arXiv subjects

Agata Karska

Publications and source records attributed to Agata Karska.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

MAJORS II: HCO+& HCN Abundances in W40

We present observations of HCN and HCO$^+$ J = $3 - 2$ in the central $424'' \times 424''$ region of the W40 massive star forming region. The observations were taken as part of a pilot project for the MAJORS large program at the JCMT telescope. By incorporating prior knowledge of N(H$_2$) and $T_K$, assuming a constant density, and using the RADEX radiative transfer code we found that the HCN and HCO$^+$ abundances range from $X$(HCN) = $0.4-7.0 \times 10^{-8}$ and $X$(HCO$^+$) = $0.4-7.3 \times 10^{-9}$. Additional modelling using the NAUTILUS chemical evolution code, that takes H$_2$ density variations into account, however, suggests the HCN and HCO$^+$ abundances may be fairly constant. Careful modelling of three different positions finds $X$(HCN) = $1.3-1.7 \times 10^{-8}$, $X$(HCO$^+$) = $1.3-3.1 \times 10^{-9}$. Cross-comparison of the two models also provides a crude estimate of the gas density producing the HCN and HCO$^+$ emission, with H$_2$ densities in the range $5 \times 10^4 - 5 \times 10^5$ cm$^{-3}$, suggesting that the HCN and HCO$^+$ emission does indeed arise from dense gas. High UV intensity (e.g. $G_o >$ a few thousand) has no effect on the abundances in regions where the visual extinction is large enough to effectively shield the gas from the UV field. In regions where $A_V < 6$, however, the abundance of both species is lowered due to destructive reactions with species that are directly affected by the radiation field.

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arXiv2025

Variation of Dense Gas Mass-Luminosity conversion factor with metallicity in the Milky Way

HCN and HCO$^+$ are the most common dense gas tracers used both in the Milky Way and external galaxies. The luminosity of HCN and HCO$^+$ $J = 1-0$ lines are converted to a dense gas mass by the conversion factor, $α_{Q}$. Traditionally, this $α_{Q}$ has been considered constant throughout the Galaxy and in other galaxies, regardless of the environment. We analyzed 17 outer Galaxy clouds and 5 inner Galaxy clouds with metallicities ranging from 0.38 Z$_{\odot}$ to 1.29 Z$_{\odot}$. Our analysis indicates that $α_{Q}$ is not constant; instead, it varies with metallicity. The metallicity-corrected $α_{Q}$ derived from the HCN luminosity of the entire cloud is almost three times higher in the outer Galaxy than in the inner galaxy. In contrast, HCO$^+$ seems less sensitive to metallicity. We recommend using the metallicity-corrected dense gas conversion factors $α^{'}_{\rm tot, Gas}(\rm HCN) = 19.5^{+5.6}_{-4.4} Z^{(-1.53 \pm 0.59)}$ and $α^{'}_{\rm tot, Gas}(\rm HCO^{+}) = 21.4^{+5.5}_{-4.4} Z^{(-1.32\pm0.55)}$ for extragalactic studies. Radiation from nearby stars has an effect on the conversion factor of similar magnitude as that of the metallicity. If we extend the metallicity-corrected scaling relation for HCN to the Central Molecular Zone, the value of $α(\rm HCN)$ becomes $1/3$ to $1/2$ of the local values. This effect could partially account for the low star formation rate per dense gas mass observed in the CMZ.

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arXiv2025

ATLASGAL-selected high-mass clumps in the inner Galaxy: XI. Morphology and kinematics of warm inner envelopes

