arXiv subjects

D. S. Wiebe

Publications and source records attributed to D. S. Wiebe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

OPTIMus-Survey of massive star-forming regions at OPTical, Infrared, and Millimeter wavelengths

This work presents a description of the scientific goals and objectives of OPTIMus (OPTical, Infrared, Millimeter survey of massive star-forming regions), a survey of massive star-forming regions in the optical, infrared, and millimeter wavelengths. The survey is aimed at constructing a comprehensive characterization of the multicomponent and structurally complex interstellar medium in the vicinity of young massive stars, combining both observational and theoretical aspects. Using multi-wavelength observational data, we will reconstruct the three-dimensional structure and determine the physical parameters of HII regions, photodissociation regions, and the surrounding molecular clouds. The paper describes the observational data obtained with the BTA 6-m and Zeiss-1000 telescopes of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the 2.5-m telescope of the Caucasian Mountain Observatory of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute of Moscow State University, and the 20-m telescope of the Onsala Space Observatory.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

Gas-phase and Surface Chemistry in the Massive Star-Forming Region RCW\,120

We analysed broadband emission spectra of a dense molecular clump in RCW 120, obtained with the APEX telescope in the 200--260 GHz range, in order to investigate molecular formation pathways in regions of massive star formation at an early evolutionary stage. We examined the correlations between the molecular column densities derived under the LTE assumption. An excess of methanol was found in the southern part of the dense clump relative to its northern part, while the abundances of other molecules, such as CH$_3$CN and CH$_3$CCH, remain comparable. The methanol abundance is also elevated relative to that of other oxygen-bearing molecules, such as OCS and SO. To identify possible causes of the enhanced methanol abundance in the southern part of the clump, we carried out simulations with the astrochemical model Presta in a two-phase approximation, accounting for chemical processes both in the gas phase and in the mantles of dust grains. The modelling shows that the enhanced gas-phase methanol abundance may be due to photodesorption from icy mantles. At Av values between $4^{m}$ and $6^{m}$, methanol desorbs efficiently from the ice mantles of dust grains upon interaction with photons, but is not yet destroyed by UV radiation in the gas phase. A strong linear correlation between molecular column densities indicates that the molecules form in the same phase --- either in the gas phase or on dust. Their integrated intensity maps may nevertheless differ, as is the case for CCH and CH$_3$CN. If two molecules form in different phases --- one in the gas phase and the other in dust mantles --- no correlation is observed, as for CCH and CH$_3$OH. The weak correlation between methanol and the oxygen-bearing molecules that form on dust suggests that only the upper part of the dust mantles, rich in CO ice, is destroyed in the southern part of the clump.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

The impact of surface acetylene cyclotrimerization on the abundance of aromatic hydrocarbons in carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch stars

This work investigates the catalytic role of dust grains in forming aromatic hydrocarbons via acetylene cyclotrimerization on their surfaces within the circumstellar envelopes of carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We present a comprehensive computational astrochemical model coupling the gas-phase, gas-surface, and surface (cyclotrimerization) reactions, and the physical evolution of the dust grains (coagulation). The model expands upon the basic chemical network from previous models, enhancing them with updated reactions involving hydrocarbons up to pyrene. We applied this model to simulate the chemical evolution of the envelope of the prototypical AGB star IRC+10216, utilizing physical conditions derived from a hydrodynamical model available in literature. To quantify the impact of surface chemistry, we compared scenarios with and without the cyclotrimerization reaction, further testing the sensitivity of our results by varying the key parameter of hydrocarbon desorption energy. We find that surface-catalyzed cyclotrimerization is a viable pathway for aromatic formation in circumstellar environments, capable of enhancing the total abundance of aromatic species by up to an order of magnitude. Crucially, we show that gas-phase chemistry and dust surface processes are intrinsically linked; their synergistic evolution should be modeled self-consistently to accurately predict chemical abundances. This work underscores that constraining uncertain parameters, particularly desorption energies of hydrocarbons, is essential for future realistic modeling of astrochemical processes in evolved stellar systems.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2025

