arXiv subjects

Veronica Roccatagliata

Publications and source records attributed to Veronica Roccatagliata.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Surround & Squash: The Interstellar Medium around Scorpius Centaurus OB2

We exploited observational constraints on stars, gas and nucleosynthesis ashes for the closest region of recent massive-star formation, Scorpius-Centaurus OB2, and combined them with 3D hydrodynamical simulations, in order to address physics and history for the case of the Scorpius-Centaurus superbubble. We used published cold gas observations through PLANCK survey data processing, HERSCHEL and APEX, continuum and molecular line observations. We analysed the Galactic All Sky Survey (GASS) to investigate shell structures in atomic hydrogen, and used HIPPARCOS and Gaia data in combination with interstellar absorption against stars to obtain new constraints for the distance to the Hi features. Hot gas is traced in soft X-rays via the ROSAT all sky survey. Nucleosynthesis ejecta from massive stars were traced with new INTEGRAL spectrometer observations via 26Al radioactivity. We also performed 3D hydrodynamical simulations for the Sco-Cen superbubble. To investigate the impact of massive star feedback on extended clouds, we simulate the interaction of a turbulent cloud with the hot, pressurised gas in a superbubble. The hot gas fills the tenuous regions of the cloud and compresses the denser parts. Stars formed in these dense clumps would have distinct spatial and kinematic distributions. The combined results from observations and simulations are consistent with a scenario where dense gas was initially distributed in a band elongated in the direction now occupied by the OB association. Superbubbles powered by massive stars would then repeatedly break out of the elongated parent cloud, surround and squash the denser parts of the gas sheet and thus induce more star formation. The expected spatial and kinematic distribution of stars is consistent with observations of Sco-Cen. The scenario might apply to many similar regions in the Galaxy and also to AGN-related superbubbles.

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arXiv2015

The VISTA Carina Nebula Survey II. Spatial distribution of the infrared-excess-selected young stellar population

We performed a deep wide-field (6.76 deg^2) near-infrared survey with the VISTA telescope that covers the entire extent of the Carina nebula complex (CNC). The point-source catalog created from these data contains around four million individual objects down to masses of 0.1 M_sun. We present a statistical study of the large-scale spatial distribution and an investigation of the clustering properties of infrared-excesses objects, which are used to trace disk-bearing young stellar objects (YSOs). We find that a (J - H) versus (Ks - [4.5]) color-color diagram is well suited to tracing the population of YSO-candidates (cYSOs) by their infrared excess. We identify 8781 sources with strong infrared excess, which we consider as cYSOs. This sample is used to investigate the spatial distribution of the cYSOs with a nearest-neighbor analysis. The surface density distribution of cYSOs agrees well with the shape of the clouds as seen in our Herschel far-infrared survey. The strong decline in the surface density of excess sources outside the area of the clouds supports the hypothesis that our excess-selected sample consists predominantly of cYSOs with a low level of background contamination. This analysis allows us to identify 14 groups of cYSOs outside the central area. Our results suggest that the total population of cYSOs in the CNC comprises about 164000 objects, with a substantial fraction (~35%) located in the northern, still not well studied parts. Our cluster analysis suggests that roughly half of the cYSOs constitute a non-clustered, dispersed population.

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arXiv2015

Squeezed between shells? On the origin of the Lupus I molecular cloud. APEX/LABOCA, Herschel, and Planck observations

The Lupus I cloud is found between the Upper-Scorpius (USco) and the Upper-Centaurus-Lupus (UCL) sub-groups of the Sco-Cen OB-association, where the expanding USco H I shell appears to interact with a bubble currently driven by the winds of the remaining B-stars of UCL.We want to study how collisions of large-scale interstellar gas flows form and influence new dense clouds in the ISM.We performed LABOCA continuum sub-mm observations of Lupus I that provide for the first time a direct view of the densest, coldest cloud clumps and cores at high angular resolution.We complemented those by Herschel and Planck data from which we constructed column density and temperature maps.We calculated PDFs to characterize the density structure of the cloud.The northern part of Lupus I is found to have on average lower densities and higher temperatures as well as no active star formation.The center-south part harbors dozens of pre-stellar cores where density and temperature reach their maximum and minimum, respectively.Our analysis of the column density PDFs from the Herschel data show double peak profiles for all parts of the cloud which we attribute to an external compression.In those parts with active star formation, the PDF shows a power-law tail at high densities.The PDFs we calculated from our LABOCA data trace the denser parts of the cloud showing one peak and a power-law tail.With LABOCA we find 15 cores with masses between 0.07 and 1.71 Msun and a total mass of ~8 Msun.The total gas and dust mass of the cloud is ~164 Msun and hence 5% of the mass is in cores.From the Herschel and Planck data we find a total mass of ~174 Msun and ~171 Msun, respectively.The position, orientation and elongated shape of Lupus I, the double peak PDFs and the population of pre-stellar and protostellar cores could be explained by the large-scale compression from the advancing USco H I shell and the UCL wind bubble.