(Abridged) Massive stellar embryos are embedded in warm envelopes that provide mass reservoirs for the accretion process onto final stars. Feedback from star formation activities in return impacts the properties of the envelopes, offering us a unique opportunity to investigate star formation processes. We aim to characterise the warm envelopes of proto- or young stellar objects in different evolutionary stages based on the morphology and kinematics of the $^{13}$CO(6-5) emission and to examine their relations with star formation processes. Using the APEX telescope, we obtained maps of the mid-$J$ $^{13}$CO emission with an angular size of 80" x 80" towards 99 massive clumps from the ATLASGAL survey. Our maps are classified based on morphological complexities, and the radial structure of the emission is characterised for simple single-core sources. The velocity centroids of the emission are compared to small- and large-scale gas kinematics, aiming to shed light on the origin of envelope kinematics. $^{13}$CO(6-5) emission is detected towards sources in all stages of high-mass star formation, with a detection rate of 83% for the whole sample. The detection rate, line width, and line peak increase with evolution, and the line luminosity is strongly correlated with $L_{\mathrm{bol}}$ and $M_{\mathrm{clump}}$, indicating that the excitation of $^{13}$CO(6-5) emission is closely related to star formation processes. In addition, the radial distributions of the emission for single-core sources can be well fitted by power-law functions, suggesting a relatively simple envelope structure for many sources. As for the envelope kinematics, linear velocity gradients are common among the single-core sources. Our comparison of kinematics on different scales suggests that the origin of the linear velocity gradients in the warm envelopes is complex and unclear for many sources.

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arXiv2024

Mapping and characterizing magnetic fields in the Rho Ophiuchus-A molecular cloud with SOFIA/HAWC$+$

(abridged) Together with gravity, turbulence, and stellar feedback, magnetic fields (B-fields) are thought to play a critical role in the evolution of molecular clouds and star formation processes. We aim to map the morphology and measure the strength of B-fields of the nearby molecular cloud, rho Ophiuchus-A ($ρ$ Oph-A), and then to understand the role of B-fields in regulating star formation and shaping the cloud. We have analyzed the far-infrared (FIR) polarization of thermal dust emission observed by SOFIA/HAWC$+$ at 89 and 154 $μ$m toward the densest part of $ρ$ Oph-A, which is irradiated by the nearby B3/4 star, Oph-S1. The cloud exhibits well-ordered B-fields with magnetic orientations mainly perpendicular to the ridge of the cloud toward the densest region and B-field strengths are in the range of 0.2-2.5 mG, using the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method. The B-fields are strongest at the densest part of the cloud, which is associated with the starless core SM1, and decreases toward the outskirts of the cloud. By calculating the map of the mass-to-flux ratio, Alfvén Mach number, and plasma $β$ parameter in $ρ$ Oph-A, we find that the cloud is predominantly magnetically sub-critical, sub-Alfvénic, which implies that the cloud is supported by strong B-fields that dominate over gravity, turbulence, and thermal gas energy. Measured B-field strengths at two densest subregions using other methods that account for the compressible mode are relatively lower than that measured with the DCF method but do not significantly change our conclusions on the roles of B-fields relative to gravity and turbulence on star formation. A virial analysis suggests that the cloud is gravitationally unbound. We find that B-fields are sufficiently strong to support the cloud against radiative feedback and to regulate the shape of the cloud.

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arXiv2023

Velocity-resolved high-J CO emission from massive star-forming clumps

(Abridged) Context. Massive star formation is associated with energetic processes, which result in significant gas cooling via far-infrared (IR) lines. Velocity-resolved observations can constrain the kinematics of the gas, allowing the identification of the physical mechanisms responsible for gas heating. Aims. Our aim is to quantify far-infrared CO line emission toward high-mass star-forming regions, identify the high-velocity gas component associated with outflows, and estimate the physical conditions required for the excitation of the observed lines. Methods. Velocity-resolved SOFIA/GREAT spectra of 13 high-mass star forming clumps of various luminosities and evolutionary stages are studied using CO 11-10 and 16-15 lines. Results. All targets show strong high-J CO emission in the far-IR, characterized by broad line wings associated with outflows, thereby significantly increasing the sample of sources with velocity-resolved high-J CO spectra. The contribution of the emission in the line wings does not correlate with the envelope mass or evolutionary stage. Gas rotational temperatures cover a narrow range of 120-220 K for the line wings. The non-LTE radiative transfer models indicate gas densities of 1e5-1e7 cm-3 and N(CO) of 1e17- 1e18 cm-2, similar to physical conditions in deeply-embedded low- and high-mass protostars. The velocity-integrated CO line fluxes correlate with the bolometric luminosity over 7 orders of magnitude including data on the low-mass protostars, suggesting similar processes are responsible for the high-J CO excitation over a significant range of physical scales. Conclusions. Velocity-resolved line profiles allow the detection of outflows toward massive star-forming clumps spanning a broad range of evolutionary stages. The lack of clear evolutionary trends suggest that mass accretion and ejection prevail during the entire lifetime of star-forming clumps.

