arXiv subjects

M. R. Hogerheijde

Publications and source records attributed to M. R. Hogerheijde.

137 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

BIMA Array Detections of HCN in Comets LINEAR (C/2002 T7) and NEAT (C/2001 Q4)

We present interferometric detections of HCN in comets LINEAR (C/2002 T7) and NEAT (C/2001 Q4) with the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) Array. With a 25.4"x20.3" synthesized beam around Comet LINEAR and using a variable temperature and outflow velocity (VTOV) model, we found an HCN column density of N_T=6.4+-2.1x10^12 cm^-2, and a production rate of Q(HCN)=6.5+-2.2x10^26 s^-1, giving a production rate ratio of HCN relative to H_2O of ~3.3+-1.1x10^-3 and relative to CN of ~4.6+-1.5. With a 21.3"x17.5" synthesized beam around Comet NEAT and using a VTOV model, we found an HCN column density of N_T=8.5+-4.5x10^11 cm^-2, and a production rate of Q(HCN)=8.9+-4.7x10^25 s^-1, giving a production rate ratio of HCN relative to H_2O of ~7.4+-3.9x10^-4 and relative to CN of ~0.3+-0.2. For both comets, the production rates relative to H_2O are similar to those found in previous comet observations. For Comet LINEAR the production rate relative to CN is consistent with HCN being the primary parent species of CN, while for Comet NEAT it is too low for this to be the case.

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arXiv2004

Combined BIMA and OVRO observations of comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR)

We present results from an observing campaign of the molecular content of the coma of comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) carried out jointly with the millimeter-arrays of the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) and the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). Using the BIMA array in autocorrelation (`single-dish') mode, we detected weak HCN J=1-0 emission from comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) at 14 +- 4 mK km/s averaged over the 143" beam. The three days over which emission was detected, 2000 July 21.9-24.2, immediately precede the reported full breakup of the nucleus of this comet. During this same period, we find an upper limit for HCN 1-0 of 144 mJy/beam km/s (203 mK km/s) in the 9"x12" synthesized beam of combined observations of BIMA and OVRO in cross-correlation (`imaging') mode. Together with reported values of HCN 1-0 emission in the 28" IRAM 30-meter beam, our data probe the spatial distribution of the HCN emission from radii of 1300 to 19,000 km. Using literature results of HCN excitation in cometary comae, we find that the relative line fluxes in the 12"x9", 28" and 143" beams are consistent with expectations for a nuclear source of HCN and expansion of the volatile gases and evaporating icy grains following a Haser model.

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arXiv2003

The impact of shocks on the chemistry of molecular clouds: high resolution images of chemical differentiation along the NGC1333-IRAS2A outflow

This paper presents a detailed study of the chemistry in the outflow associated with the low-mass protostar NGC1333-IRAS2A down to 3" (650 AU) scales. Millimeter-wavelength aperture-synthesis observations from the OVRO and BIMA interferometers and (sub)millimeter single-dish observations from the Onsala 20m telescope and CSO are presented. The interaction of the highly collimated protostellar outflow with a molecular condensation ~15000 AU from the central protostar is clearly traced by molecular species such as HCN, SiO, SO, CS, and CH3OH. Especially SiO traces a narrow high velocity component at the interface between the outflow and the molecular condensation. Multi-transition single-dish observations are used to distinguish the chemistry of the shock from that of the molecular condensation and to address the physical conditions therein. Statistical equilibrium calculations reveal temperatures of 20 and 70 K for the quiescent and shocked components, respectively, and densities near 10^6 cm^{-3}. Significant abundance enhancements of two to four orders of magnitude are found in the shocked region for molecules such as CH3OH, SiO and the sulfur-bearing molecules. HCO+ is seen only in the aftermath of the shock consistent with models where it is destroyed through release of H2O from grain mantles in the shock. N2H+ shows narrow lines, not affected by the outflow but rather probing the ambient cloud. Differences in abundances of HCN, H2CO and CS are seen between different outflow regions and are suggested to be related to differences in the atomic carbon abundance. Compared to the warm inner parts of protostellar envelopes, higher abundances of in particular CH3OH and SiO are found in the outflows, which may be related to density differences between the regions.