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arXiv2014

The Herschel/PACS view of the Cep OB2 region: Global protoplanetary disk evolution and clumpy star formation

(Abridged) We use Herschel PACS observations at 70 and 160$μ$m to probe the protoplanetary disks around young stars in the CepOB2 clusters Tr37 and NGC7160 and to trace the small-scale cloud structure. We detect 95 protoplanetary disks at 70$μ$m, 41 at 160$μ$m, and obtain upper limits for over 130 objects. The detection fraction at 70$μ$m depends on the spectral type (88% for K4 or earlier, 17% for M3 or later stars) and on the disk type ($\sim$50% for full and pre-transitional disks, $\sim$35% for transitional disks, no low-excess/depleted disks detected). Non-accreting disks are consistent with significantly lower masses. Accreting transition and pre-transition disks have higher 70$μ$m excesses than full disks, suggestive of more massive, flared and/or thicker disks. Herschel data also reveal several mini-clusters in Tr37, small, compact structures containing a few young stars surrounded by nebulosity. Far-IR data are an excellent probe of the evolution of disks that are too faint for submillimetre observations. We find a strong link between far-IR emission and accretion, and between the inner and outer disk structure. Herschel confirms the dichotomy between accreting and non-accreting transition disks. Substantial mass depletion and global evolution need to occur to shut down accretion in a protoplanetary disk, even if the disk has inner holes. Disks likely follow different evolutionary paths: Low disk masses do not imply opening inner holes, and having inner holes does not require low disk masses. The mini-clusters reveal multi-episodic star formation in Tr37. The long survival of mini-clusters suggest that they formed from the fragmentation of the same core. Their various morphologies favour different formation/triggering mechanisms acting within the same cluster. Herschel also unveils what could be the first heavy mass loss episode of the O6.5 star HD206267.

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arXiv2013

A Herschel view of IC 1396 A: Unveiling the different sequences of star formation

The IC1396A globule in the young cluster Tr37, hosting many young stars and protostars, is assumed to be a site of triggered star formation. We mapped IC1396A with Herschel/PACS at 70 and 160 micron. The Herschel maps trace in great detail the very embedded protostellar objects and the structure of the cloud. PACS data reveal a previously unknown Class 0 object (IC1396A-PACS-1) located behind the ionization front. IC1396A-PACS-1 is not detectable with Spitzer, but shows marginal X-ray emission. The data also allowed to study three of the Class I intermediate-mass objects within the cloud. We derived approximate cloud temperatures to study the effect and potential interactions between the protostars and the cloud. The Class 0 object is associated with the densest and colder part of IC1396A. Heating in the cloud is dominated by the winds and radiation of the O6.5 star HD 206267 and, to a lesser extent, by the effects of the Herbig Ae star V 390 Cep. The surroundings of the Class I and Class II objects embedded in the cloud also appear warmer than the sourceless areas, although most of the low-mass objects cannot be individually extracted due to distance and beam dilution. The observations suggest that at least two episodes of star formation have occurred in IC1396A. One would have originated the known, ~1 Myr-old Class I and II objects in the cloud, and a new wave of star formation would have produced the Class 0 source at the tip of the brigth-rimmed cloud. From its location and properties, IC1396A-PACS-1 is consistent with triggering via radiative driven implosion (RDI) induced by HD 206267. The mechanisms behind the formation of the more evolved population of Class I/II/III objects in the cloud are uncertain. Heating of most of the remaining cloud by Class I/Class II objects and by HD 206267 itself may preclude further star formation in the region.

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arXiv2013

Herschel far-infrared observations of the Carina Nebula Complex. - III: Detailed cloud structure and feedback effects

