Context. The inner regions of the envelopes surrounding young protostars are characterized by a complex chemistry, with prebiotic molecules present on the scales where protoplanetary disks eventually ...may form. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) provides an unprecedented view of these regions zooming in on solar system scales of nearby protostars and mapping the emission from rare species. Aims. The goal is to introduce a systematic survey, the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS), of the chemical complexity of one of the nearby astrochemical templates, the Class 0 protostellar binary IRAS 16293−2422, using ALMA in order to understand the origin of the complex molecules formed in its vicinity. In addition to presenting the overall survey, the analysis in this paper focuses on new results for the prebiotic molecule glycolaldehyde, its isomers, and rarer isotopologues and other related molecules. Methods. An unbiased spectral survey of IRAS 16293−2422 covering the full frequency range from 329 to 363 GHz (0.8 mm) has been obtained with ALMA, in addition to a few targeted observations at 3.0 and 1.3 mm. The data consist of full maps of the protostellar binary system with an angular resolution of 0.5′′ (60 AU diameter), a spectral resolution of 0.2 km s-1, and a sensitivity of 4−5 mJy beam-1 km s-1, which is approximately two orders of magnitude better than any previous studies. Results. More than 10 000 features are detected toward one component in the protostellar binary, corresponding to an average line density of approximately one line per 3 km s-1. Glycolaldehyde; its isomers, methyl formate and acetic acid; and its reduced alcohol, ethylene glycol, are clearly detected and their emission well-modeled with an excitation temperature of 300 K. For ethylene glycol both lowest state conformers, aGg′ and gGg′, are detected, the latter for the first time in the interstellar medium (ISM). The abundance of glycolaldehyde is comparable to or slightly larger than that of ethylene glycol. In comparison to the Galactic Center these two species are over-abundant relative to methanol, possibly an indication of formation of the species at low temperatures in CO-rich ices during the infall of the material toward the central protostar. Both 13C and the deuterated isotopologues of glycolaldehyde are detected, also for the first time ever in the ISM. For the deuterated species, a D/H ratio of ≈5% is found with no differences between the deuteration in the different functional groups of glycolaldehyde, in contrast to previous estimates for methanol and recent suggestions of significant equilibration between water and -OH functional groups at high temperatures. Measurements of the 13C-species lead to a 12C:13C ratio of ≈30, lower than the typical ISM value. This low ratio may reflect an enhancement of 13CO in the ice due to either ion-molecule reactions in the gas before freeze-out or to differences in the temperatures where 12CO and 13CO ices sublimate. Conclusions. The results reinforce the importance of low-temperature grain surface chemistry for the formation of prebiotic molecules seen here in the gas after sublimation of the entire ice mantle. Systematic surveys of the molecules thought to be chemically related, as well as the accurate measurements of their isotopic composition, hold strong promise for understanding the origin of prebiotic molecules in the earliest stages of young stars.
Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) Fontani, F.; Ceccarelli, C.; Favre, C. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
09/2017, Letnik:
605
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The interstellar delivery of carbon atoms locked into molecules might be one of the key ingredients for the emergence of life. Cyanopolyynes are carbon chains delimited at their two extremities by an ...atom ofhydrogen and a cyano group, meaning that they could be excellent reservoirs of carbon. The simplest member, HC3N, is ubiquitous in the galactic interstellar medium and found also in external galaxies. Thus, understanding the growth of cyanopolyynes in regions forming stars similar to our Sun, and what affects them, is particularly relevant. In the framework of the IRAM/NOEMA Large Program SOLIS (Seeds Of Life In Space), we have obtained a map of two cyanopolyynes, HC3N and HC5N, in the protocluster OMC-2 FIR4. Because our Sun is thought to be born in a rich cluster, OMC-2 FIR4 is one of the closest and best known representatives of the environment in which the Sun may have been born. We find a HC3N/HC5N abundance ratio across the source in the range ~1−30, with the smallest values (≤10) in FIR5 and in the eastern region of FIR4. The ratios ≤10 can be reproduced by chemical models only if: (1) the cosmic-ray ionisation rate ζ is ~ 4 × 10-14 s-1; (2) the gaseous elemental ratio C/O is close to unity; and (3) oxygen and carbon are largely depleted. The large ζ is comparable to that measured in FIR4 by previous works and was interpreted as due to a flux of energetic (≥10 MeV) particles from embedded sources. We suggest that these sources could lie east of FIR4 and FIR5. A temperature gradient across FIR4, with T decreasing from east to west by about 10 K, could also explain the observed change in the HC3N/HC5N line ratio, without the need of a cosmic ray ionisation rate gradient. However, even in this case, a high constant cosmic-ray ionisation rate (of the order of 10-14 s-1) is necessary to reproduce the observations.
Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) Codella, C.; Ceccarelli, C.; Caselli, P. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
09/2017, Letnik:
605
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context. Modern versions of the Miller-Urey experiment claim that formamide (NH2CHO) could be the starting point for the formation of metabolic and genetic macromolecules. Intriguingly, formamide is ...indeed observed in regions forming solar-type stars and in external galaxies. Aims. How NH2CHO is formed has been a puzzle for decades: our goal is to contribute to the hotly debated question of whether formamide is mostly formed via gas-phase or grain surface chemistry. Methods. We used the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometer to image NH2CHO towards the L1157-B1 blue-shifted shock, a well-known interstellar laboratory, to study how the components of dust mantles and cores released into the gas phase triggers the formation of formamide. Results. We report the first spatially resolved image (size ~9″, ~2300 AU) of formamide emission in a shocked region around a Sun-like protostar: the line profiles are blueshifted and have a FWHM ≃ 5 km s-1. A column density of NNH2CHO = 8 × 1012 cm-1 and an abundance, with respect to H-nuclei, of 4 × 10-9 are derived. We show a spatial segregation of formamide with respect to other organic species. Our observations, coupled with a chemical modelling analysis, indicate that the formamide observed in L1157-B1 is formed by a gas-phase chemical process and not on grain surfaces as previously suggested. Conclusions. The Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) interferometric observations of formamide provide direct evidence that this potentially crucial brick of life is efficiently formed in the gas phase around Sun-like protostars.
Aims. We present observations of twelve rotational transitions of H216O, H218O, and H217O toward the massive star-forming region NGC 6334 I, carried out with Herschel/HIFI as part of the guaranteed ...time key program Chemical HErschel Surveys of Star forming regions (CHESS). We analyze these observations to obtain insights into physical processes in this region. Methods. We identify three main gas components (hot core, cold foreground, and outflow) in NGC 6334 I and derive the physical conditions in these components. Results. The hot core, identified by the emission in highly excited lines, shows a high excitation temperature of ~200 K, whereas water in the foreground component is predominantly in the ortho- and para- ground states. The abundance of water varies between 4 × 10-5 (outflow) and 10-8 (cold foreground gas). This variation is most likely due to the freeze-out of water molecules onto dust grains. The H218O/H217O abundance ratio is 3.2, which is consistent with the 18O/17O ratio determined from CO isotopologues. The ortho/para ratio in water appears to be relatively low (1.6±1) in the cold, quiescent gas, but close to the equilibrium value of three in the warmer outflow material (2.5±0.8).
