities than their similarly sized pristine counterparts. We conclude that stellar feedback mechanisms, which impart momentum to the molecular cloud, simultaneously compress and disperse the dense molecular gas.

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OGHReS: Star formation in the Outer Galaxy ($\ell = 250^\circ$-$280^\circ$)

We have used data from the Outer Galaxy High-Resolution Survey (OGHReS) to refine the velocities, distances, and physical properties of a large sample of 3584 clumps detected in far infrared/submillimetre emission in the HiGAL survey located in the $\ell = 250^\circ-280^\circ$ region of the Galactic plane. Using $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO spectra, we have determined reliable velocities to 3412 clumps (95% of the sample). In comparison to the velocities from the HiGAL catalogue, we find good agreement for 80% of the sample (within 5 km/s). Using the higher resolution and sensitivity of OGHReS has allowed us to correct the velocity for 632 clumps and provide velocities for 687 clumps for which no velocity had been previously allocated. The velocities are used with a rotation curve to refine the distances to the clumps and to calculate the clumps' properties using a distance-dependent gas-to-dust ratio. We have determined reliable physical parameters for 3200 outer Galaxy dense clumps (~90% of the HiGAL sources in the region). We find a trend of decreasing luminosity-to-mass ratio with increasing Galactocentric distance, suggesting the star formation efficiency is lower in the outer Galaxy or that it is resulting in more lower mass stars than in the inner Galaxy. We also find a similar surface density for protostellar clumps located in the inner and outer Galaxy, revealing that the surface density requirements for star formation are the same across the Galactic disc.

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Multiwavelength Study of Dark Globule DC 314.8-5.1: Point Source Identification and Diffuse Emission Characterization

We present an analysis of multi-wavelength observations of the dark globule DC\,314.8--5.1, using data from the Gaia optical, 2MASS near-infrared, and WISE mid-infrared surveys, dedicated imaging with the Spitzer Space Telescope, and X-ray data obtained with the Swift-XRT Telescope (XRT). The main goal was to identify possible pre-main sequence stars (PMSs) and young stellar objects (YSOs) associated with the globule. For this, we studied the infrared colors of all point sources within the boundaries of the cloud. After removing sources with non-stellar spectra, we investigated the Gaia parallaxes for the YSO candidates, and found that none are physically related to DC\,314.8--5.1. In addition, we searched for X-ray emission from pre-main sequence stars with Swift-XRT, and found no 0.5--10\,keV emission down to a luminosity level $\lesssim 10^{31}$erg\,s$^{-1}$, typical of a PMS with mass\,$\ge 2 M_\odot$. Our detailed inspection therefore supports a very young, ``pre-stellar core'' evolutionary stage for the cloud. Based on archival Planck and IRAS data, we moreover identify the presence of hot dust, with temperatures $\gtrsim 100$\,K, in addition to the dominant dust component at 14\,K, originating with the associated reflection nebula.

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The Cygnus Allscale Survey of Chemistry and Dynamical Environments: CASCADE. II. A detailed kinematic analysis of the DR21 Main outflow

Molecular outflows are believed to be a key ingredient in the process of star formation. The molecular outflow associated with DR21 Main in Cygnus-X is one of the most extreme, in mass and size, molecular outflows in the Milky Way. The outflow is suggested to belong to a rare class of explosive outflows which are formed by the disintegration of protostellar systems.We aim to explore the morphology, kinematics,and energetics of the DR21 Main outflow, and compare those properties to confirmed explosive outflows to unravel the underlying driving mechanism behind DR21. Line and continuum emission are studied at a wavelength of 3.6\,mm with IRAM 30 m and NOEMA telescopes as part of the Cygnus Allscale Survey of Chemistry and Dynamical Environments (CASCADE) program. The spectra include ($J= 1-0$) transitions of HCO$^+$, HCN, HNC, N$_2$H$^+$, H$_2$CO, CCH tracing different temperature and density regimes of the outflowing gas at high-velocity resolution ($\sim$ 0.8 km s$^{-1}$). The map encompasses the entire DR21 Main outflow and covers all spatial scales down to a resolution of ~3" ($\sim$ 0.02 pc). Integrated intensity maps of the HCO$^+$ emission reveal a strongly collimated bipolar outflow with significant overlap of the blue- and red-shifted emission. The opening angles of both outflow lobes decrease with velocity, from $\sim80$ to 20$^{\circ}$ for the velocity range from 5 to 45 km s$^{-1}$ relative to the source velocity. No evidence is found for the presence of elongated, "filament-like" structures expected in explosive outflows. N$_2$H$^+$ emission near the western outflow lobe reveals the presence of a dense molecular structure which appears to be interacting with the DR21 Main outflow. The overall morphology as well as the detailed kinematics of the DR21 Main outflow is more consistent with that of a typical bipolar outflow instead of an explosive counterpart.