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arXiv2023

Investigating the Impact of Metallicity on Star Formation in the Outer Galaxy. I. VLT/KMOS Survey of Young Stellar Objects in Canis Major

The effects of metallicity on the evolution of protoplanetary disks may be studied in the outer Galaxy where the metallicity is lower than in the solar neighbourhood. We present the VLT/KMOS integral field spectroscopy in the near-infrared of $\sim$120 candidate young stellar objects (YSOs) in the CMa-$\ell$224 star-forming region located at a Galactocentric distance of 9.1 kpc. We characterise the YSO accretion luminosities and accretion rates using the hydrogen Br$γ$ emission and find the median accretion luminosity of $\log{(L_{\rm acc})} = -0.82^{+0.80}_{-0.82} L_\odot$. Based on the measured accretion luminosities, we investigate the hypothesis of star formation history in the CMa-$\ell$224. Their median values suggest that Cluster C, where most of YSO candidates have been identified, might be the most evolved part of the region. The accretion luminosities are similar to those observed toward low-mass YSOs in the Perseus and Orion molecular clouds, and do not reveal the impact of lower metallicity. Similar studies in other outer Galaxy clouds covering a wide range of metallicities are critical to gain a complete picture of star formation in the Galaxy.

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arXiv2023

Main Sequence to Starburst Transitioning Galaxies: Gamma-ray Burst Hosts at $z\sim2$

Star-forming galaxies populate a main sequence (MS), a well-defined relation between stellar mass (M*) and star-formation rate (SFR). Starburst (SB) galaxies lie significantly above the relation whereas quenched galaxies lie below the sequence. In order to study the evolution of galaxies on the SFR-M* plane and its connection to the gas content, we use the fact that recent episodes of star formation can be pinpointed by the existence of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Here we present sensitive [CI]-nondetections of z$\sim$2 ultra luminous infrared (ULIRG) GRB host galaxies. We find that our GRB hosts have similar molecular masses to those of other ULIRGs. However, unlike other ULIRGs, the GRB hosts are located at the MS or only a factor of a few above it. Hence, our GRB hosts are caught in the transition toward the SB phase. This is further supported by the estimated depletion times, which are similar to those of other transitioning galaxies. The GRB hosts are [CI]-dark galaxies, defined as having a [CI]/CO temperature brightness ratio of <0.1. Such a low [CI]/CO ratio has been found in high-density environments (nH > 10$^4$ cm$^{-3}$) where CO is shielded from photodissociation, leading to under-abundances of [CI]. This is consistent with the merger process that is indeed suggested for our GRB hosts by their morphologies.

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arXiv2022

The first catalogue of spectroscopically confirmed red nuggets at z~0.7 from the VIPERS survey. Linking high-z red nuggets and local relics

'Red nuggets' are a rare population of passive compact massive galaxies thought to be the first massive galaxies that formed in the Universe. First found at $z \sim 3$, they are even less abundant at lower redshifts, and it is believed that with time they mostly transformed through mergers into today's giant ellipticals. Those red nuggets which managed to escape this fate can serve as unique laboratories to study the early evolution of massive galaxies. In this paper, we aim to make use of the VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey to build the largest up-to-date catalogue of spectroscopically confirmed red nuggets at the intermediate redshift $0.5 8\times10^{10}$ $\rm{M}_{\odot}$ and effective radii $R_\mathrm{e}<1.5$ kpc. Among them, we select red, passive galaxies with old stellar population based on colour--colour NUVrK diagram, star formation rate values, and verification of their optical spectra. Verifying the influence of the limit of the source compactness on the selection, we found that the sample size can vary even up to two orders of magnitude, depending on the chosen criterion. Using one of the most restrictive criteria with additional checks on their spectra and passiveness, we spectroscopically identified only 77 previously unknown red nuggets. The resultant catalogue of 77 red nuggets is the largest such catalogue built based on the uniform set of selection criteria above the local Universe. Number density calculated on the final sample of 77 VIPERS passive red nuggets per comoving Mpc$^3$ increases from 4.7$\times10^{-6}$ at $z \sim 0.61$ to $9.8 \times 10^{-6}$ at $z \sim 0.95$, which is higher than values estimated in the local Universe, and lower than the ones found at $z>2$. It fills the gap at intermediate redshift.

