Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Henrik Beuther

Publications and source records attributed to Henrik Beuther.

117 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Star formation in a clustered environment around the UCHII region in IRAS 20293+3952

We aim at studying the cluster environment surrounding the UCHII region in IRAS 20293+3952, a region in the first stages of formation of a cluster around a high-mass star. BIMA and VLA were used to observe the 3 mm continuum, N2H+(1-0), NH3(1,1) and (2,2), and CH3OH(2-1) emission of the surroundings of the UCHII region. We studied the kinematics of the region and computed the rotational temperature and column density maps by fitting the hyperfine structure of N2H+ and NH3. The dense gas traced by N2H+ and NH3 shows two different clouds, a main cloud to the east of the UCHII region, of 0.5 pc and 250 Msun, and a western cloud, of 0.15 pc and 30 Msun. The dust emission reveals two strong components in the northern side of the main cloud, associated with Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) driving molecular outflows, and two fainter components in the southern side, with no signs of star forming activity. Regarding the CH3OH, we found strong emission in a fork-like structure associated with outflow B, as well as emission associated with outflow A. The rotational temperature is higher in the northern side of the main cloud, around 22 K, where there are most of the YSOs, than in the southern side, around 16 K. There is strong chemical differentiation in the region, since we determined low values of the NH3/N2H+ ratio, around 50, associated with YSOs in the north of the main cloud, and high values, up to 300, associated with cores with no detected YSOs, in the south of the main cloud. Such a chemical differentiation is likely due to abundance/depletion effects. Finally, interaction between the different sources in the region is important, mainly through their UV radiation and outflows (abridged).

astro-ph↗

HH 212: SMA Observations of a Remarkable Protostellar Jet

HH 212 is a nearby (460 pc) protostellar jet discovered in H$_2$ powered by a Class 0 source, IRAS 05413-0104, in the L1630 cloud of Orion. It is highly collimated and symmetric with matched pairs of bow shocks on either side of the source. We have mapped it in 850 $μ$m continuum, SiO ($J=8-7$), CO ($J=3-2$), SO ($N_J=8_9-7_8$), HCO$^+$ ($J = 4-3$), and H$^{13}$CO$^+$ ($J = 4-3$) emission simultaneously at $\sim$ 1$''$ resolution with the Submillimeter Array (SMA). Thermal dust emission is seen in continuum around the source, mainly arising from an inner envelope (i.e., the inner part of a previously seen flattened envelope) and a possible disk. The inner envelope is also seen with rotation in CO, HCO$^+$, and probably SO. Like H$_2$ emission, CO and SiO emission are seen along the jet axis but extending closer to the source, tracing the bow shocks with a broad range of velocities and the continuous structures in between. SO emission is seen only around the source, forming a jetlike structure extending along the jet axis from the source, likely tracing the jet near the launching region. The jet is episodic and bending. It may also be slightly precessing as the jetlike SO structure shows a slight S-shaped symmetry about the source. A hint of jet rotation is also seen across the jet axis. Internal outflow shells are seen in CO and HCO$^+$, associated with the bow shocks in the inner part of the jet. The bases of the HCO$^+$ shells are seen with a hint of rotation similar to that seen in the inner envelope, probably consisted mainly of the material extended from the inner envelope and even the possible disk.

astro-ph↗

(Sub)mm Interferometry Applications in Star Formation Research

This contribution gives an overview about various applications of (sub)mm interferometry in star formation research. The topics covered are molecular outflows, accretion disks, fragmentation and chemical properties of low- and high-mass star-forming regions. A short outlook on the capabilities of ALMA is given as well.

astro-ph↗

Physics and chemistry of hot molecular cores

Young massive star-forming regions are known to produce hot molecular gas cores (HMCs) with a rich chemistry. While this chemistry is interesting in itself, it also allows to investigate important physical parameters. I will present recent results obtained with high-angular-resolution interferometers disentangling the small-scale structure and complexity of various molecular gas components. Early attempts to develop a chemical evolutionary sequence are discussed. Furthermore, I will outline the difficulty to isolate the right molecular lines capable to unambiguously trace potential massive accretion disks.

astro-ph↗

High Resolution Imaging of Molecular Outflows in Massive Young Stars

We present high angular resolution observations toward two massive star forming regions IRAS 18264-1152 and IRAS 23151+5912 with the Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) in the SiO (J=2-1) and H$^{13}$CO$^{+}$ (J=1-0) lines and at 1.3 mm and 3.4 mm continuum, and with the Very Large Array (VLA) in the NH$_3$ (J,K)=(1,1), (2,2) lines. The NH$_3$ (1,1) and (2,2) emission is detected toward IRAS 18264-1152 only. For IRAS 18264-1152, the SiO observations reveal at least two quasi-perpendicular outflows with high collimation factors, and the most dominant feature is a redshifted jet-like outflow with very high velocities up to about $Δv=60$ kms$^{-1}$ with respect to the systemic velocity. The very-high-velocity component ($Δv=22 - 60$ kms$^{-1}$) of this outflow is spatially offset from its high-velocity ($Δv=3 - 21$ kms$^{-1}$) component. The SiO line profiles and position-velocity characteristics of these two components suggest that this outflow can be driven by an underlying precessing jet. For IRAS 23151+5912, the bipolar but mainly blueshifted SiO outflow coincides with the inner parts of the single-dish CO outflow. In particular the quasi-parabolic shape of the blueshifted outflow coincides with the near-infrared nebulosity and is consistent with entrainment of the gas by an underlying wide-angle wind. The analysis of the molecular outflow data of the two luminous sources further support high-mass stars forming via a disk-mediated accretion process similar to low-mass stars.

