Engineering topics

Keto, Eric

Publications and source records attributed to Keto, Eric.

11 records

DOE OSTI2016

A HOT AND MASSIVE ACCRETION DISK AROUND THE HIGH-MASS PROTOSTAR IRAS 20126+4104

We present new spectral line observations of the CH{sub 3}CN molecule in the accretion disk around the massive protostar IRAS 20126+4104 with the Submillimeter Array, which, for the first time, measure the disk density, temperature, and rotational velocity with sufficient resolution (0.″37, equivalent to ∼600 au) to assess the gravitational stability of the disk through the Toomre- Q parameter. Our observations resolve the central 2000 au region that shows steeper velocity gradients with increasing upper state energy, indicating an increase in the rotational velocity of the hotter gas nearer the star. Such spin-up motions are characteristics of an accretion flow in a rotationally supported disk. We compare the observed data with synthetic image cubes produced by three-dimensional radiative transfer models describing a thin flared disk in Keplerian motion enveloped within the centrifugal radius of an angular-momentum-conserving accretion flow. Given a luminosity of 1.3 × 10{sup 4} L {sub ⊙}, the optimized model gives a disk mass of 1.5 M {sub ⊙} and a radius of 858 au rotating about a 12.0 M {sub ⊙} protostar with a disk mass accretion rate of 3.9 × 10{sup −5} M {sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}. Our study finds that, in contrast to some theoretical expectations, the disk is hot and stable to fragmentation with Q > 2.8 at all radii which permits a smooth accretion flow. These results put forward the first constraints on gravitational instabilities in massive protostellar disks, which are closely connected to the formation of companion stars and planetary systems by fragmentation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2015

A KEPLERIAN-LIKE DISK AROUND THE FORMING O-TYPE STAR AFGL 4176

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array line and continuum observations at 1.2 mm with ∼0.″3 resolution that uncover a Keplerian-like disk around the forming O-type star AFGL 4176. The continuum emission from the disk at 1.21 mm (source mm1) has a deconvolved size of 870 ± 110 AU × 330 ± 300 AU and arises from a structure ∼8 M{sub ⊙} in mass, calculated assuming a dust temperature of 190 K. The first-moment maps, pixel-to-pixel line modeling, assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), and position–velocity diagrams of the CH{sub 3}CN J = 13–12 K-line emission all show a velocity gradient along the major axis of the source, coupled with an increase in velocity at small radii, consistent with Keplerian-like rotation. The LTE line modeling shows that where CH{sub 3}CN J = 13–12 is excited, the temperatures in the disk range from ∼70 to at least 300 K and that the H{sub 2} column density peaks at 2.8 × 10{sup 24} cm{sup −2}. In addition, we present Atacama Pathfinder Experiment {sup 12}CO observations that show a large-scale outflow from AFGL 4176 perpendicular to the major axis of mm1, supporting the disk interpretation. Finally, we present a radiative transfer model of a Keplerian disk surrounding an O7 star, with a disk mass and radius of 12 M{sub ⊙} and 2000 AU that reproduces the line and continuum data, further supporting our conclusion that our observations have uncovered a Keplerian-like disk around an O-type star.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2014

Magnetic fields and massive star formation

Massive stars (M > 8 M {sub ☉}) typically form in parsec-scale molecular clumps that collapse and fragment, leading to the birth of a cluster of stellar objects. We investigate the role of magnetic fields in this process through dust polarization at 870 μm obtained with the Submillimeter Array (SMA). The SMA observations reveal polarization at scales of ≲0.1 pc. The polarization pattern in these objects ranges from ordered hour-glass configurations to more chaotic distributions. By comparing the SMA data with the single dish data at parsec scales, we found that magnetic fields at dense core scales are either aligned within 40° of or perpendicular to the parsec-scale magnetic fields. This finding indicates that magnetic fields play an important role during the collapse and fragmentation of massive molecular clumps and the formation of dense cores. We further compare magnetic fields in dense cores with the major axis of molecular outflows. Despite a limited number of outflows, we found that the outflow axis appears to be randomly oriented with respect to the magnetic field in the core. This result suggests that at the scale of accretion disks (≲ 10{sup 3} AU), angular momentum and dynamic interactions possibly due to close binary or multiple systems dominate over magnetic fields. With this unprecedentedly large sample of massive clumps, we argue on a statistical basis that magnetic fields play an important role during the formation of dense cores at spatial scales of 0.01-0.1 pc in the context of massive star and cluster star formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2014