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arXiv2022

A census of young stellar objects in two line-of-sight star forming regions toward IRAS 22147+5948 in the outer Galaxy

(abridged) Star formation in the outer Galaxy, i.e., outside of the Solar circle, has been lightly studied in part due to low CO brightness of molecular clouds linked with the negative metallicity gradient. Recent infrared surveys provide an overview of dust emission in large sections of the Galaxy, but suffer from cloud confusion and poor spatial resolution at far-infrared wavelengths. We aim to develop a methodology to identify and classify young stellar objects (YSOs) in star-forming regions in the outer Galaxy, and use it to solve a long-standing confusion with the distance and evolutionary status of IRAS 22147+5948. We use Support Vector Machine learning algorithm to complement standard color-color and color-magnitude diagrams in search for YSOs in the IRAS 22147 region using publicly available data from the `Spitzer Mapping of the Outer Galaxy' survey. The agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithm is used to identify clusters, along with the Robitaille et al. (2017) code to calculate physical properties of individual YSOs. We identify 13 Class I and 13 Class II YSO candidates using the color-color diagrams, and additional 2 and 21 sources, respectively, using the machine learning techniques. Spectral energy distributions of 23 sources are modelled with a star and a passive disk, corresponding to Class II objects. Models of 3 sources include envelopes typical for Class I objects. The objects are grouped in 2 clusters located at the distance of ~2.2 kpc, and 5 clusters at ~5.6 kpc. The spatial extent of CO, radio continuum, and dust emission confirms the origin of YSOs in two distinct star-forming regions along a similar line-of-sight. The outer Galaxy might serve as a unique laboratory of star formation across environments on condition that complementary methods and ancillary data are used to properly account for cloud confusion and distance uncertainties.

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arXiv2022

The Detection of Deuterated Water in the Large Magellanic Cloud with ALMA

We report the first detection of deuterated water (HDO) toward an extragalactic hot core. The HDO 2$_{11}$-2$_{12}$ line has been detected toward hot cores N105-2A and 2B in the N105 star-forming region in the low-metallicity Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) dwarf galaxy with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). We have compared the HDO line luminosity ($L_{\rm HDO}$) measured toward the LMC hot cores to those observed toward a sample of seventeen Galactic hot cores covering three orders of magnitude in $L_{\rm HDO}$, four orders of magnitude in bolometric luminosity ($L_{\rm bol}$), and a wide range of Galactocentric distances (thus metallicities). The observed values of $L_{\rm HDO}$ for the LMC hot cores fit very well into the $L_{\rm HDO}$ trends with $L_{\rm bol}$ and metallicity observed toward the Galactic hot cores. We have found that $L_{\rm HDO}$ seems to be largely dependent on the source luminosity, but metallicity also plays a role. We provide a rough estimate of the H$_2$O column density and abundance ranges toward the LMC hot cores by assuming that HDO/H$_2$O toward the LMC hot cores is the same as that observed in the Milky Way; the estimated ranges are systematically lower than Galactic values. The spatial distribution and velocity structure of the HDO emission in N105-2A is consistent with HDO being the product of the low-temperature dust grain chemistry. Our results are in agreement with the astrochemical model predictions that HDO is abundant regardless of the extragalactic environment and should be detectable with ALMA in external galaxies.

