arXiv subjects

E. Chapillon

Publications and source records attributed to E. Chapillon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Constraining MHD disk winds with ALMA. Apparent rotation signatures and application to HH212

Large millimeter interferometers are revealing a growing number of rotating outflows, which are suggested to trace magneto-centrifugal disk winds (MHD DWs). However, their impact on disk accretion is not yet well quantified. Here we identify systematic biases in retrieving the true launch zone, magnetic lever arm, and angular momentum flux of an MHD DW from apparent rotation signatures. Synthetic position-velocity cuts are constructed from self-similar MHD DWs over a broad range of parameters, and three different methods are applied for estimating the specific angular momentum. We find that the launch radius inferred using the well-known relation from Anderson et al. (2006) can markedly differ from the true outermost launch radius $r_{out}$ of the DW. The "double-peak separation" and "flow width" methods provide only a strict lower limit to $r_{out}$. This bias is independent of angular resolution and can reach a factor ten. In contrast, the "rotation curve" method gives a good estimate of $r_{out}$ when the flow is well resolved, and an upper limit otherwise. The magnetic lever arm is always underestimated. Only comparison with synthetic predictions can take into account properly all observational effects. As an application, we present a comparison with ALMA observations of HH212 at resolutions from 250 au to 16 au, which represents the most stringent observational test of MHD DW to date. This comparison confirms our predicted biases for the double-peak separation method, and the large $r_{out}\sim40~$au and small magnetic lever arm first suggested by Tabone et al. (2017). We also derive the first accurate analytical expression for the fraction of disk angular momentum extracted by an MHD disk wind of given radial extent, magnetic lever arm, and mass flux. Application to HH212 confirms that MHD DWs are serious candidates for the steady angular momentum extraction process in young disks.

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arXiv2020

GG Tau A: gas properties and dynamics from the cavity to the outer disk

We used new ALMA $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O(3-2) observations obtained at high angular resolution ($\sim$0.2") together with previous CO(3-2) and (6-5) ALMA data and continuum maps at 1.3 and 0.8 mm in order to determine the gas properties (temperature, density, and kinematics) in the cavity and to a lesser extent in the outer disk of GG Tau A, the prototype of a young triple T Tauri star that is surrounded by a massive and extended Keplerian outer disk. By deprojecting, we studied the radial and azimuthal gas distribution and its kinematics. We also applied a new method to improve the deconvolution of the CO data and in particular better quantify the emission from gas inside the cavity. We perform local and nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium studies in order to determine the excitation conditions and relevant physical parameters inside the ring and in the central cavity. Residual emission after removing a smooth-disk model indicates unresolved structures at our angular resolution, probably in the form of irregular rings or spirals. The outer disk is cold, with a temperature $<20$ K beyond 250 au that drops quickly (r$^{-1}$). The kinematics of the gas inside the cavity reveals infall motions at about 10% of the Keplerian speed. We derive the amount of gas in the cavity, and find that the brightest clumps, which contain about 10% of this mass, have kinetic temperatures 40$-$80 K, CO column densities of a few 10$^{17}$ cm$^{-2}$, and H$_2$ densities around 10$^7$ cm$^{-3}$. Although the gas in the cavity is only a small fraction of the disk mass, the mass accretion rate throughout the cavity is comparable to or higher than the stellar accretion rate. It is accordingly sufficient to sustain the circumstellar disks on a long timescale.

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arXiv2019

Highly structured disk around the planet host PDS 70 revealed by high-angular resolution observations with ALMA