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arXiv2003

The structure of the NGC1333-IRAS2 protostellar system on 500 AU scales: an infalling envelope, a circumstellar disk, multiple outflows, and chemistry

This paper investigates small-scale structures of dense gas and dust around the low-mass protostellar binary NGC1333-IRAS2 using millimeter-wavelength aperture-synthesis observations from the OVRO and BIMA interferometers. The detected 3 mm continuum emission is consistent with models of the envelope around IRAS2A, based on previously reported submillimeter continuum images, down to the 3", or 500 AU, resolution of the interferometer data. Our data constrain the contribution of an unresolved point source to 22 mJy. Within the accuracy of the parameters describing the envelope model, the point source flux has an uncertainty by up to 25%. We interpret this point source as a cold disk of mass \gtrsim 0.3 M_\odot. The same envelope model also reproduces aperture-synthesis line observations of the optically thin isotopic species C34S and H13CO+. The more optically thick main isotope lines show a variety of components in the protostellar environment: N2H+ is closely correlated with dust concentrations as seen at submillimeter wavelengths and is particularly strong toward the starless core IRAS2C. We hypothesize that N2H+ is destroyed through reactions with CO that is released from icy grains near the protostellar sources IRAS2A and B. CS, HCO+, and HCN have complex line shapes apparently affected by both outflow and infall. In addition to the east-west jet from IRAS2A, a north-south velocity gradient near this source indicates a second, perpendicular outflow. This suggests the presence of a binary companion within 0.3" (65 AU) from IRAS2A as driving source of this outflow. Alternative explanations of the velocity gradient such as rotation in a circumstellar envelope or a single, wide-angle outflow are less likely.

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arXiv2002

Molecular Abundances in B68

Abundances for C18O, CS, NH3, H2CO, C3H2, and N2H+ and upper limits for the abundances of 13CO and HCO+ are derived for gas within the Bok globule B68 using our own BIMA array data, single-dish data from the literature, and Monte Carlo radiative transfer models. B68 has had its density structure well determined, removing a major uncertainty from abundance determinations. All abundances for B68 are lower than those derived for translucent and cold dense clouds, but perhaps only significantly for N2H+, NH3, and C3H2. CS depletion toward the extinction peak of B68 is hinted at by the large offset between the extinction peak and the position of maximum CS line brightness. C18O and N2H+ abundances derived here are consistent with recently determined values at positions observed in common.

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arXiv2002

Axi-symmetric models of ultraviolet radiative transfer with applications to circumstellar disk chemistry

A new two-dimensional axi-symmetric ultraviolet radiative transfer code is presented, which is used to calculate photodissociation and ionization rates for use in chemistry models of flaring circumstellar disks. Scattering and absorption of photons from the central star and from the interstellar radiation field are taken into account. The molecules are effectively photodissociated in the surface layer of the disk, but can exist in the intermediate, moderately warm layers. A comparison has been made with an approximate 2D ray-tracing method and it was found that the latter underestimates the ultraviolet field and thus the molecular photodissociation rates below the disk surface. The full 2D results show significantly higher abundances of radicals such as CN and C2H than previous work, partly due to the fact that CO is dissociated to greater depths. Results for different stellar radiation fields are also presented. The CN/HCN ratio shows a strong dependence on the stellar spectrum, whereas other ratios such as HCO+/CO show only little variation.

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arXiv2002

Numerical methods for non-LTE line radiative transfer: Performance and convergence characteristics

Comparison is made between a number of independent computer programs for radiative transfer in molecular rotational lines. The test models are spherically symmetric circumstellar envelopes with a given density and temperature profile. The first two test models have a simple power law density distribution, constant temperature and a fictive 2-level molecule, while the other two test models consist of an inside-out collapsing envelope observed in rotational transitions of HCO+. For the 2-level molecule test problems all codes agree well to within 0.2%, comparable to the accuracy of the individual codes, for low optical depth and up to 2% for high optical depths (tau=4800). The problem of the collapsing cloud in HCO+ has a larger spread in results, ranging up to 12% for the J=4 population. The spread is largest at the radius where the transition from collisional to radiative excitation occurs. The resulting line profiles for the HCO+ J=4-3 transition agree to within 10%, i.e., within the calibration accuracy of most current telescopes. The comparison project and the results described in this paper provide a benchmark for future code development, and give an indication of the typical accuracy of present day calculations of molecular line transfer.

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arXiv2002

The Environment and Nature of the Class I Protostar Elias 29: Molecular Gas Observations and the Location of Ices

A (sub-)millimeter line and continuum study of the class I protostar Elias 29 in the Rho Ophiuchi molecular cloud is presented, whose goals are to understand the nature of this source, and to locate the ices that are abundantly present along this line of sight. Within 15-60" beams, several different components contribute to the line emission. Two different foreground clouds are detected, an envelope/disk system and a dense ridge of HCO+ rich material. The latter two components are spatially separated in millimeter interferometer maps. We analyze the envelope/disk system by using inside-out collapse and flared disk models. The disk is in a relatively face-on orientation (<60 degrees), which explains many of the remarkable observational features of Elias 29, such as its flat SED, its brightness in the near infrared, the extended components found in speckle interferometry observations, and its high velocity molecular outflow. It cannot account for the ices seen along the line of sight, however. A small fraction of the ices is present in a (remnant) envelope of mass 0.12-0.33 Msun, but most of the ices (~70%) are present in cool (T<40 K) quiescent foreground clouds. This explains the observed absence of thermally processed ices (crystallized H2O) toward Elias 29. Nevertheless, the temperatures could be sufficiently high to account for the low abundance of apolar (CO, N2, O2) ices. This work shows that it is crucial to obtain spectrally and spatially resolved information from single-dish and interferometric molecular gas observations in order to determine the nature of protostars and to interpret infrared ISO satellite observations of ices and silicates along a pencil beam.