astro-ph↗

Molecular Outflows in Low- and High-Mass Star Forming Regions

We review the known properties of molecular outflows from low- and high-mass young stars. General trends among outflows are identified, and the most recent studies on the morphology, kinematics, energetics, and evolution of molecular outflows are discussed, focusing on results from high-resolution millimeter observations. We review the existing four broad classes of outflow models and compare numerical simulations with the observational data. A single class of models cannot explain the range of morphological and kinematic properties that are observed, and we propose a possible solution. The impact of outflows on their cloud is examined, and we review how outflows can disrupt their surrounding environment, through the clearing of gas and the injection of momentum and energy onto the gas at distances from their powering sources from about 0.01 to a few pc. We also discuss the effects of shock-induced chemical processes on the ambient medium, and how these processes may act as a chemical clock to date outflows. Lastly, future outflow research with existing and planned millimeter and submillimeter instruments is presented.

astro-ph↗

Infall and Outflow around the HH 212 protostellar system

HH 212 is a highly collimated jet discovered in H2 powered by a young Class 0 source, IRAS 05413-0104, in the L1630 cloud of Orion. We have mapped around it in 1.33 mm continuum, 12CO ($J=2-1$), 13CO ($J=2-1$), C18O ($J=2-1$), and SO ($J_K = 6_5-5_4$) emission at $\sim$ \arcs{2.5} resolution with the Submillimeter Array. A dust core is seen in the continuum around the source. A flattened envelope is seen in C18O around the source in the equator perpendicular to the jet axis, with its inner part seen in 13CO. The structure and kinematics of the envelope can be roughly reproduced by a simple edge-on disk model with both infall and rotation. In this model, the density of the disk is assumed to have a power-law index of $p=-1.5$ or -2, as found in other low-mass envelopes. The envelope seems dynamically infalling toward the source with slow rotation because the kinematics is found to be roughly consistent with a free fall toward the source plus a rotation of a constant specific angular momentum. A 12CO outflow is seen surrounding the H2 jet, with a narrow waist around the source. Jetlike structures are also seen in 12CO near the source aligned with the H2 jet at high velocities. The morphological relationship between the H2 jet and the 12CO outflow, and the kinematics of the 12CO outflow along the jet axis are both consistent with those seen in a jet-driven bow shock model. SO emission is seen around the source and the H2 knotty shocks in the south, tracing shocked emission around them.

astro-ph↗

In Search of Circumstellar Disks Around Young Massive Stars

We present 7 mm, 1.3 cm and 3.6 cm continuum observations made with the Very Large Array toward a sample of ten luminous IRAS sources that are believed to be regions of massive star formation. We detect compact 7 mm emission in four of these objects: IRAS 18089-1732(1), IRAS 18182-1433, IRAS 18264-1152 and IRAS 18308-0841 and for the first time find that these IRAS sources are associated with double or triple radio sources separated by a few arcseconds. We discuss the characteristics of these sources based mostly on their spectral indices and find that their nature is diverse. Some features indicate that the 7 mm emission is dominated by dust from disks or envelopes. Toward other components the 7 mm emission appears to be dominated by free-free radiation, both from ionized outflows or from optically thick H II regions. Furthermore, there is evidence of synchrotron contamination in some of these sources. Finally, we found that the sources associated with ionized outflows, or thermal jets are correlated with CH$_3$OH masers. The precise determination of the nature of these objects requires additional multifrequency observations at high angular resolution. The 3.6 cm continuum observations also revealed seven UCHII regions in the vicinity of the sources IRAS 18089-1732(1) and two more in the source IRAS 18182-1433. We show that the small photoionized nebulae of these UCHII regions are produced by early B-type stars.

astro-ph↗

Fragmentation of a high-mass star-forming core

At the earliest evolutionary stages, massive star-forming regions are deeply embedded within their natal cores and not observable at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. Interferometric high-spatial resolution mm dust continuum observations of one very young high-mass star-forming region disentangle its cluster-like nature already at the very beginning of the star formation process. The derived protocluster mass function is consistent with the stellar IMF. Hence, fragmentation of the initial massive cores may determine the IMF and the masses of the final stars. This implies that stars of all masses can form via accretion, and coalescence of protostars appears not to be necessary.

astro-ph↗