PDS 70b is the most robustly detected young planet imaged in the gap of a transition disk so far, found at a separation of ~195 mas (~22 au) from its host star and at a position angle of about 155 deg. This system is therefore a unique laboratory to characterize the properties of young planetary systems at the stage of their formation. We aim to trace direct and indirect imprints of PDS 70b on the gas and dust emission of the circumstellar disk in order to study the properties of this ~5 Myr young planetary system. We obtained ALMA band 7 observations of PDS 70 in dust continuum and $^{12}CO$ (3-2) and combined them with archival data resulting in an unprecedented angular resolution of about 70 mas (~8 au). We derive an upper limit on circumplanetary material at the location of PDS 70b of ~0.01 $M_{\oplus}$ and find a highly structured circumstellar disk in both dust and gas. The outer dust ring peaks at ~0.65" (74 au) and reveals a possible second unresolved peak at ~0.53" (60 au). The integrated intensity of CO also shows evidence of a depletion of emission at ~0.2" (23 au) with a width of ~0.1" (11 au). The gas kinematics show evidence of a deviation from Keplerian rotation inside $\lesssim$0.8" (91 au). This implies a pressure gradient that can account for the location of the dust ring well beyond the location of PDS 70b. Further in, we detect an inner disk which appears to be connected to the outer disk by a possible bridge feature in the North-West region in both gas and dust. We compare the observations to hydrodynamical simulations including a planet with different masses covering the estimated mass range previously derived from NIR photometry (~5-9 M$_{Jup}$). We find that even a planet with a mass of 10 M$_{Jup}$ may not be sufficient to explain the extent of the wide gap and an additional low-mass companion may be needed to account for the observed disk morphology.

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arXiv2018

Detection of a high-mass prestellar core candidate in W43-MM1

Aims. To constrain the physical processes that lead to the birth of high-mass stars it is mandatory to study the very first stages of their formation. We search for high-mass analogs of low-mass prestellar cores in W43-MM1. Methods. We conducted a 1.3 mm ALMA mosaic of the complete W43-MM1 cloud, which has revealed numerous cores with ~ 2000 au FWHM sizes. We investigated the nature of cores located at the tip of the main filament, where the clustering is minimum. We used the continuum emission to measure the core masses and the $^{13}$CS(5-4) line emission to estimate their turbulence level. We also investigated the prestellar or protostellar nature of these cores by searching for outflow signatures traced by CO(2-1) and SiO(5-4) line emission, and for molecular complexity typical of embedded hot cores. Results. Two high-mass cores of ~ 1300 au diameter and ~ $60~M_\odot$ mass are observed to be turbulent but gravitationally bound. One drives outflows and is associated with a hot core. The other core, W43-MM1\#6, does not yet reveal any star formation activity and thus is an excellent high-mass prestellar core candidate.

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arXiv2018

ALMA observations of the young protostellar system Barnard 1b: signatures of an incipient hot corino in B1b-S

The Barnard 1b core shows signatures of being at the earliest stages of low-mass star formation, with two extremely young and deeply embedded protostellar objects. Hence, this core is an ideal target to study the structure and chemistry of the first objects formed in the collapse of prestellar cores. We present ALMA Band 6 spectral line observations at ~0.6'' of angular resolution towards Barnard 1b. We have extracted the spectra towards both protostars, and used a Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) model to reproduce the observed line profiles. B1b-S shows rich and complex spectra, with emission from high energy transitions of complex molecules, such as CH3OCOH and CH3CHO, including vibrational level transitions. We have tentatively detected for the first time in this source emission from NH2CN, NH2CHO, CH3CH2OH, CH2OHCHO, CH3CH2OCOH and both aGg' and gGg' conformers of (CH2OH)2. This is the first detection of ethyl formate (CH3CH2OCOH) towards a low-mass star forming region. On the other hand, the spectra of the FHSC candidate B1b-N are free of COMs emission. In order to fit the observed line profiles in B1b-S, we used a source model with two components: an inner hot and compact component (200 K, 0.35'') and an outer and colder one (60 K, 0.6''). The resulting COM abundances in B1b-S range from 1e-13 for NH2CN and NH2CHO, up to 1e-9 for CH3OCOH. Our ALMA Band 6 observations reveal the presence of a compact and hot component in B1b-S, with moderate abundances of complex organics. These results indicate that a hot corino is being formed in this very young Class 0 source.