Correlation between formaldehyde and methanol in prestellar cores

Formaldehyde is a key precursor in the formation routes of many complex organic molecules (COMs) in space. It is also an intermediate step in CO hydrogenation sequence that leads to methanol formation on the surface of interstellar grains in cold dense prestellar cores where pristine ices are formed. Various chemical models successfully reproduce the COMs abundances in cold cores, however, they consistently overpredict the abundance of formaldehyde by an order of magnitude. This results in an inverse H2CO:CH3OH abundance ratios obtained in the astrochemical simulations as compared to the observed values. In this work, we present a homogeneous data set of formaldehyde observational maps obtained towards seven dense cores in the L1495 filament with the IRAM 30 m telescope. Resolving the spatial distribution of the molecules is essential to test the chemical models. We carefully estimate the formaldehyde column densities and abundances to put reliable observational constraints on the chemical models of cold cores. Through numerous tests, we aim to constrain the updated chemical model MONACO to better align with the observed formaldehyde abundance and its ratio to methanol. In particular, we elaborate on the branching ratio of the CH3 + O reaction at low temperatures. The revised MONACO model reproduces abundances of both methanol and formaldehyde within an order of magnitude. However the model tends to overproduce formaldehyde and underpredict methanol. Consequently, the model systematically overestimates the H2CO:CH3OH ratio, although it remains within an order of magnitude of the values derived from observations.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2024

Chemical differentiation and gas kinematics around massive young stellar objects in RCW 120

We present results of a spectral survey towards a dense molecular condensation and young stellar objects (YSOs) projected on the border of the HII region RCW 120 and discuss emission of 20 molecules which produce the brightest lines. The survey was performed with the APEX telescope in the frequency range 200 -- 260 GHz. We provide evidences for two outflows in the dense gas. The first one is powered by the RCW 120 S2 YSO and oriented along the line of sight. The second outflow around RCW 120 S1 is aligned almost perpendicular to the line of sight. We show that area with bright emission of CH$_3$OH, CH$_3$CCH and CH$_3$CN are organised into an onion-like structure where CH$_3$CN traces warmer regions around the YSOs than the other molecules. Methanol seems to be released to the gas phase by shock waves in the vicinity of the outflows while thermal evaporation still does not work towards the YSOs. We find only a single manifestation of the UV radiation to the molecules, namely, enhanced abundances of small hydrocarbons CCH and c-C$_3$H$_2$ in the photo-dissociation region.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Analysis of the interstellar matter at the periphery of the supershell surrounding the CYG OB1 association in 2.12 micron molecular hydrogen line

We present observations of the vdB 130 cluster vicinity in a narrow-band filter centered at a $2.12\,μ$m molecular hydrogen line performed at the Caucasus Mountain Observatory of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. The observations reveal an H$_2$ emission shell around vdB 130, coincident with a bright infrared shell, visible in all \textit{Spitzer} bands. Also, numerous H$_{2}$ emission features are detected around infrared Blobs E and W and in the vicinity of a protocluster located to the east of the shell, in a tail of a cometary molecular cloud. H$_2$ emission in the vicinity of the vdB~130 cluster is mostly generated in well-developed \HII\ regions and is of fluorescent nature. In the protocluster area, isolated spots are observed, where H$_2$ emission is collisionally excited and is probably related to shocks in protostellar outflows. Obtained results are discussed in the context of possible sequential star formation in the vicinity of the vdB 130 cluster, triggered by the interaction of the expanding supershell surrounding the Cyg OB1 association with the molecular cloud and an associated molecular filament.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Near infrared view on the photodissociation regions S255, S257, NGC7538 and S140

We performed photometric observations of the S255, S257, S140, NGC7358 and the Orion~Bar photo-dissociation regions (PDRs) at 2 micron using narrow-band filters centered on the Br-gamma, H2 and [FeII] lines, as well as the narrow-band Kcont and the broad-band H filters for continuum subtraction. The observations were done with the 2.5-m telescope of the SAI Caucasian Mountain Observatory and the near-infrared camera and spectrograph ASTRONIRCAM. We find several high-density arc-like structures in the Br-gamma and [FeII] images of the ionized gas in NGC7538 and extended shells and arcs visible through the H2 emission. The H ionization front and H2 dissociation front are merged in NGC7538. In S255 and S257 we detected only Br-gamma emission from the HII regions and bright H2 emission from the PDRs. The projected distance between the H ionization and H2 dissociation fronts are approx. 0.3-0.4 pc, which cannot be explained using models of a uniform medium. Most probably, the ionized and neutral gas in these PDRs is clumpy. The H-to-H2 transitions in the NGC7538, S255, S257 and S140 PDRs are gradual with no sharp borders. This conclusion also confirms the suggestion of a clumpy medium.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