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arXiv2022

ALMA Observations of Molecular Complexity in the Large Magellanic Cloud: The N105 Star-Forming Region

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is the nearest laboratory for detailed studies on the formation and survival of complex organic molecules (COMs), including biologically important ones, in low-metallicity environments--typical for earlier cosmological epochs. We report the results of 1.2 mm continuum and molecular line observations of three fields in the star-forming region N105 with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). N105 lies at the western edge of the LMC bar with on-going star formation traced by H$_2$O, OH, and CH$_3$OH masers, ultracompact H II regions, and young stellar objects. Based on the spectral line modeling, we estimated rotational temperatures, column densities, and fractional molecular abundances for twelve 1.2 mm continuum sources. We identified sources with a range of chemical make-ups, including two bona fide hot cores and four hot core candidates. The CH$_3$OH emission is widespread and associated with all the continuum sources. COMs CH$_3$CN and CH$_3$OCH$_3$ are detected toward two hot cores in N105 together with smaller molecules typically found in Galactic hot cores (e.g., SO$_2$, SO, and HNCO) with the molecular abundances roughly scaling with metallicity. We report a tentative detection of the astrobiologically relevant formamide molecule (NH$_2$CHO) toward one of the hot cores; if confirmed, this would be the first detection of NH$_2$CHO in an extragalactic sub-solar metallicity environment. We suggest that metallicity inhomogeneities resulting from the tidal interactions between the LMC and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) might have led to the observed large variations in COM abundances in LMC hot cores.

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arXiv2021

Atomic Shocks in the Outflow of L1551 IRS 5 Identified with SOFIA-upGREAT Observations of [OI]

We present velocity resolved SOFIA/upGREAT observations of [OI] and [CII] lines toward a Class I protostar, L1551 IRS 5, and its outflows. The SOFIA observations detect [OI] emission toward only the protostar and [CII] emission toward the protostar and the red-shifted outflow. The [OI] emission has a width of $\sim$100 km s$^{-1}$ only in the blue-shifted velocity, suggesting an origin in shocked gas. The [CII] lines are narrow, consistent with an origin in a photodissociation region. Differential dust extinction from the envelope due to the inclination of the outflows is the most likely cause of the missing red-shifted [OI] emission. Fitting the [OI] line profile with two Gaussian components, we find one component at the source velocity with a width of $\sim$20 km s$^{-1}$ and another extremely broad component at -30 km s$^{-1}$ with a width of 87.5 km s$^{-1}$, the latter of which has not been seen in L1551 IRS 5. The kinematics of these two components resemble cavity shocks in molecular outflows and spot shocks in jets. Radiative transfer calculations of the [OI], high-J CO, and H$_2$O lines in the cavity shocks indicate that [OI] dominates the oxygen budget, making up more than 70% of the total gaseous oxygen abundance and suggesting [O]/[H] of $\sim$1.5$\times$10$^{-4}$. Attributing the extremely broad [OI] component to atomic winds, we estimate the intrinsic mass loss rate of (1.3$\pm$0.8)$\times$ 10$^{-6}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$. The intrinsic mass loss rates derived from low-J CO, [OI], and HI are similar, supporting the model of momentum-conserving outflows, where the atomic wind carries most momentum and drives the molecular outflows.

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arXiv2019

Variability in the Assembly of Protostellar Systems

Understanding the collapse of clouds and the formation of protoplanetary disks is essential to understanding the formation of stars and planets. Infall and accretion, the mass-aggregation processes that occur at envelope and disk scales, drive the dynamical evolution of protostars. While the observations of protostars at different stages constrain their evolutionary tracks, the impact of variability due to accretion bursts on dynamical and chemical evolution of the source is largely unknown. The lasting effects on protostellar envelopes and disks are tracked through multi-wavelength and time domain observational campaigns, requiring deep X-ray, infrared, and radio imaging and spectroscopy, at a sufficient level of spatial detail to distinguish contributions from the various substructures (i.e., envelope from disk from star from outflow). Protostellar models derived from these campaigns will illuminate the initial chemical state of protoplanetary disks during the epoch of giant planet formation. Insight from individual star formation in the Milky Way is also necessary to understand star formation rates in extragalactic sources. This cannot be achieved with ground-based observatories and is not covered by currently approved instrumentation. Requirements: High (v < 10 km/s for survey; v < 1 km/s for followup) spectral resolution capabilities with relatively rapid response times in the IR (3-500 um), X-ray (0.1-10 keV), and radio (cm) are critical to follow the course of accretion and outflow during an outburst. Complementary, AU-scale radio observations are needed to probe the disk accretion zone, and 10 AU-scale to probe chemical and kinematic structures of the disk-forming regions, and track changes in the dust, ice, and gas within protostellar envelopes.