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arXiv2018

High-speed molecular cloudlets around the Galactic Center supermassive black hole

We present 1"-resolution ALMA observations of the circumnuclear disk (CND) and the environment around SgrA*. The images unveil the presence of small spatial scale CO (J=3-2) molecular "cloudlets" within the central pc of the Milky Way, moving at high speeds, up to 300 km/s along the line-of-sight. The CO-emitting structures show intricate morphologies: extended and filamentary at high negative-velocities (v_LSR < -150 km/s), more localized and clumpy at extreme positive-velocities (v_LSR > +200 km/s). Based on the pencil-beam CO absorption spectrum toward SgrA* synchrotron emission, we also present evidence for a diffuse gas component producing absorption features at more extreme negative-velocities (v_LSR < -200 km/s). The CND shows a clumpy spatial distribution. Its motion requires a bundle of non-uniformly rotating streams of slightly different inclinations. The inferred gas density peaks are lower than the local Roche limit. This supports that CND molecular cores are transient. We apply the two standard orbit models, spirals vs. ellipses, invoked to explain the kinematics of the ionized gas streamers around SgrA*. The location and velocities of the CO cloudlets are inconsistent with the spiral model, and only two of them are consistent with the Keplerian ellipse model. Most cloudlets, however, show similar velocities that are incompatible with the motions of the ionized streamers or with gas bounded to the central gravity. We speculate that they are leftovers of more massive, tidally disrupted, clouds that fall into the cavity, or that they originate from instabilities in the inner rim of the CND and infall from there. Molecular cloudlets, all together with a mass of several 10 M_Sun, exist around SgrA*. Most of them must be short-lived: photoevaporated by the intense stellar radiation field, blown away by winds from massive stars, or disrupted by strong gravitational shears.

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arXiv2018

First detection of H$_2$S in a protoplanetary disk. The dense GG Tau A ring

Studying molecular species in protoplanetary disks is very useful to characterize the properties of these objects, which are the site of planet formation. We attempt to constrain the chemistry of S-bearing molecules in the cold parts of circumstellar disk of GG Tau A. We searched for H$_2$S, CS, SO, and SO$_2$ in the dense disk around GG Tau A with the NOrthem Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometer. We detected H$_2$S emission from the dense and cold ring orbiting around GG Tau A. This is the first detection of H$_2$S in a protoplanetary disk. We also detected HCO$^+$, H$^{13}$CO$^+$, and DCO$^+$ in the disk. Upper limits for other molecules, CCS, SO$_2$, SO, HC$_3$N, and $c$-C$_3$H$_2$ are also obtained. The observed DCO$^+$/HCO$^+$ ratio is similar to those in other disks. The observed column densities, derived using our radiative transfer code DiskFit, are then compared with those from our chemical code Nautilus. The column densities are in reasonable agreement for DCO$^{+}$, CS, CCS, and SO$_2$. For H$_2$S and SO, our predicted vertical integrated column densities are more than a factor of 10 higher than the measured values. Our results reinforce the hypothesis that only a strong sulfur depletion may explain the low observed H$_2$S column density in the disk. The H$_2$S detection in GG Tau A is most likely linked to the much larger mass of this disk compared to that in other T Tauri systems.

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arXiv2018

Chemistry in disks. XI. Sulfur-bearing species as tracers of protoplanetary disk physics and chemistry: the DM Tau case