Efficiency of the top-down PAH-to-fullerene conversion in UV irradiated environments

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fullerenes play a major role in the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium. Based on a number of recent experimental and theoretical investigations we developed a model in which PAHs are subject to photo-dissociation (carbon and hydrogen loss) and hydrogenation. We take into account that dehydrogenated PAHs may fold into closed structures -- fullerenes. Fullerenes, in their turn, can be also hydrogenated, becoming fulleranes, and photo-dissociated, losing carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon loss leads to shrinking of fullerene cages to smaller ones. We calculate the abundance of PAHs and fullerenes of different sizes and hydrogenation level depending on external conditions: the gas temperature, intensity of radiation field, number density of hydrogen atoms, carbon atoms, and electrons. We highlight the conditions, which are favourable for fullerene formation from PAHs, and we conclude that this mechanism works not only in H-poor environment but also at modest values of hydrogen density up to 10$^{4}$~cm$^{-3}$. We found that fulleranes can be formed in the ISM, although the fraction of carbon atoms locked in them can be maximum around 10$^{-9}$. We applied our model to two photo-dissociation regions, Orion Bar and NGC 7023. We compare our estimates of the fullerene abundance and synthetic band intensities in these objects with the observations and conclude that our model gives good results for the closest surroundings of ionising stars. We also demonstrate that additional fullerene formation channels should operate along with UV-induced formation to explain abundance of fullerenes far from UV sources.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2022

Star formation timescale in the molecular filament WB 673

We present observations of ammonia emission lines toward the interstellar filament WB~673 hosting the dense clumps WB~673, WB~668, S233-IR and G173.57+2.43. LTE analysis of the lines allows us to estimate gas kinetic temperature ($\lesssim$ 30~K in all the clumps), number density ($7-17\times10^3$~cm$^{-3}$), and ammonia column density ($\approx 1-1.5\times 10^{15}$~cm$^{-2}$) in the dense clumps. We find signatures of collapse in WB 673 and presence of compact spatially unresolved dense clumps in S233-IR. We reconstruct 1D density and temperature distributions in the clumps and estimate their ages using astrochemical modelling. Considering CO, CS, NH$_3$ and N$_2$H$^+$ molecules (plus HCN and HNC for WB~673), we find a chemical age of $t_{\rm chem}=1-3\times 10^5$~yrs providing the best agreement between the simulated and observed column densities in all the clumps. Therefore, we consider $t_{\rm chem}$ as the chemical age of the entire filament. A long preceding low-density stage of gas accumulation in the astrochemical model would break the agreement between the simulated and observed column densities. We suggest that rapid star formation over a $\sim 10^5$~yrs timescale take place in the filament.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

The warm-up phase in massive star-forming cores around RCW 120

We study molecular emission in a massive condensation at the border of the HII region RCW 120, paying particular attention to the Core 1 and Core 2 objects, the most massive fragments of the condensation found previously by ALMA. The latter fragment was previously suggested to host a high-mass analogue of Class 0 young stellar object. We present spectra of molecular emission in the 1 mm range made with the APEX telescope. We detect CH$_3$OH and C$^{34}$S lines in Core 1 and Core 2. The CH$_3$CN series and the SO$_2$ lines are only found in Core 2. We estimate gas physical parameters using methanol lines and obtain gas temperature less than 100 K in both regions. Molecular hydrogen number density in Core 2 is in the range of $10^5-10^7$ cm$^{-3}$ and is more uncertain in Core 1. However, the detection of the CH$_3$CN lines corresponding to highly excited transitions ($E_{\rm u}> 400$~K) in Core~2 indicates that the region contains hot gas, while the abundances of CH$_3$OH, CS, SO$_2$ and CH$_3$CN are quite low for a hot core stage. We propose that Core 2 is in the warm-up phase prior to the establishing of the hot gas chemistry. We suggest that Core 2 is in the beginning of the hot core stage. There are no detected CH$_3$CN lines in Core 1, therefore, it might be on an even less evolved evolutionary stage.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Study of Star-Forming Regions in the Peculiar Galaxies NGC 660, NGC 1512, NGC 4395, and NGC 4618