Context. The observational counterparts of theoretically predicted first hydrostatic cores (FHSC) have been searched for in the interstellar medium for nearly two decades now. Distinguishing them ...from other types of more evolved but still embedded objects remains a challenge because these objects have a short lifetime, are small, and embedded in a dense cocoon. One possible lead to finding them is the characterization of the outflows that are launched by these objects, which are assumed to have a low velocity and be small extent. Aims: We observed the L1451-mm FHSC candidate with the NOEMA interferometer (and complementary IRAM 30m data) in order to study the emission of several molecules. Methods: Molecular lines were reduced and analyzed with the GILDAS package network, the CASSIS software, and some python packages. A nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium analysis of the CH3OH detected lines was performed to retrieve the physical conditions of the emitting region around the central source, together with the CH3OH, SiO, CS, and H2CO column densities. Results: Of the targeted molecules, we detected lines of c-C3H2, CH3OH, CS, C34S, SO, DCN, DCO+, H2CO, HC3N, HDCO, and SiO. One of the methanol lines appears to be a maser line. The detection of this class I maser and the SiO line in L1451-mm support the presence of a low-velocity and compact outflow. The excitation conditions of the thermal lines of methanol are also compatible with shocks (H2 density of ~3 × 106 cm−3 and a temperature higher than 40 K). Conclusions: Although these low-velocity outflows are theoretically predicted by some models of FHSC, these models also predict the shock temperature to be below 20 K, that is, not evaporating methanol. In addition, the predicted velocities would not erode the grains and release silicon in the gas phase. We therefore conclude that these new observations favor the hypothesis that L1451-mm would be at a very early protostellar stage, launching an outflow nearly on the plane of the sky with a higher velocity than is observed. The reduced datacubes used for this work are also available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to ftp://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr ( 130.79.128.5 ) or via cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/666/A191
Abstract
The evolutionary past of our Solar system can be pieced together by comparing analogous low-mass protostars with remnants of our Protosolar Nebula – comets. Sulphur-bearing molecules may be ...unique tracers of the joint evolution of the volatile and refractory components. ALMA Band 7 data from the large unbiased Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey are used to search for S-bearing molecules in the outer disc-like structure, ∼60 au from IRAS 16293–2422 B, and are compared with data on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (67P/C–G) stemming from the ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis) instrument aboard Rosetta. Species such as SO2, SO, OCS, CS, H2CS, H2S, and CH3SH are detected via at least one of their isotopologues towards IRAS 16293–2422 B. The search reveals a first-time detection of OC33S towards this source and a tentative first-time detection of C36S towards a low-mass protostar. The data show that IRAS 16293–2422 B contains much more OCS than H2S in comparison to 67P/C–G; meanwhile, the SO/SO2 ratio is in close agreement between the two targets. IRAS 16293–2422 B has a CH3SH/H2CS ratio in range of that of our Solar system (differences by a factor of 0.7–5.3). It is suggested that the levels of UV radiation during the initial collapse of the systems may have varied and have potentially been higher for IRAS 16293–2422 B due to its binary nature; thereby, converting more H2S into OCS. It remains to be conclusively tested if this also promotes the formation of S-bearing complex organics. Elevated UV levels of IRAS 16293–2422 B and a warmer birth cloud of our Solar system may jointly explain the variations between the two low-mass systems.
Context . 3-Hydroxypropenal (HOCHCHCHO) is the lower energy tautomer of malonaldehyde which displays a complex rotation-tunneling spectrum. It was detected somewhat tentatively toward the solar-type ...protostellar system IRAS 16293-2422 with ALMA in the framework of the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS). Several transitions, however, had large residuals, preventing not only their detection, but also the excitation temperature of the species from being determined unambiguously. Aims . We want to extend the existing rotational line list of 3-hydroxypropenal to shed more light on the recent observational results and to facilitate additional radio astronomical searches for this molecule. Methods . We recorded and analyzed the rotation-tunneling spectrum of 3-hydroxypropenal in the frequency regions between 150 and 330 GHz and between 400 and 660 GHz. Transitions were searched for in the PILS observations of IRAS 16293-2422. Local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) models were carried out and compared to the observations to constrain the excitation temperature. Additional transitions were searched for in other ALMA archival data of the same source to confirm the presence of 3-hydroxypropenal. Results . More than 7500 different spectral lines, corresponding to more than 11 500 transitions, were assigned in the course of our investigation with quantum numbers 2 ≤ J ≤ 100, K a ≤ 59, and K c ≤ 97, resulting in a greatly improved set of spectroscopic parameters. The comparison between the LTE models and the observations yields an excitation temperature of 125 K with a column density N = 1.0 × 10 15 cm −2 for this species. We identified seven additional lines of 3-hydroxypropenal that show a good agreement with the model in the ALMA archive data. Conclusions . The calculated rotation-tunneling spectrum of 3-hydroxypropenal has sufficient accuracy for radio astronomical searches. With the solution of the excitation temperature conundrum and the detection of seven more lines, we consider the detection of 3-hydroxypropenal toward IRAS 16293-2422 as secure.