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arXiv2001

High Resolution 4.7 um Keck/NIRSPEC Spectra of Protostars. I: Ices and Infalling Gas in the Disk of L1489 IRS

We explore the infrared M band (4.7 um) spectrum of the class I protostar L1489 IRS in the Taurus Molecular Cloud. This is the highest resolution wide coverage spectrum at this wavelength of a low mass protostar observed to date (R=25,000; Dv=12 km/s). Many narrow absorption lines of gas phase 12CO, 13CO, and C18O are detected, as well as a prominent band of solid 12CO. The gas phase 12CO lines have red shifted absorption wings (up to 100 km/s), likely originating from warm disk material falling toward the central object. The isotopes and the 12CO line wings are successfully fitted with a contracting disk model of this evolutionary transitional object (Hogerheijde 2001). This shows that the inward motions seen in millimeter wave emission lines continue to within ~0.1 AU from the star. The colder parts of the disk are traced by the prominent CO ice band. The band profile results from CO in 'polar' ices (CO mixed with H2O), and CO in 'apolar' ices. At the high spectral resolution, the 'apolar' component is, for the first time, resolved into two distinct components, likely due to pure CO and CO mixed with CO2, O2 and/or N2. The ices have probably experienced thermal processing in the upper disk layer traced by our pencil absorption beam: much of the volatile 'apolar' ices has evaporated and the depletion factor of CO onto grains is remarkably low (~7%). This study shows that high spectral resolution 4.7 um observations provide important and unique information on the dynamics and structure of protostellar disks and the evolution of ices in these disks.

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arXiv1998

Envelope structure of deeply embedded young stellar objects in the Serpens Molecular Cloud

Aperture synthesis and single-dish (sub) millimeter molecular lines and continuum observations reveal in great detail the envelope structure of deeply embedded young stellar objects (SMM1, SMM2, SMM3, SMM4) in the densely star-forming Serpens Molecular Cloud. Resolved millimeter continuum emission constrains the density structure to a radial power law with index -2.0 +/- 0.5, and envelope masses of 8.7, 3.0, and 5.3 M_sol for SMM1, SMM3, and SMM4. The core SMM2 does not seem to have a central condensation and may not have formed a star yet. The molecular line observations can be described by the same envelope model, if an additional, small amount of warm (100 K) material is included. This probably corresponds to the inner few hundred AU of the envelope were the temperature is high. In the interferometer beam, the molecular lines reveal the inner regions of the envelopes, as well as interaction of the outflow with the surrounding envelope. Bright HCO+ and HCN emission outlines the cavities, while SiO and SO trace the direct impact of the outflow on ambient gas. Taken together, these observations provide a first comprehensive view of the physical and chemical structure of the envelopes of deeply embedded young stellar objects in a clustered environment on scales between 1000 and 10,000 AU.

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arXiv1997

Sub-arcsecond imaging at 267 GHz of a young binary system: Detection of a <70 AU radius dust disk around T Tau N

The young binary system T Tau was observed with the Owens Valley Millimeter Array at 267 GHz continuum and HCO+ J=3-2 emission at 0.8'' resolution, with the JCMT-CSO single-baseline interferometer in 357 GHz continuum, and with the W. M. Keck Telescope at 4 micron. The 267 GHz emission is unresolved with a flux of 397 +/- 35 mJy, located close to the position of the optical star T Tau N. An upper limit of 100 mJy is obtained toward the infrared companion T Tau S. The 357 GHz continuum emission is unresolved, with a flux of 1.35 +/- 0.68 Jy. HCO+ 3-2 was detected from a 2'' diameter core surrounding T Tau N and S. Both stars are detected ar 4 micron, but there is no evidence of the radio source T Tau R. We propose a model in which T Tau S is intrinsically similar to T Tau N, but is obscured by the outer parts of T Tau N's disk. A fit to the spectral energy distribution (SED) between 21 cm and 1.22 micron is constructed on this basis. Adopting a r^-1 surface density distribution and an exponentially truncated edge, disk masses of 0.04 +/- 0.01 Msol and 6e-5 - 3e-3 Msol are inferred for T Tau N and S, respectively. A 0.005-0.03 Msol circumbinary envelope is also required to fit the millimeter to mid-infrared SED.

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