Context. Several sulfur-bearing molecules are observed in the interstellar medium and in comets, in strong contrast to protoplanetary disks where only CS, H$_2$CS and SO have been detected so far. Aims. We combine observations and chemical models to constrain the sulfur abundances and their sensitivity to physical and chemical conditions in the DM Tau protoplanetary disk. Methods. We obtained $0.5^{"}$ ALMA observations of DM Tau in Bands 4 and 6 in lines of CS, SO, SO$_2$, OCS, CCS, H$_2$CS and H$_2$S, achieving a $\sim 5$ mJy sensitivity. Using the non-LTE radiative transfer code RADEX and the forward-modeling tool DiskFit, disk-averaged CS column densities and upper limits for the other species were derived. Results. Only CS was detected with a derived column density of $\sim 2-6 \times 10^{12}$ cm$^{-2}$. We report a first tentative detection of SO$_2$ in DM Tau. The upper limits range between $\sim 10^{11}$ and $10^{14}$ cm$^{-2}$ for the other S-bearing species. The best-fit chemical model matching these values requires a gas-phase C/O ratio of > 1 at $r \sim 50-100$ au. With chemical modeling we demonstrate that sulfur-bearing species could be robust tracers of the gas-phase C/O ratio, surface reaction rates, grain size and UV intensities. Conclusions. The lack of detections of a variety of sulfur-bearing molecules in DM Tau other than CS implies a dearth of reactive sulfur in the gas phase, either through efficient freeze-out or because most of the elemental sulfur is in other large species, as found in comets. The inferred high CS/SO and CS/SO$_2$ ratios require a non-solar C/O gas-phase ratio of > 1, consistent with the recent observations of hydrocarbon rings in DM Tau. The stronger depletion of oxygen-bearing S-species compared to CS is likely linked to the low observed abundances of gaseous water in DM Tau and points to a removal mechanism of oxygen from the gas.

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arXiv2018

Water and interstellar complex organics associated with the HH 212 protostellar disc - On disc atmospheres, disc winds, and accretion shocks

The HH 212 protostellar system, in Orion B, has been mapped thanks to ALMA-Band 7 Cycle 1 and Cycle 4 observations of dueterated water (HDO) and acetaldehyde (CH$_3$CHO) emission with an angular resolution down to $\sim$0.15 arcsec (60 au). Many emission lines due to 14 CH$_3$CHO and 1 HDO transitions at high excitation ($E_{\rm u}$ between 163 K and 335 K) have been imaged in the inner $\sim$ 70 au region. The local thermal equilibrium analysis of the CH$_3$CHO emission leads to a temperature of 78$\pm$14 K and a column density of 7.6$\pm$3.2 $\times$ 10$^{15}$ cm$^{-2}$, which, when $N_{\rm H_2}$ of 10$^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$ is assumed, leads to an abundance of $X_{\rm CH_3CHO}$ $\simeq$ 8 $\times$ 10$^{-9}$. The large velocity gradient analysis of the HDO emission also places severe constraints on the volume density, n$_{\rm H_2}$ $\geq$ 10$^8$ cm$^{-3}$. The line profiles are 5--7 km s$^{-1}$ wide, and CH$_3$CHO and HDO both show a $\pm$ 2 km s$^{-1}$ velocity gradient over a size of $\sim$ 70 au (blue-shifted emission towards the north-west and red-shifted emission towards the south-east) along the disc equatorial plane, in agreement with what was found so far using other molecular tracers. The kinematics of CH$_3$CHO and HDO are consistent with the occurrence of a centrifugal barrier, that is, the infalling envelope-rotating disc ring, which is chemically enriched through low-velocity accretion shocks. The emission radius is $\sim$ 60 au, in good agreement with what was found before for another interstellar complex organic molecule such as NH$_2$CHO. We support a vertical structure for the centrifugal barrier, suggesting the occurrence of two outflowing, expanding, and rotating rings above and below (of about 40-45 au) the optically thick equatorial disc plane. It is tempting to speculate that these rings could probe the basis of a wind launched from this region.

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arXiv2018

The search for high-mass protostars with ALMA revealed up to kilo-parsec scales (SPARKS): I. Indication for a centrifugal barrier in the environment of a single high-mass envelope