The star-forming regions (SFRs) in the peculiar galaxies NGC 660, NGC 1512, NGC 4395 and NGC 4618 are studied. The relationships between such characteristics of star forming regions as UV, nearand far-IR fluxes, as well as in the Halpha and HI lines, surface brightness in these ranges, and the scatter of the radial velocities of ionized and neutral hydrogen are considered. It is shown that in all the galaxies considered, the IR fluxes from SFRs are less than in the "normal" galaxies, but for different reasons: in the galaxies with signs of recent interaction NGC 660 and NGC 1512, this is due to the low surface brightness of SFRs; in the lopsided galaxies NGC 4395 and NGC 4618, the low brightness of SFRs in the infrared range is due to their compact size. These differences indicate that the star formation process depends not only on the morphological type of a galaxy, but also on many other factors.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

3D structure of HII region Sh2-235 from tunable-filter optical observations

We present observations of the H-alpha, H-beta, [SII] 6716, 6731 and [NII] 6583 emission lines in the galactic HII region Sh2-235 with the Mapper of Narrow Galaxy Lines (MaNGaL), a tunable filter at the 1-m telescope of Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. We show that the HII region is obscured by neutral material with AV = 2-4 mag. The area with the highest AV is situated to the south-west from the ionizing star and coincides with a maximum detected electron density of >=300 cm(-3). The combination of these results with archive AKARI far-infrared data allows us to estimate the contribution of the front and rear walls to the total column density of neutral material in S235, and explain the three-dimensional structure of the region. The HII region consist of a denser, more compact portion deeply embedded in the neutral medium and the less dense and obscured gas. The front and rear walls of the HII region are inhomogeneous, with the material in the rear wall having a higher column density. We find a two-sided photodissociation region in the dense clump S235 East 1, illuminated by a UV field with G0=50-70 and 200 Habing units in the western and eastern parts, respectively.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Molecular envelope around the HII region RCW 120

The H II region RCW120 is a well-known object, which is often considered as a target to verify theoretical models of gas and dust dynamics in the interstellar medium. However, the exact geometry of RCW120 is still a matter of debate. In this work, we analyse observational data on molecular emission in RCW120 and show that 13CO(2-1) and C18O(2-1) lines are fitted by a 2D model representing a ring-like face-on structure. The changing of the C18O(3-2) line profile from double-peaked to single-peaked from the dense molecular Condensation 1 might be a signature of stalled expansion in this direction. In order to explain a self-absorption dip of the 13CO(2-1) and 13CO(3-2) lines, we suggest that RCW120 is surrounded by a diffuse molecular cloud, and find confirmation of this cloud on a map of interstellar extinction. Optically thick 13CO(2-1) emission and the infrared 8 um PAH band form a neutral envelope of the H II region resembling a ring, while the envelope breaks into separate clumps on images made with optically thin C18O(2-1) line and far-infrared dust emission.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

The Photolysis of Aromatic Hydrocarbons Adsorbed on the Surfaces of Cosmic Dust Grains

The work is devoted to the adaptation of the results of laboratory studies of the laser-induced dissociation of molecules of benzene adsorbed on a quartz substrate to the conditions of the interstellar medium. Adsorption was performed under conditions of low temperature and deep vacuum. The difference between the photolysis of adsorbed molecules and molecules in the gas phase is identified. Significance of process of photolytic desorption in the interstellar conditions is analyzed, in particular, in the conditions of photodissociation regions. It is shown that the efficiency and dissociation channels of photolysis of adsorbed and gas phase benzene differ substantially. It is concluded that the photolysis of aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on the interstellar dust grains contributes a negligible fraction to the abundance of small hydrocarbons in the interstellar medium.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Studies of Star-forming Complexes in the Galaxies NGC 628, NGC 2976, and NGC 3351