Core and filament formation in magnetized, self-gravitating isothermal layers

We examine the role of the gravitational instability in an isothermal, self-gravitating layer threaded by magnetic fields on the formation of filaments and dense cores. Using a numerical simulation, we follow the non-linear evolution of a perturbed equilibrium layer. The linear evolution of such a layer is described in the analytic work of Nagai et al. We find that filaments and dense cores form simultaneously. Depending on the initial magnetic field, the resulting filaments form either a spiderweb-like network (for weak magnetic fields) or a network of parallel filaments aligned perpendicular to the magnetic field lines (for strong magnetic fields). Although the filaments are radially collapsing, the density profile of their central region (up to the thermal scale height) can be approximated by a hydrodynamical equilibrium density structure. Thus, the magnetic field does not play a significant role in setting the density distribution of the filaments. The density distribution outside of the central region deviates from the equilibrium. The radial column density distribution is then flatter than the expected power law of r {sup –4} and similar to filament profiles observed with Herschel. Our results do not explain the near constant filament width of ∼0.1pc. However, our model does not include turbulent motions. It is expected that the accretion-driven amplification of these turbulent motions provides additional support within the filaments against gravitational collapse. Finally, we interpret the filamentary network of the massive star forming complex G14.225-0.506 in terms of the gravitational instability model and find that the properties of the complex are consistent with being formed out of an unstable layer threaded by a strong, parallel magnetic field.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2012

FIRST DETECTION OF WATER VAPOR IN A PRE-STELLAR CORE

Water is a crucial molecule in molecular astrophysics as it controls much of the gas/grain chemistry, including the formation and evolution of more complex organic molecules in ices. Pre-stellar cores provide the original reservoir of material from which future planetary systems are built, but few observational constraints exist on the formation of water and its partitioning between gas and ice in the densest cores. Thanks to the high sensitivity of the Herschel Space Observatory, we report on the first detection of water vapor at high spectral resolution toward a dense cloud on the verge of star formation, the pre-stellar core L1544. The line shows an inverse P-Cygni profile, characteristic of gravitational contraction. To reproduce the observations, water vapor has to be present in the cold and dense central few thousand AU of L1544, where species heavier than helium are expected to freeze out onto dust grains, and the ortho:para H{sub 2} ratio has to be around 1:1 or larger. The observed amount of water vapor within the core (about 1.5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -6} M{sub Sun }) can be maintained by far-UV photons locally produced by the impact of galactic cosmic rays with H{sub 2} molecules. Such FUV photons irradiate the icy mantles, liberating water vapor in the core center. Our Herschel data, combined with radiative transfer and chemical/dynamical models, shed light on the interplay between gas and solids in dense interstellar clouds and provide the first measurement of the water vapor abundance profile across the parent cloud of a future solar-type star and its potential planetary system.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2012

TWO POPULATIONS OF MOLECULAR CLOUDS IN THE ANTENNAE GALAXIES

Super star clusters-extremely massive clusters found predominately in starburst environments-are essential building blocks in the formation of galaxies and thought to dominate star formation in the high-redshift universe. However, the transformation from molecular gas into these ultracompact star clusters is not well understood. To study this process, we used the Submillimeter Array and the Plateau de Bure Interferometer to obtain high angular resolution ({approx}1.''5 or 160 pc) images of the Antennae overlap region in CO(2-1) to search for the molecular progenitors of the super star clusters. We resolve the molecular gas distribution into a large number of clouds, extending the differential cloud mass function down to a 5{sigma} completeness limit of 3.8 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 5} M{sub Sun }. We identify a distinct break in the mass function around log M{sub mol}/M{sub Sun} Almost-Equal-To 6.5, which separates the molecular clouds into two distinct populations. The smaller, less massive clouds reside in more quiescent areas in the region, while the larger, more massive clouds cluster around regions of intense star formation. A broken power-law fit to the mass function yields slopes of {alpha} = -1.39 {+-} 0.10 and {alpha} = -1.44 {+-} 0.14 for the low- and high-mass cloud population, well matched to the mass function found for super star clusters in the Antennae galaxies. We find large velocity gradients and velocity dispersions at the locations of intense star formation, suggestive of compressive shocks. It is likely that these environmental factors contribute to the formation of the observed massive molecular clouds and super star clusters in the Antennae galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2011

