arXiv subjects

Huib Jan van Langevelde

Publications and source records attributed to Huib Jan van Langevelde.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Distribution and excitation of thermal methanol in 6.7 GHz maser bearing star-forming regions; I. The nearby source Cepheus A

The aim of this study is to investigate the distribution and excitation of the methanol gas around Cep A and to describe the physical conditions of the region. In addition the large scale abundance distribution is determined in order to understand the morphology and kinematics of star forming regions in which methanol masers occur. The spatial distribution of the methanol is studied by mapping line emission, as well as the column density and excitation temperature, which are estimated using rotation diagrams. For a limited number of positions the parameters are checked with non-LTE models. Furthermore, the distribution of the methanol abundance is derived in comparison with archival dust continuum maps. Methanol is detected over a 0.3x0.15 pc area centred on the Cep A HW2 source, showing an outflow signature. Most of the gas can be characterized by a moderately warm rotation temperature (30-60K). At the central position two velocity components are detected with different excitation characteristics, the first related to the large-scale outflow. The second component, uniquely detected at the central location, is probably associated with the maser emission on much smaller scales of 2". Detailed analysis reveals that the highest densities and temperatures occur for these inner components. In the inner region the dust and gas are shown to have different physical parameters. Abundances of methanol in the range 10E-9 - 10E-7 are inferred, with the abundance peaking at the maser position. The geometry of the large-scale methanol is in accordance with previous determinations of the Cep A geometry, in particular those from methanol masers. The dynamical and chemical time-scales are consistent with the methanol originating from a single driving source associated with the HW2 object and the masers in its equatorial region.

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arXiv2011

The magic of disc-worlds: non-rotating methanol masers

In recent studies of methanol masers, a substantial fraction of the objects show maser components aligned in large-scale elliptical configurations. These can be readily interpreted as rings centred on a high mass star in formation, seen in projection. Remarkably, most of these rings do not show signs of rotation, but rather the radial motions dominate. This must mean that their dynamics are governed by other than gravitational forces. In particular, we have studied the methanol masers around Cep A in detail, where it can be argued that the methanol masers show signs of infall. In this paper we discuss the dynamics of the Cep A methanol maser and sources from the Torun blind survey to argue that at least in a fraction of sources methanol masers could be associated with the shock interface between the large scale accretion, regulated by the magnetic field, and a 1000-AU scale circumstellar disk. We discuss the validity of such a model for the overall population of methanol maser sources.

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arXiv2010

Grain growth across protoplanetary discs: 10-micron silicate feature versus millimetre slope

Young stars are formed within dusty discs. The grains in the disc are originally of the same size as interstellar dust. Models predict that these grains will grow in size through coagulation. Observations of the silicate features at micron wavelengths are consistent with growth to micron sizes whereas the slope of the SED at longer wavelengths traces growth up to mm sizes. We here look for a correlation between these two grain growth indicators. A large sample of T-Tauri and Herbig-Ae/Be stars was observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope at 5-13 micron; a subsample was observed at mm wavelengths. We complement this subsample with data from the literature to maximise the overlap between micron and mm observations and search for correlations. Synthetic spectra are produced to determine which processes may produce the dust evolution. Dust disc masses in the range <1 to 7 x 10^-4 MSun are obtained. Most sources have a mm spectral slope consistent with grain growth. There is a tentative correlation between the 10-micron silicate feature and the mm slope of the SED. The observed sources seem to be grouped per star-forming region in the micron-vs-mm diagram. The modelling results show that the 10-micron feature becomes flatter and subsequently the mm slope becomes shallower. Grain size distributions shallower than that of the ISM and/or bright central stars are required to explain specific features. Settling of larger grains towards the disc midplane affects the 10-micron feature, but hardly the mm slope. The tentative correlation between the strength of the 10-micron feature and the mm slope suggests that the inner and outer disc evolve simultaneously. Dust with a mass dominated by mm-sized grains is required to explain the shallowest mm slopes. Other processes besides grain growth may also be responsible for the removal of small grains.

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arXiv2008

Detection of CI in absorption towards PKS 1830-211 with the eSMA

We report the first science observations and results obtained with the "extended" SMA (eSMA), which is composed of the SMA (Submillimeter Array), JCMT (James Clerk Maxwell Telescope) and CSO (Caltech Submillimeter Observatory). Redshifted absorptions at z=0.886 of CI (^3P_1 - ^3P_0) were observed with the eSMA with an angular resolution of 0.55"x0.22" at 1.1 mm toward the southwestern image of the remarkable lensed quasar PKS 1830-211, but not toward the northeastern component at a separation of ~1". Additionally, SMA observations of CO, 13CO and C18O (all J=4-3) were obtained toward this object: CO was also detected toward the SW component, but none of the isotopologues were. This is the first time [CI] is detected in this object, allowing the first direct determination of relative abundances of neutral atomic carbon to CO in the molecular clouds of a spiral galaxy at z>0.1. The [CI] and CO profiles can be decomposed into two and three velocity components respectively. We derive C/CO column density ratios ranging from <0.5 (representative of dense cores) to ~2.5 (close to translucent clouds values). This could indicate that we are seeing environments with different physical conditions or that we are witnessing chemical evolution of regions where C has not completely been converted into CO.