We analyze parameters of the interstellar matter emission in star-forming complexes in the high metallicity galaxies NGC~628, NGC~2976, and NGC~3351, which have different morphological types. The relation between H$α$ emission and emission in CO and HI lines is considered along with the relation between H$α$ emission and dust emission in the infrared range (IR). The fluxes and surface brightnesses in the UV and IR correlate well with H$α$ emission. The HI emission also correlates well with H$α$, while the correlation between the CO and H$α$ emission is much less prominent. The ratio of the fluxes at 8 and 24 $μ$m decreases with increasing H$α$ flux. This may be due to changes in the properties of the dust ensemble (a decrease in the mass fraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) or to changes in excitation conditions. Analysis of the kinematics of the CO lines shows that the CO flux grows with increasing velocity scatter $ΔV$ when $ΔV\lesssim70$~km/s. Preliminary evidence for the existence of star-forming complexes with higher values of $ΔV$ is presented, and the increase in the velocity scatter is accompanied by a decrease in the CO line luminosity of the complex.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Shiva: the dust destruction model

We present a numerical tool Shiva designed to simulate the dust destruction in warm neutral, warm ionized, and hot ionized media under the influence of photo-processing, sputtering, and shattering. The tool is designed primarily to study the evolution of hydrogenated amorphous carbons (HACs), but options to simulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), silicate and graphite grains are also implemented. HAC grain photo-processing includes both dehydrogenation and carbon atom loss. Dehydrogenation leads to material transformation from aliphatic to aromatic structure. Simultaneously, some other physical properties (band gap energy, optical properties, etc.) of the material change as well. The Shiva tool allows calculating the time-dependent evolution of the dust size distribution depending on hydrogen, helium, and carbon number densities and ionization state, gas temperature, radiation flux, relative gas-dust and grain-grain velocities. For HAC grains the evolution of band gap energy distribution is also computed. We describe a dust evolution model, on which the tool relies, and present evolutionary time-scales for dust grains of different sizes depending on external conditions. This allows a user to estimate quickly a lifetime of a specific dust grain under relevant conditions. As an example of the tool usage, we demonstrate how grain properties and corresponding infrared spectra evolve in photo-dissociation regions, H II regions, and supernova remnant shocks.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Star-forming regions at the periphery of the supershell surrounding the Cyg OB1 association. II. ISM kinematics and YSOs in the star cluster vdB 130 region

We present an observational study of small-scale feedback processes operating in the star-forming region located in the wall of the expanding supershell around the Cyg OB1 association. The interstellar gas and dust content and pre-stellar populations in the vicinity of the open star cluster vdB 130 are analysed based on new optical and IR observations performed with the 6-m (3D spectroscopic mapping in the [SII] doublet) and 2.5-m (optical and NIR images) Russian telescopes along with the archival data of Spitzer and Herschel space telescopes. Analysing ionized gas kinematics and emission spectra, we discovered a compact region with supersonic motions. These motions may be caused either by stellar wind, or a bipolar outflow from a protostellar disc. Young stellar objects were identified and classified in the area under study. Two star-forming regions were identified. One of them is a region of ongoing star formation in the head of the molecular cloud observed there and another one is a burst of star formation in the cloud tail.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2018

Infrared Morphology of Regions of Ionized Hydrogen

A search for infrared ring nebulae associated with regions of ionized hydrogen has been carried out. The New GPS Very Large Array survey at 20 cm forms the basis of the search, together with observations obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope at 8 and 24 $μ$m and the Herschel Space Telescope at 70 $μ$m. Objects having ring-like morphologies at 8 $μ$m and displaying extended emission at 20 cm were selected visually. Emission at 24 $μ$m having the form of an inner ring or central peak is also observed in the selected objects. A catalog of 99 ring nebulae whose shapes at 8 and 70 $μ$m are well approximated by ellipses has been compiled. The catalog contains 32 objects whose shapes are close to circular (eccentricities of the fitted ellipses at 8 $μ$m no greater than 0.6, angular radius exceeding 20). These objects are promising for comparisons with the results of one-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of expanding regions of ionized hydrogen.

astro-ph.GA↗