The formation of the most massive O-type stars is poorly understood. We present a case study of a young massive clump from the ATLASGAL survey, G328.2551-0.5321. It exhibits a bolometric luminosity of 1.3$\times$10$^4$ L$_{\odot}$ corresponding to a current protostellar mass of $\sim$11 and 16 M$_{\odot}$. We analyze high angular-resolution observations with ALMA at $\sim$0.17" corresponding a physical scale of $\sim$400 au in dust continuum and molecular lines. The dust continuum emission reveals a single high-mass protostellar envelope and shows evidence for a marginally resolved continuum source. We detect a rotational line of CH$_3$OH within its $v_{\rm t}$=1 torsionally excited state revealing two bright peaks of emission spatially offset from the dust continuum peak, and exhibiting a distinct velocity component $\pm$4.5 km s$^{-1}$ offset compared to the source $v_{\rm lsr}$. Local thermodynamic equilibrium analysis suggests N(CH$_3$OH)=1.2$-$2$\times$10$^{19}$ cm$^{-2}$, and kinetic temperatures of 160$-$200 K at the position of these peaks. Their velocity shifts correspond well to the expected Keplerian velocity around a central object with 15M$_{\odot}$ consistent with the mass estimate based on the source's bolometric luminosity. We propose a picture where the CH$_3$OH emission peaks trace the accretion shocks around the centrifugal barrier, pinpointing the interaction region between the collapsing envelope and an accretion disk. Because the HC$_3$N $v_{\rm 7}$=1e ($J$=38-37) line shows compact emission, and a velocity pattern consistent with models of Keplerian rotation, we suggest that this could be a new tracer for compact accretion disks around high-mass protostars. The estimated physical properties of the accretion disk suggest a specific angular momentum several times larger than typically observed towards low-mass protostars.

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arXiv2018

The unexpectedly large proportion of high-mass star-forming cores in a Galactic mini-starburst

Understanding the processes that determine the stellar Initial Mass Function (IMF) is a critical unsolved problem, with profound implications for many areas of astrophysics. In molecular clouds, stars are formed in cores, gas condensations which are sufficiently dense that gravitational collapse converts a large fraction of their mass into a star or small clutch of stars. In nearby star-formation regions, the core mass function (CMF) is strikingly similar to the IMF, suggesting that the shape of the IMF may simply be inherited from the CMF. Here we present 1.3 mm observations, obtained with ALMA, the world's largest interferometer, of the active star-formation region W43-MM1, which may be more representative of the Galactic-disk regions where most stars form. The unprecedented resolution of these observations reveals, for the first time, a statistically robust CMF at high masses, with a slope that is markedly shallower than the IMF. This seriously challenges our understanding of the origin of the IMF.

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arXiv2018

Morphology of the $^{13}$CO(3-2) millimeter emission across the gas disc surrounding the triple protostar GG Tau A using ALMA observations

Observations by the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array of the dust continuum and $^{13}$CO(3-2) millimeter emissions of the triple stellar system GG Tau A are analysed, giving evidence for a rotating gas disc and a concentric and coplanar dust ring. The present work complements an earlier analysis (Tang et al. 2016) by exploring detailed properties of the gas disc. A 95% confidence level upper limit of 0.24 arcsec (34 au) is placed on the disc scale height at a distance of 1 arcsec (140 au) from the central stars. Evidence for Keplerian rotation of the gas disc is presented, the rotation velocity reaching ~3.1 kms$^{-1}$ at 1 arcsec from the central stars, and a 99% confidence level upper limit of 9% is placed on a possible in-fall velocity relative contribution. Variations of the intensity across the disc area are studied in detail and confirm the presence of a hot spot in the south-eastern quadrant. However several other significant intensity variations, in particular a depression in the northern direction, are also revealed. Variations of the intensity are found to be positively correlated to variations of the line width. Possible contributions to the measured line width are reviewed, suggesting an increase of the disc temperature and opacity with decreasing distance from the stars.

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arXiv2017

ALMA discovery of a rotating SO/SO$_2$ flow in HH212. A possible MHD disk wind?

We wish to constrain the possible contribution of a magnetohydrodynamic disk wind (DW) to the HH212 molecular jet. We mapped the flow base with ALMA Cycle 4 at 0.13"$\sim$ 60 au resolution and compared these observations with synthetic DW predictions. We identified, in SO/SO$_2$, a rotating flow that is wider and slower than the axial SiO jet. The broad outflow cavity seen in C$^{34}$S is not carved by a fast wide-angle wind but by this slower agent. Rotation signatures may be fitted by a DW of a moderate lever arm launched out to $\sim$ 40 au with SiO tracing dust-free streamlines from 0.05-0.3 au. Such a DW could limit the core-to-star efficiency to $\leq$50%.