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Environments of red nuggets at z~0.7 from the VIPERS survey

Red ultra-compact massive galaxies, called red nuggets were formed at high redshifts ($\rm{z\sim2-3}$). Survivors of red nuggets, known as relics, observed at lower redshifts ($\rm{z<2}$) are believed to remain almost unchanged since their formation. For the first time, we verify the environmental properties of red nuggets at intermediate redshift ($0.5<\rm{z}<0.9$ ) using 42 red, massive ($\rm{log(M_{star}/M_{\odot}) \geq 10.9}$) and ultra-compact ($\rm{R_{e}}<1.5$ kpc) from the VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS). We found that the increasing fraction of red galaxies, when moving to denser environments, is driven by the red massive normal-size galaxies. Red nuggets, similarly to red intermediate-mass ($\rm{10.4\lesssim log(M_{star}/M_{\odot})<10.9}$) ultra-compact galaxies, are found in various types of environments, with consistent (within $1σ$) fractions across all local densities. Analysis of red nugget stellar ages suggests that relics are preferably found in high-density regions while quiescent red nuggets are overabundant in low-density environments. We speculate that red nuggets have survived to lower redshifts via two channels: i) in low-density environments where the fraction of red nuggets decreases as time passes due to (very) limited merger activity, ii) in high-density environments, where the number of red nuggets drops at higher redshift due to merger activity and is preserved at lower redshift as the high velocities of clusters prevent them from being cannibalised. Even more, the fraction of red nuggets in clusters may increase due to the addition of red massive normal-size galaxies deprived of their envelopes with cosmic time.

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Far-infrared line emission from the outer Galaxy cluster Gy 3-7 with SOFIA/FIFI-LS: Physical conditions and UV fields

(abridged) Far-infrared (FIR) line emission provides key information about the gas cooling and heating due to shocks and UV radiation associated with the early stages of star formation. Gas cooling via FIR lines might, however, depend on metallicity. We aim to quantify the FIR line emission and determine the spatial distribution of the CO rotational temperature, ultraviolet (UV) radiation field, and H2 number density toward the embedded cluster Gy 3-7 in the CMa-l224 star-forming region, whose metallicity is expected to be intermediate between that of the LMC and the Solar neighborhood. By comparing the total luminosities of CO and [O I] toward Gy 3-7 with values found for low- and high-mass protostars extending over a broad range of metallicities, we also aim to identify the possible effects of metallicity on the FIR line cooling within our Galaxy. We studied SOFIA/FIFI-LS spectra of Gy 3-7 covering several FIR lines. The spatial extent of CO high-J (J>14) emission resembles that of the elongated 160 um continuum emission detected with Herschel. The CO transitions from J=14-13 to J=16-15 are detected throughout the cluster and show a median rotational temperature of 170+/-30 K on Boltzmann diagrams. Comparisons to other protostars observed with Herschel show a good agreement with intermediate-mass sources in the inner Galaxy. Assuming an origin of the [O I] and high-J CO emission in UV-irradiated C-shocks, we obtained pre-shock H2 number densities of 10^4-5 cm-3 and UV radiation field strengths of 0.1-10 Habing fields. Far-IR line observations reveal ongoing star formation in Gy 3-7, dominated by intermediate-mass Class 0/I young stellar objects. The ratio of molecular-to-atomic far-IR line emission shows a decreasing trend with bolometric luminosities of the protostars. However, it does not indicate that the low-metallicity has an impact on the line cooling in Gy 3-7.

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Unsupervised classification reveals new evolutionary pathways

While we already seem to have a general scenario of the evolution of different types of galaxies, a complete and satisfactory understanding of the processes that led to the formation of all the variety of today's galaxy types is still beyond our reach. To solve this problem, we need both large datasets reaching high redshifts and novel methodologies for dealing with them. The VIPERS survey statistical power, which observed $\sim90,000$ galaxies at $z > 0.5$, and the application of an unsupervised clustering algorithm allowed us to distinguish 12 galaxy classes. Studies of their environmental dependence indicate that this classification may actually reflect different galaxy evolutionary paths. For instance, a class of the most passive red galaxies gathers galaxies $\sim20\%$ smaller than other red galaxies of a similar stellar mass, revealing the first sample of red nuggets at intermediate redshift. On the other end, a class of blue dwarf galaxies is composed mainly of AGN, challenging commonly used mid-infrared AGN selections.