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arXiv2018

Identifying Young Stellar Objects in the Outer Galaxy: l = 224 deg Region in Canis Major

We study a very young star-forming region in the outer Galaxy that is the most concentrated source of outflows in the Spitzer Space Telescope GLIMPSE360 survey. This region, dubbed CMa-l224, is located in the Canis Major OB1 association. CMa-l224 is relatively faint in the mid-infrared, but it shines brightly at the far-infrared wavelengths as revealed by the Herschel Space Observatory data from the Hi-GAL survey. Using the 3.6 and 4.5 $μ$m data from the Spitzer/GLIMPSE360 survey, combined with the JHK$_s$ 2MASS and the 70-500 $μ$m Herschel/Hi-GAL data, we develop a young stellar object (YSO) selection criteria based on color-color cuts and fitting of the YSO candidates' spectral energy distributions with YSO 2D radiative transfer models. We identify 293 YSO candidates and estimate physical parameters for 210 sources well-fit with YSO models. We select an additional 47 sources with GLIMPSE360-only photometry as `possible YSO candidates'. The vast majority of these sources are associated with high H$_2$ column density regions and are good targets for follow-up studies. The distribution of YSO candidates at different evolutionary stages with respect to Herschel filaments supports the idea that stars are formed in the filaments and become more dispersed with time. Both the supernova-induced and spontaneous star formation scenarios are plausible in the environmental context of CMa-l224. However, our results indicate that a spontaneous gravitational collapse of filaments is a more likely scenario. The methods developed for CMa-l224 can be used for larger regions in the Galactic plane where the same set of photometry is available.

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arXiv2018

High-Resolution SOFIA/EXES Spectroscopy of $\mathrm{SO}_2$ Gas in the Massive Young Stellar Object MonR2 IRS3: Implications for the Sulfur Budget

Sulfur has been observed to be severely depleted in dense clouds leading to uncertainty in the molecules that contain it and the chemistry behind their evolution. Here, we aim to shed light on the sulfur chemistry in young stellar objects (YSOs) by using high-resolution infrared spectroscopy of absorption by the $ν_3$ rovibrational band of SO$_2$ obtained with the Echelon-Cross-Echelle Spectrograph on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. Using local thermodynamic equilibrium models we derive physical parameters for the SO$_2$ gas in the massive YSO MonR2 IRS3. This yields a SO$_2$/$\mathrm{H}$ abundance lower limit of $5.6\pm0.5\times10^{-7}$, or $>\!4\%$ of the cosmic sulfur budget, and an intrinsic line width (Doppler parameter) of $b<3.20\;\mathrm{km\;s}^{-1}$. The small line widths and high temperature ($T_\mathrm{ex}=234\pm15\;\mathrm{K}$) locate the gas in a relatively quiescent region near the YSO, presumably in the hot core where ices have evaporated. This sublimation unlocks a volatile sulfur reservoir (e.g., sulfur allotropes as detected abundantly in comet 67P/Churyumov--Gerasimenko), which is followed by SO$_2$ formation by warm, dense gas-phase chemistry. The narrowness of the lines makes formation of SO$_2$ from sulfur sputtered off grains in shocks less likely toward MonR2 IRS3.