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arXiv2008

The eSMA: description and first results

The eSMA ("extended SMA") combines the SMA, JCMT and CSO into a single facility, providing enhanced sensitivity and spatial resolution owing to the increased collecting area at the longest baselines. Until ALMA early science observing (2011), the eSMA will be the facility capable of the highest angular resolution observations at 345 GHz. The gain in sensitivity and resolution will bring new insights in a variety of fields, such as protoplanetary/transition disks, high-mass star formation, solar system bodies, nearby and high-z galaxies. Therefore the eSMA is an important facility to prepare the grounds for ALMA and train scientists in the techniques. Over the last two years, and especially since November 2006, there has been substantial progress toward making the eSMA into a working interferometer. In particular, (i) new 345-GHz receivers, that match the capabilities of the SMA system, were installed at the JCMT and CSO; (ii) numerous tests have been performed for receiver, correlator and baseline calibrations in order to determine and take into account the effects arising from the differences between the three types of antennas; (iii) first fringes at 345 GHz were obtained on August 30 2007, and the array has entered the science-verification stage. We report on the characteristics of the eSMA and its measured performance at 230 GHz and that expected at 345 GHz. We also present the results of the commissioning and some initial science-verification observations, including the first absorption measurement of the C/CO ratio in a galaxy at z=0.89, located along the line of sight to the lensed quasar PKS1830-211, and on the imaging of the vibrationally excited HCN line towards IRC+10216.

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arXiv2006

Investigating grain growth in disks around southern T Tauri stars at millimetre wavelengths

CONTEXT - Low-mass stars form with disks in which the coagulation of grains may eventually lead to the formation of planets. It is not known when and where grain growth occurs, as models that explain the observations are often degenerate. A way to break this degeneracy is to resolve the sources under study. AIMS - To find evidence for the existence of grains of millimetre sizes in disks around in T Tauri stars, implying grain growth. METHODS - The Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) was used to observe 15 southern T Tauri stars, five in the constellation Lupus and ten in Chamaeleon, at 3.3 millimetre. The five Lupus sources were also observed with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) at 1.4 millimetre. Our new data are complemented with data from the literature to determine the slopes of the spectral energy distributions in the millimetre regime. RESULTS - Ten sources were detected at better than 3sigma with the ATCA, with sigma ~1-2 mJy, and all sources that were observed with the SMA were detected at better than 15sigma, with sigma ~4 mJy. Six of the sources in our sample are resolved to physical radii of ~100 AU. Assuming that the emission from such large disks is predominantly optically thin, the millimetre slope can be related directly to the opacity index. For the other sources, the opacity indices are lower limits. Four out of six resolved sources have opacity indices <~1, indicating grain growth to millimetre sizes and larger. The masses of the disks range from < 0.01 to 0.08 MSun, which is comparable to the minimum mass solar nebula. A tentative correlation is found between the millimetre slope and the strength and shape of the 10-micron silicate feature, indicating that grain growth occurs on similar (short) timescales in both the inner and outer disk.

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arXiv2004

Towards a Large Field of View Archive for the European VLBI Network

Traditionally VLBI observations focus on a small patch of sky and image typically a few 100 mas around a bright source, which is often used to self-calibrate the data. High spectral and time resolution is needed to image a larger area, in principle up to the primary beam of the individual telescopes. The EVN MkIV data processor at JIVE is being upgraded to make such high resolution data its standard product. From the archive of high resolution data it will be possible to image many sources in each field of view around the original targets.

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arXiv2003

Astrometry of the OH masers of 4 Mira stars

The OH main line masers in circumstellar shells were observed with astrometric VLBI in order to accurately determine the position of the star, as well as its motion, including the parallax. Results are presented on 4 Mira stars monitored for 2 - 8 years with the VLBA. The data show that in some stars the VLBI detection is dominated by blue-shifted emission that is associated with the stellar image amplified by the maser shell in front of the star. In other cases the maser is not directly tied to the stellar position, but still persistent enough to measure proper motion and parallax.

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arXiv1997

Tracing the envelopes around embedded low-mass young stellar objects with HCO+ and millimeter-continuum observations

Interferometer observations of millimeter-continuum (OVRO) and single-dish observations of HCO+ and H13CO+ J=1-0, 3-2, and 4-3 (JCMT, IRAM 30m) are presented of nine embedded low-mass young stellar objects (YSOs) in Taurus. All nine objects are detected at 3.4 and 2.7 mm, with fluxes of 4-200 mJy, and consist of unresolved (<3 arcsec) point sources, plus, toward about half of the objects, an extended envelope. The point sources likely are circumstellar disks, showing that these are established early in the embedded phase. Literature values of 1.1 mm continuum emission are used to trace the envelopes, carrying 0.001-0.26 M(sol). In HCO+, the 1-0 lines trace the surrounding clouds, while the 3-2 and 4-3 are concentrated toward the sources with intensities well correlated with the envelope flux. An HCO+/H2 abundance of 1.2e-8 is derived. The HCO+ line strengths and envelope fluxes can be fit simultaneously with the simple collapse model of Shu (1977), and related density power laws with slopes p=1-3. As an indicator of the relative evolutionary phase of a YSO, the ratio of HCO+ 3-2 line intensity over bolometric luminosity is proposed, which is roughly proportional to the current ratio of envelope over stellar mass. It is concluded that HCO+ 3-2 and 4-3 are excellent tracers of the early embedded phase of star formation.

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arXiv1994

Evidence for Hco+ Infall toward T Tauri?

High spectral and spatial resolution observations of the HCO+ molecule toward the T Tau binary system obtained with the Owens Valley Millimeter Array reveal a broad emission line profile (V_LSR = 7.2 km/s, width = 2.0 km/s) upon which a narrow, redshifted absorption feature (V_LSR = 8.5 km/s, width +/- 0.5 km/s) is superposed. One possible interpretation of the absorption is that it arises from infall of molecular cloud envelope material onto the immediate circumbinary region, which would imply that large scale dynamic accretion processes are still active well into the optically visible stages of star formation. Provided the mass is deposited at radii sufficiently close to the young stars, estimates of the accretion rates indicate that infall may add enough material to the system to account for the FU~Orionis type flares recently observed in T~Tau in =< 100 yr.

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