Episodic accretion in protostars leads to luminosity outbursts that end up heating their surroundings. This rise in temperature pushes the snow lines back, enabling the desorption of chemical species ...from dust grain surfaces, which may significantly alter the chemical history of the accreting envelope. However, a limited number of extensive chemical surveys of eruptive young stars have been performed thus far. In the present study, we carry out a large spectral survey of the binary Class I protostar L1551 IRS 5, known to be a FUor-like object, in the 3mm and 2mm bands with the IRAM-30m telescope. As a result, we detected more than 400 molecular lines. The source displays a great chemical richness with the detection of 75 species, including isotopologues. Among these species, there are 13 hydrocarbons, 25 N-bearing species, 30 O-bearing species, 15 S-bearing species, 12 deuterated molecules, and a total of 10 complex organic molecules (l-C$_4$H$_2$, CH$_3$CCH, CH$_2$DCCH, CH$_3$CHO, CH$_3$CN, CH$_3$OCH$_3$, CH$_3$OCHO, CH$_3$OH, CH$_2$DOH, and HC$_5$N). With the help of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE models, we determined the column densities of most molecules as well as excitation and kinetic temperatures. While most of those molecules trace the cold envelope ($ 20$ K), the OCS and CH$_3$OH emission arise from the warm ($> 100$ K) innermost ($< 2$ regions. We compared the chemical inventory of L1551 IRS 5 and its column density ratios, including isotopic ratios, with other protostellar sources. A broad chemical diversity is seen among Class I objects. More observations with both single-dish telescopes and interferometers are needed to characterize the diversity in a larger sample of protostars, while more astrochemical models would help explain this diversity, in addition to the impact of luminosity outbursts on the chemistry of protostellar envelopes.
Context.
The observational counterparts of theoretically predicted first hydrostatic cores (FHSC) have been searched for in the interstellar medium for nearly two decades now. Distinguishing them ...from other types of more evolved but still embedded objects remains a challenge because these objects have a short lifetime, are small, and embedded in a dense cocoon. One possible lead to finding them is the characterization of the outflows that are launched by these objects, which are assumed to have a low velocity and be small extent.
Aims.
We observed the L1451-mm FHSC candidate with the NOEMA interferometer (and complementary IRAM 30m data) in order to study the emission of several molecules.
Methods.
Molecular lines were reduced and analyzed with the GILDAS package network, the CASSIS software, and some python packages. A nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium analysis of the CH
3
OH detected lines was performed to retrieve the physical conditions of the emitting region around the central source, together with the CH
3
OH, SiO, CS, and H
2
CO column densities.
Results.
Of the targeted molecules, we detected lines of c-C
3
H
2
, CH
3
OH, CS, C
34
S, SO, DCN, DCO+, H
2
CO, HC
3
N, HDCO, and SiO. One of the methanol lines appears to be a maser line. The detection of this class I maser and the SiO line in L1451-mm support the presence of a low-velocity and compact outflow. The excitation conditions of the thermal lines of methanol are also compatible with shocks (H
2
density of ~3 × 10
6
cm
−3
and a temperature higher than 40 K).
Conclusions.
Although these low-velocity outflows are theoretically predicted by some models of FHSC, these models also predict the shock temperature to be below 20 K, that is, not evaporating methanol. In addition, the predicted velocities would not erode the grains and release silicon in the gas phase. We therefore conclude that these new observations favor the hypothesis that L1451-mm would be at a very early protostellar stage, launching an outflow nearly on the plane of the sky with a higher velocity than is observed.
Nitrogen oxides are thought to play a significant role as a nitrogen reservoir and to potentially participate in the formation of more complex species. Until now, only NO, N2O, and HNO have been ...detected in the interstellar medium. We report the first interstellar detection of nitrous acid (HONO). Twelve lines were identified towards component B of the low-mass protostellar binary IRAS 16293–2422 with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, at the position where NO and N2O have previously been seen. A local thermodynamic equilibrium model was used to derive the column density (∼9 × 1014 cm−2 in a 0 .″5 0 . ″ 5 $ 0{{\overset{\prime\prime}{.}}}5 $ beam) and excitation temperature (∼100 K) of this molecule. HNO, NO2, NO+, and HNO3 were also searched for in the data, but not detected. We simulated the HONO formation using an updated version of the chemical code Nautilus and compared the results with the observations. The chemical model is able to reproduce satisfactorily the HONO, N2O, and NO2 abundances, but not the NO, HNO, and NH2OH abundances. This could be due to some thermal desorption mechanisms being destructive and therefore limiting the amount of HNO and NH2OH present in the gas phase. Other options are UV photodestruction of these species in ices or missing reactions potentially relevant at protostellar temperatures.
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