AN INTERFEROMETRIC SPECTRAL-LINE SURVEY OF IRC+10216 IN THE 345 GHz BAND

We report a spectral-line survey of the extreme carbon star IRC+10216 carried out between 293.9 and 354.8 GHz with the Submillimeter Array. A total of 442 lines were detected, more than 200 for the first time; 149 are unassigned. Maps at an angular resolution of {approx}3'' were obtained for each line. A substantial new population of narrow lines with an expansion velocity of {approx}4 km s{sup -1} (i.e., {approx}30% of the terminal velocity) was detected. Most of these are attributed to rotational transitions within vibrationally excited states, emitted from energy levels above the v = 0, J = 0 ground state with excitation energy of 1000-3000 K. Emission from these lines appears to be centered on the star with an angular extent of <1''. We use multiple transitions detected in several molecules to derive physical conditions in this inner envelope of IRC+10216.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2010

FROM THE CONVERGENCE OF FILAMENTS TO DISK-OUTFLOW ACCRETION: MASSIVE STAR FORMATION IN W33A

Interferometric observations of the W33A massive star formation region, performed with the Submillimeter Array and the Very Large Array at resolutions from 5'' (0.1 pc) to 0.''5 (0.01 pc), are presented. Our three main findings are: (1) parsec-scale, filamentary structures of cold molecular gas are detected. Two filaments at different velocities intersect in the zone where the star formation is occurring. This is consistent with triggering of the star formation activity by the convergence of such filaments, as predicted by numerical simulations of star formation initiated by converging flows. (2) The two dusty cores (MM1 and MM2) at the intersection of the filaments are found to be at different evolutionary stages, and each of them is resolved into multiple condensations. MM1 and MM2 have markedly different temperatures, continuum spectral indices, molecular-line spectra, and masses of both stars and gas. (3) The dynamics of the 'hot-core' MM1 indicates the presence of a rotating disk in its center (MM1-Main) around a faint free-free source. The stellar mass is estimated to be {approx}10 M{sub sun}. A massive molecular outflow is observed along the rotation axis of the disk.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2010

THE DECREASE OF SPECIFIC ANGULAR MOMENTUM AND THE HOT TOROID FORMATION: THE MASSIVE CLUMP G10.6-0.4

This is the first paper of our series of high-resolution (1'') studies of the massive star-forming region G10.6-0.4. We present the emission line observations of the hot core type tracers (O{sup 13}CS, OCS, SO{sub 2}) with {approx}0.''5 resolution. By comparing the results to the high-resolution NH{sub 3} absorption line observation, we confirm for the first time the rotationally flattened hot toroid in the central <0.1 pc region, which has a rotational axis perpendicular to its geometrical major axis. In addition, we present the observations of NH{sub 3}, {sup 13}CS, and CH{sub 3}CN with {approx}1'' resolution, and follow the dynamics of the molecular accretion flow from the 0.3 pc radius to the inner 0.03 pc radius. With reference to the rotational axis of the hot toroid, we measure the rotational velocity from the molecular emission in the region. The results are consistent with an envelope with a rapid decrease of the specific angular momentum from the outer to the inner region. These new results improve the current understanding of the molecular accretion flow in an ultracompact H II region created by the embedded O-type cluster.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2010

THE EVOLUTION OF CLOUD CORES AND THE FORMATION OF STARS

For a number of starless cores, self-absorbed molecular line and column density observations have implied the presence of large-amplitude oscillations. We examine the consequences of these oscillations on the evolution of the cores and the interpretation of their observations. We find that the pulsation energy helps support the cores and that the dissipation of this energy can lead toward instability and star formation. In this picture, the core lifetimes are limited by the pulsation-decay timescales, dominated by non-linear mode-mode coupling, and on the order of {approx_equal} few x 10{sup 5}-10{sup 6} yr. Notably, this is similar to what is required to explain the relatively low rate of conversion of cores into stars. For cores with large-amplitude oscillations, dust continuum observations may appear asymmetric or irregular. As a consequence, some of the cores that would be classified as super-critical may be dynamically stable when oscillations are taken into account. Thus, our investigation motivates a simple hydrodynamic picture, capable of reproducing many of the features of the progenitors of stars without the inclusion of additional physical processes, such as large-scale magnetic fields.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1992

Mid-infrared imaging of Markarian 231 and Arp 220

High angular resolution observations of Arp 220 and Mrk 231 provide images of the nuclei and show that the source of the strong mid-IR emission is confined to regions less than about 0.5 arcsec or 400 pc in diameter in Mrk 231 and less than 1.5 arcsec x 0.9 arcsec or 320 x 530 pc in Arp 220. If much of the far-IR emission also derives from such a small region, the implied radiation densities are quite high, equivalent to one O star per cu pc. Although in normal galaxies the near-IR traces an older population of evolved, cool stars, such high radiation densities in the IR bright galaxies suggest the possibility that the spatial correlation observed between the near-IR, mid-IR, and radio may hold because emission in all three bands is associated with hot interstellar gas and dust.

Keto, Eric↗