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Spectroscopic Diagnostics of the Mid-Infrared Features of the Dark Globule, DC 314.8-5.1, with the Spitzer Space Telescope

We present an analysis of the mid-infrared spectra, obtained from the Spitzer Space Telescope, of the dark globule, DC 314.8--5.1, which is at the onset of low-mass star formation. The target has a serendipitous association with a B-type field star, which illuminates a reflection nebula in the cloud. We focus on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission features prevalent throughout the mid-infrared range. The analysis of the spectra with the PAHFIT software as well as pypahdb package, shows that (i) the intensities of PAH features decrease over distance from the ionizing star toward the cloud center, some however showing a saturation at larger distances; (ii) the relative intensities of the 6.2 and 8.6 features with respect to the 11.2 micron feature remain high throughout the globule, suggesting a larger cation-to-neutral PAH ratio of the order of unity; the breakdown from pypahdb confirms a high ionized fraction within the cloud; (iii) the pypahdb results display a decrease in large PAH fraction with increased distance from HD 130079, as well as a statistically significant correlation between the large size fraction and the ionized fraction across the globule; (iv) the 7.7 PAH feature displays a peak nearer to 7.8 microns, suggesting a chemically processed PAH population with a small fraction of UV-processed PAHs; (v) the H2 S(0) line is detected at larger distances from the ionizing star. All in all, our results suggest divergent physical conditions within the quiescent cloud DC 314.8--5.1 as compared to molecular clouds with ongoing starformation.

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Signatures of UV radiation in low-mass protostars I. Origin of HCN and CN emission in the Serpens Main region

Context: Ultraviolet radiation (UV) influences the physics and chemistry of star-forming regions, but its properties and significance in the immediate surroundings of low-mass protostars are still poorly understood. Aims: We aim to extend the use of the CN/HCN ratio, already established for high-mass protostars, to the low-mass regime to trace and characterize the UV field around low-mass protostars on $\sim 0.6\times0.6$ pc scales. Methods: We present $5'\times5'$ maps of the Serpens Main Cloud encompassing 10 protostars observed with the EMIR receiver at the IRAM 30 m telescope in CN 1-0, HCN 1-0, CS 3-2, and some of their isotopologues. The radiative-transfer code RADEX and the chemical model Nahoon are used to determine column densities of molecules, gas temperature and density, and the UV field strength, $G_\mathrm{0}$. Results: The spatial distribution of HCN and CS are well-correlated with CO 6-5 emission that traces outflows. The CN emission is extended from the central protostars to their immediate surroundings also tracing outflows, likely as a product of HCN photodissociation. The ratio of CN to HCN total column densities ranges from $\sim$1 to 12 corresponding to G$_0$ $\approx$ $10^{1}-10^{3}$ for gas densities and temperatures typical for outflows of low-mass protostars. Conclusions: UV radiation associated with protostars and their outflows is indirectly identified in a significant part of the Serpens Main low-mass star-forming region. Its strength is consistent with the values obtained from the OH and H$_2$O ratios observed with Herschel and compared with models of UV-illuminated shocks. From a chemical viewpoint, the CN to HCN ratio is an excellent tracer of UV fields around low- and intermediate-mass star-forming regions.

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Origins Space Telescope: From First Light to Life -- ESA Voyage 2050 White Paper

The Origins Space Telescope (Origins) is one of four science and technology definition studies selected by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in preparation of the 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal survey in the US. Origins will trace the history of our origins from the time dust and heavy elements permanently altered the cosmic landscape to present-day life. It is designed to answer three major science questions: How do galaxies form stars, make metals, and grow their central supermassive black holes from reionization? How do the conditions for habitability develop during the process of planet formation? Do planets orbiting M-dwarf stars support life? Origins operates at mid- to far-infrared wavelengths from ~2.8 to 588 μm, is more than 1000 times more sensitive than prior far-IR missions due to its cold (~4.5 K) aperture and state-of-the-art instruments.

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