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arXiv2017

Evidence for disks at an early stage in class 0 protostars?

The formation epoch of protostellar disks is debated because of the competing roles of rotation, turbulence, and magnetic fields in the early stages of low-mass star formation. Magnetohydrodynamics simulations of collapsing cores predict that rotationally supported disks may form in strongly magnetized cores through ambipolar diffusion or misalignment between the rotation axis and the magnetic field orientation. Detailed studies of individual sources are needed to cross check the theoretical predictions. We present 0.06-0.1" resolution images at 350 GHz toward B1b-N and B1b-S, which are young class 0 protostars, possibly first hydrostatic cores. The images have been obtained with ALMA, and we compare these data with magnetohydrodynamics simulations of a collapsing turbulent and magnetized core. The submillimeter continuum emission is spatially resolved by ALMA. Compact structures with optically thick 350 GHz emission are detected toward both B1b-N and B1b-S, with 0.2 and 0.35" radii (46 and 80 au at the Perseus distance of 230 pc), within a more extended envelope. The flux ratio between the compact structure and the envelope is lower in B1b-N than in B1b-S, in agreement with its earlier evolutionary status. The size and orientation of the compact structure are consistent with 0.2" resolution 32 GHz observations obtained with the Very Large Array as a part of the VANDAM survey, suggesting that grains have grown through coagulation. The morphology, temperature, and densities of the compact structures are consistent with those of disks formed in numerical simulations of collapsing cores. Moreover, the properties of B1b-N are consistent with those of a very young protostar, possibly a first hydrostatic core. These observations provide support for the early formation of disks around low-mass protostars.

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arXiv2017

Deuterated methanol on Solar System scale around the HH212 protostar

Context: Methanol is thought to be mainly formed during the prestellar phase and its deuterated form keeps memory of the conditions at that epoch. Thanks to the unique combination of high angular resolution and sensitivity provided by ALMA, we wish to measure methanol deuteration in the planet formation region around a Class 0 protostar and to understand its origin. Aims: We mapped both the $^{13}$CH$_3$OH and CH$_2$DOH distribution in the inner regions ($\sim$100 au) of the HH212 system in Orion B. To this end, we used ALMA Cycle 1 and Cycle 4 observations in Band 7 with angular resolution down to $\sim$0.15$"$. Results: We detected 6 lines of $^{13}$CH$_3$OH and 13 lines of CH$_2$DOH with upper level energies up to 438 K in temperature units. We derived a rotational temperature of (171 $\pm$ 52) K and column densities of 7$\times$10$^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$ ($^{13}$CH$_3$OH) and 1$\times$10$^{17}$ cm$^{-2}$ (CH$_2$DOH), respectively. Consequently, the D/H ratio is (2.4 $\pm$ 0.4)$\times$10$^{-2}$, a value lower by an order of magnitude with respect to what was previously measured using single dish telescopes toward protostars located in Perseus. Our findings are consistent with the higher dust temperatures in Orion B with respect to that derived for the Perseus cloud. The emission is tracing a rotating structure extending up to 45 au from the jet axis and elongated by 90 au along the jet axis. So far, the origin of the observed emission appears to be related with the accretion disk. Only higher spatial resolution measurements however, will be able to disentangle between different possible scenarios: disk wind, disk atmosphere, or accretion shocks.