The Carina Nebula complex (CNC) represents one of the most massive star-forming regions in our Galaxy and shows strong feedback from the high massive stars. We use our Herschel FIR observations to study the properties of the clouds over the entire area of the CNC. The good angular resolution of the Herschel maps corresponds to physical scales of 0.1 - 0.4 pc, and allows us to analyze the small-scale structures of the clouds. The full extent of the CNC was mapped with PACS and SPIRE from 70 to 500 micron. We determine temperatures and column densities at each point in this maps by modeling the observed FIR SEDs. We also derive a map showing the strength of the UV field. We investigate the relation between the cloud properties and the spatial distribution of the high-mass stars, and compute total cloud masses for different density thresholds. Our Herschel maps resolve, for the first time, the small-scale structure of the dense clouds. Several particularly interesting regions, including the prominent pillars south of eta Car, are analyzed in detail. We compare the cloud masses derived from the Herschel data to previous mass estimates based on sub-mm and molecular line data. Our maps also reveal a peculiar "wave"-like pattern in the northern part of the Carina Nebula. Finally, we characterize two prominent cloud complexes at the periphery of our Herschel maps, which are probably molecular clouds in the Galactic background. We find that the density and temperature structure of the clouds in most parts of the CNC is dominated by the strong feedback from the numerous massive stars, rather than random turbulence. Comparing the cloud mass and the star formation rate derived for the CNC to other Galactic star forming regions suggests that the CNC is forming stars in an particularly efficient way. We suggest this to be a consequence of triggered star formation by radiative cloud compression.

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arXiv2013

Discovering young stars in the Gum 31 region with infrared observations

Context. The Gum 31 bubble containing the stellar cluster NGC 3324 is a poorly-studied young region close to the Carina Nebula. Aims. We are aiming to characterise the young stellar and protostellar population in and around Gum 31 and to investigate the star-formation process in this region. Methods. We identify candidate young stellar objects from Spitzer, WISE, and Herschel data. Combining these, we analyse the spectral energy distributions of the candidate young stellar objects. With density and temperature maps obtained from Herschel data and comparisons to a 'collect and collapse' scenario for the region we are able to further constrain the characteristics of the region as a whole. Results. 661 candidate young stellar objects are found from WISE data, 91 protostar candidates are detected through Herschel observations in a 1.0 deg x 1.1 deg area. Most of these objects are found in small clusters or are well aligned with the H II bubble. We also identify the sources of Herbig-Haro jets. The infrared morphology of the region suggests that it is part of the larger Carina Nebula complex. Conclusions. The location of the candidate young stellar objects in the rim of the H II bubble is suggestive of their being triggered by a 'collect and collapse' scenario, which agrees well with the observed parameters of the region. Some candidate young stellar objects are found in the heads of pillars, which points towards radiative triggering of star formation. Thus, we find evidence that in the region different mechanisms of triggered star formation are at work. Correcting the number of candidate young stellar objects for contamination we find ~ 600 young stellar objects in Gum 31 above our completeness limit of about 1 M_sol. Extrapolating the intital mass function down to 0.1 M_sol, we estimate a total population of ~ 5000 young stars for the region.

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arXiv2012

Herschel far-infrared observations of the Carina Nebula complex II: The embedded young stellar and protostellar population

The Carina Nebula represents one of the largest and most active star forming regions known in our Galaxy with numerous very massive stars.Our recently obtained Herschel PACS & SPIRE far-infrared maps cover the full area (about 8.7 deg^2) of the Carina Nebula complex and reveal the population of deeply embedded young stellar objects, most of which are not yet visible in the mid- or near-infrared.We study the properties of the 642 objects that are independently detected as point-like sources in at least two of the five Herschel bands.For those objects that can be identified with apparently single Spitzer counterparts, we use radiative transfer models to derive information about the basic stellar and circumstellar parameters.We find that about 75% of the Herschel-detected YSOs are Class 0 protostars.The luminosities of the Herschel-detected YSOs with SED fits are restricted to values of <=5400 Lsun, their masses (estimated from the radiative transfer modeling) range from about 1 Msun to 10 Msun.Taking the observational limits into account and extrapolating the observed number of Herschel-detected protostars over the IMF suggest that the star formation rate of the CNC is about 0.017 Msun/yr.The spatial distribution of the Herschel YSO candidates is highly inhomogeneous and does not follow the distribution of cloud mass.Most Herschel YSO candidates are found at the irradiated edges of clouds and pillars.This provides support to the picture that the formation of this latest stellar generation is triggered by the advancing ionization fronts.The currently ongoing star formation process forms only low-mass and intermediate-mass stars, but no massive stars.The far-infrared fluxes of the famous object EtaCar are about a factor of two lower than expected from observations with the ISO obtained 15 years ago; this may be due to dynamical changes in the circumstellar dust in the Homunculus Nebula.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

Herschel far-infrared observations of the Carina Nebula complex I: Introduction and global cloud structure