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arXiv2018

Role of environment and gas temperature in the formation of multiple protostellar systems: molecular tracers

Context: Simulations suggest that gas heating due to radiative feedback is a key factor in whether or not multiple protostellar systems will form. Chemistry is a good tracer of the physical structure of a protostellar system, since it depends on the temperature structure. Aims: We aim to study the relationship between envelope gas temperature and protostellar multiplicity. Methods: Single dish observations of various molecules that trace the cold, warm and UV-irradiated gas are used to probe the temperature structure of multiple and single protostellar systems on 7000 AU scales. Results: Single, close binary, and wide multiples present similar current envelope gas temperatures, as estimated from H$_2$CO and DCO$^+$ line ratios. The temperature of the outflow cavity, traced by c-C$_3$H$_2$, on the other hand, shows a relation with bolometric luminosity and an anti-correlation with envelope mass. Although the envelope gas temperatures are similar for all objects surveyed, wide multiples tend to exhibit a more massive reservoir of cold gas compared to close binary and single protostars. Conclusions: Although the sample of protostellar systems is small, the results suggest that gas temperature may not have a strong impact on fragmentation. We propose that mass, and density, may instead be key factors in fragmentation.

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arXiv2018

The VLA Nascent Disk And Multiplicity Survey of Perseus Protostars (VANDAM). IV. Free-Free Emission from Protostars: Links to Infrared Properties, Outflow Tracers, and Protostellar Disk Masses

Emission from protostars at centimeter radio wavelengths has been shown to trace the free-free emission arising from ionizing shocks as a result of jets and outflows driven by protostars. Therefore, measuring properties of protostars at radio frequencies can provide valuable insights into the nature of their outflows and jets. We present a C-band (4.1 cm and 6.4 cm) survey of all known protostars (Class 0 and Class I) in Perseus as part of the VLA Nascent Disk and Multiplicity (VANDAM) Survey. We examine the known correlations between radio flux density and protostellar parameters such as bolometric luminosity and outflow force, for our sample. We also investigate the relationship between radio flux density and far-infrared line luminosities from Herschel. We show that free-free emission originates most likely from J-type shocks; however, the large scatter indicates that those two types of emission probe different time and spatial scales. Using C-band fluxes, we removed an estimation of free-free contamination from the corresponding Ka-band (9 mm) flux densities that primarily probe dust emission from embedded disks. We find that the compact ($<$~1") dust emission is lower for Class I sources (median dust mass 96 M$_{\oplus}$) relative to Class 0 (248 M$_{\oplus}$), but several times higher than in Class II (5-15 M$_{\oplus}$). If this compact dust emission is tracing primarily the embedded disk, as is likely for many sources, this result provides evidence for decreasing disk masses with protostellar evolution, with sufficient mass for forming giant planet cores primarily at early times.

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arXiv2018

CO in Protostars (COPS): $Herschel$-SPIRE Spectroscopy of Embedded Protostars

We present full spectral scans from 200-670$μ$m of 26 Class 0+I protostellar sources, obtained with $Herschel$-SPIRE, as part of the "COPS-SPIRE" Open Time program, complementary to the DIGIT and WISH Key programs. Based on our nearly continuous, line-free spectra from 200-670 $μ$m, the calculated bolometric luminosities ($L_{\rm bol}$) increase by 50% on average, and the bolometric temperatures ($T_{\rm bol}$) decrease by 10% on average, in comparison with the measurements without Herschel. Fifteen protostars have the same Class using $T_{\rm bol}$ and $L_{\rm bol}$/$L_{\rm submm}$. We identify rotational transitions of CO lines from J=4-3 to J=13-12, along with emission lines of $^{13}$CO, HCO$^+$, H$_{2}$O, and [CI]. The ratios of $^{12}$CO to $^{13}$CO indicate that $^{12}$CO emission remains optically thick for $J_{\rm up}$ < 13. We fit up to four components of temperature from the rotational diagram with flexible break points to separate the components. The distribution of rotational temperatures shows a primary population around 100 K with a secondary population at $\sim$350 K. We quantify the correlations of each line pair found in our dataset, and find the strength of correlation of CO lines decreases as the difference between $J$-level between two CO lines increases. The multiple origins of CO emission previously revealed by velocity-resolved profiles are consistent with this smooth distribution if each physical component contributes to a wide range of CO lines with significant overlap in the CO ladder. We investigate the spatial extent of CO emission and find that the morphology is more centrally peaked and less bipolar at high-$J$ lines. We find the CO emission observed with SPIRE related to outflows, which consists two components, the entrained gas and shocked gas, as revealed by our rotational diagram analysis as well as the studies with velocity-resolved CO emission.

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