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arXiv2017

The ALMA view of UV irradiated cloud edges: unexpected structures and processes

Far-UV photons (E<13.6 eV) from hot massive stars regulate, or at least influence, the heating, ionization, and chemistry of most of the neutral interstellar medium. Investigating the interaction between FUV radiation and interstellar matter thus plays an important role in astrochemistry. We have used ALMA to mosaic a small field of the Orion Bar where the critical transition from atomic to molecular gas takes place. These observations provide an unprecedented sharp view of this transition layer (~1" resolution or ~414 AU). The resulting images (so far in the rotational emission of CO, HCO+, H13CO+, SO+, SO, and reactive ions SH+ and HOC+) show the small-scale structure in gas density and temperature, and the steep abundance gradients. The images reveal a pattern of high-density substructures, photo-ablative gas flows and instabilities at the edge of the molecular cloud. We have also used the IRAM 30m telescope to carry out a line-survey of the illuminated edge of the Bar in the mm domain. Our observations reveal the presence of complex organic molecules that were not expected in such a harsh environment. In particular, we have reported the first detection of the unstable cis conformer of formic acid (HCOOH) in the ISM. The energy barrier to internal rotation (the conversion from trans to cis) is approximately 4827 cm-1. Hence, this detection is surprising. The low inferred trans-to-cis abundance ratio of 2.8+/-1.0 supports a photoswitching mechanism: a given conformer absorbs a FUV stellar photon that radiatively excites the molecule to electronic states above the interconversion barrier. Subsequent fluorescent decay leaves the molecule in a different conformer form. This mechanism, which we have specifically studied with ab initio quantum calculations, was not considered so far in astrochemistry although it can affect the structure of a variety of molecules in PDRs. (abridged)

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arXiv2017

Dynamical Masses of Low Mass Stars in the Taurus and Ophiuchus Star Forming Regions

We report new dynamical masses for 5 pre-main sequence (PMS) stars in the L1495 region of the Taurus star-forming region (SFR) and 6 in the L1688 region of the Ophiuchus SFR. Since these regions have VLBA parallaxes these are absolute measurements of the stars' masses and are independent of their effective temperatures and luminosities. Seven of the stars have masses $<0.6$ solar masses, thus providing data in a mass range with little data, and of these, 6 are measured to precision $< 5 \%$. We find 8 stars with masses in the range 0.09 to 1.1 solar mass that agree well with the current generation of PMS evolutionary models. The ages of the stars we measured in the Taurus SFR are in the range 1-3 MY, and $<1$ MY for those in L1688. We also measured the dynamical masses of 14 stars in the ALMA archival data for Akeson~\&~Jensen's Cycle 0 project on binaries in the Taurus SFR. We find that the masses of 7 of the targets are so large that they cannot be reconciled with reported values of their luminosity and effective temperature. We suggest that these targets are themselves binaries or triples.

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arXiv2017

The Flying Saucer: Tomography of the thermal and density gas structure of an edge-on protoplanetary disk

Determining the gas density and temperature structures of protoplanetary disks is a fundamental task to constrain planet formation theories. This is a challenging procedure and most determinations are based on model-dependent assumptions. We attempt a direct determination of the radial and vertical temperature structure of the Flying Saucer disk, thanks to its favorable inclination of 90 degrees. We present a method based on the tomographic study of an edge-on disk. Using ALMA, we observe at 0.5$"$ resolution the Flying Saucer in CO J=2-1 and CS J=5-4. This edge-on disk appears in silhouette against the CO J=2-1 emission from background molecular clouds in $ρ$ Oph. The combination of velocity gradients due to the Keplerian rotation of the disk and intensity variations in the CO background as a function of velocity provide a direct measure of the gas temperature as a function of radius and height above the disk mid-plane. The overall thermal structure is consistent with model predictions, with a cold ($< 15-12 $~K), CO-depleted mid-plane, and a warmer disk atmosphere. However, we find evidence for CO gas along the mid-plane beyond a radius of about 200\,au, coincident with a change of grain properties. Such a behavior is expected in case of efficient rise of UV penetration re-heating the disk and thus allowing CO thermal desorption or favoring direct CO photo-desorption. CO is also detected up to 3-4 scale heights while CS is confined around 1 scale height above the mid-plane. The limits of the method due to finite spatial and spectral resolutions are also discussed. This method appears to be very promising to determine the gas structure of planet-forming disks, provided that the molecular data have an angular resolution which is high enough, of the order of $0.3 - 0.1"$ at the distance of the nearest star forming regions.

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