The Carina Nebula represents one of the most massive galactic star forming regions and displays a high level of massive star feedback. We used SPIRE and PACS onboard of Herschel to map the full spatial extent of the clouds in the Carina Nebula complex at wavelengths between 70 and 500 micrometer. We determine color temperatures and column densities of the clouds in the complex. Our Herschel maps show that the clouds have a very complex and filamentary structure that is dominated by the radiation and wind feedback from the massive stars. In most locations, the column density of the clouds is N_H < 2x10^22 cm^-2; denser cloud structures are restricted to just a few locations. We find a clear large scale temperature gradient from 35-40 K in the central region to <20 K at the periphery and in the densest parts of individual pillars. The total mass of the clouds seen by Herschel in the central (1 deg radius) region is ~656000 M_sun. A simple radiative transfer model for the global spectral energy distribution suggests that the total mass of all the gas (including a warmer component that is not well traced by Herschel) is <=890000 M_sun. Despite the strong feedback from numerous massive stars that is going on since several million years, there are still several 10000 M_sun of cool cloud material present at column-densities sufficient for further star formation. Comparison of our total gas mass estimates to molecular cloud masses derived from CO line mapping suggests that as much as about 75% of all the gas is in atomic rather than molecular form.

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arXiv2011

Mid-infrared observations of the transitional disks around DH Tau, DM Tau, and GM Aur

Aims: We present mid-infrared observations and photometry of the transitional disks around the young stellar objects DH Tau, DM Tau, and GM Aur, obtained with VISIR/VLT in N band. Our aim is to resolve the inner region and the large-scale structures of these transitional disks, carrying potential signatures of intermediate or later stages of disk evolution and ongoing planet formation. Methods: We use the simultaneously observed standard-stars as PSF reference to constrain the radial flux profiles of our target objects. Subtracting the obtained standard-star profile from the corresponding science object profile yields the flux residuals produced by the star-disk system. A detection threshold takes into account the background standard deviation and also the seeing variations during the observations to evaluate the significance of these flux residuals. On the basis of a simple model for the dust re-emission, we derive constraints on the inner radius of the dust disk. Results: We spatially resolve the transitional disk around GM Aur and determine an inner-disk hole radius of 20.5(+1.0,-0.5) AU. The circumstellar disks around DH Tau and DM Tau are not spatially resolved but we are able to constrain the inner-disk hole radius to <15.5(+9.0,-2.0) AU and <15.5(+0.5,-0.5) AU, respectively. The performed photometry yields fluxes of 178+-31 mJy for DH Tau, 56+-6 mJy for DM Tau, and 229+-14 mJy for GM Aur.

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arXiv2011

Protostars and stars in the Coronet cluster: Age, evolution, and cluster structure

We present new optical spectroscopy with FLAMES/VLT, near-IR imaging with HAWK-I/VLT, and 870 micron mapping with APEX/LABOCA of the Coronet cluster. The optical data allow to estimate spectral types, extinction and the presence of accretion in 6 more M-type members, in addition to the 12 that we had previously studied. The submillimeter maps and near-IR data reveal the presence of nebular structures and high extinction regions, which are in some cases associated to known IR, optical, and X-ray sources. Most star formation is associated to two elongated structures crossing in the central part of the cluster. Placing all the 18 objects with known spectral types and extinction in the HR diagram suggests that the cluster is younger than previously thought (<2 Myr, and probably ~0.5-1 Myr). The new age estimate is in agreement with the evolutionary status of the various protostars in the region and with its compactness (<1.3 pc across), but results in a conflict with the low disk and accretion fraction (only 50-65% of low-mass stars appear to have protoplanetary disks, and most transitional and homologously depleted disks are consistent with no accretion) and with the evolutionary features observed in the mid-IR spectra and spectral energy distributions of the disks.

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arXiv2011

Disk Evolution in OB Associations - Deep Spitzer/IRAC Observations of IC 1795

We present a deep Spitzer/IRAC survey of the OB association IC 1795 carried out to investigate the evolution of protoplanetary disks in regions of massive star formation. Combining Spitzer/IRAC data with Chandra/ACIS observations, we find 289 cluster members. An additional 340 sources with an infrared excess, but without X-ray counterpart, are classified as cluster member candidates. Both surveys are complete down to stellar masses of about 1 Msun. We present pre-main sequence isochrones computed for the first time in the Spitzer/IRAC colors. The age of the cluster, determined via the location of the Class III sources in the [3.6]-[4.5]/[3.6] color-magnitude diagram, is in the range of 3 - 5 Myr. As theoretically expected, we do not find any systematic variation in the spatial distribution of disks within 0.6 pc of either O-type star in the association. However, the disk fraction in IC 1795 does depend on the stellar mass: sources with masses >2 Msun have a disk fraction of ~20%, while lower mass objects (2-0.8 Msun) have a disk fraction of ~50%. This implies that disks around massive stars have a shorter dissipation timescale.

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