Aims.We constrain the dust distribution and its properties (temperature, emissivity) in inner proto-planetary disks Methods.We performed sub-arcsecond high-sensitivity interferometric observations of ...the thermal dust emission at 1.4 mm and 2.8 mm in the disks surrounding LkCa 15 and MWC 480, with the new 750 m baselines of the IRAM PdBI array. This provides a linear resolution of ~60 AU at the distance of Taurus. Results.We report the existence of a cavity of ~50 AU radius in the inner disk of LkCa 15. Whereas LkCa 15 emission is optically thin, the optically thick core of MWC 480 is resolved at 1.4 mm with a radius of ~35 AU, constraining the dust temperature. In MWC 480, the dust emission is coming from a colder layer than the CO emission, most likely the disk mid-plane. Conclusions.These observations provide direct evidence of an inner cavity around LkCa 15. Such a cavity most probably results from the tidal disturbance created by a low-mass companion or large planet at ~30 AU from the star. These results suggest that planetary system formation is already at work in LkCa 15. They also indicate that the classical steady-state viscous disk model is too simplistic a description of the inner 50 AU of “proto-planetary” disks and that the disk evolution is coupled to the planet formation process. The MWC 480 results indicate that a proper estimate of the dust temperature and size of the optically thick core are essential for determining the dust emissivity index β.
Molecular line emission from protoplanetary disks is a powerful tool to constrain their physical and chemical structure. Nevertheless, only a few molecules have been detected in disks so far. We take ...advantage of the enhanced capabilities of the IRAM 30 m telescope by using the new broadband correlator (fast Fourier Transform Spectrometer) to search for so far undetected molecules in the protoplanetary disks surrounding the T Tauri stars DM Tau, GO Tau, LkCa 15, and the Herbig Ae star MWC 480. We report the first detection of HC sub(3)N at 5sigma in the GO Tau and MWC 480 disks with the IRAM 30 m, and in the LkCa 15 disk (5sigma), using the IRAM array, with derived column densities of the order of 10 super(12) cm super(-2). We also obtain stringent upper limits on CCS (N < 1.5 x 10 super(12) cm super(-3)). We discuss the observational results by comparing them to column densities derived from existing chemical disk models (computed using the chemical code Nautilus) and based on previous nitrogen- and sulfur-bearing molecule observations. The observed column densities of HC sub(3)N are typically two orders of magnitude lower than the existing predictions and appear to be lower in the presence of strong UV flux, suggesting that the molecular chemistry is sensitive to the UV penetration through the disk. The CCS upper limits reinforce our model with low elemental abundance of sulfur derived from other sulfur-bearing molecules (CS, H sub(2)S, and SO).
We study the content in S-bearing molecules of protoplanetary disks around low-mass stars. We used the new IRAM 30-m receiver EMIR to perform simultaneous observations of the $1_{10}-1_{01}$ line of ...H$_2$S at 168.8 GHz and $2_{23}-1_{12}$ line of SO at 99.3 GHz. We compared the observational results with predictions coming from the astrochemical code NAUTILUS, which has been adapted to protoplanetary disks. The data were analyzed together with existing CS J=3-2 observations. We fail to detect the SO and H$_2$S lines, although CS is detected in LkCa15, DM\,Tau, and GO\,Tau but not in MWC\,480. However, our new upper limits are significantly better than previous ones and allow us to put some interesting constraints on the sulfur chemistry. Our best modeling of disks is obtained for a C/O ratio of 1.2, starting from initial cloud conditions of H density of $2\times 10^5$ cm$^{-3}$ and age of $10^6$ yr. The results agree with the CS data and are compatible with the SO upper limits, but fail to reproduce the H$_2$S upper limits. The predicted H$_2$S column densities are too high by at least one order of magnitude. H$_2$S may remain locked onto grain surfaces and react with other species, thereby preventing the desorption of H$_2$S.
We study the molecular content and chemistry of a circumstellar disk surrounding the Herbig Ae star AB Aur at (sub-)millimeter wavelengths. Our aim is to reconstruct the chemical history and ...composition of the AB Aur disk and to compare it with disks around low-mass, cooler T Tauri stars. We observe the AB Aur disk with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer in the C- and D- configurations in rotational lines of CS, HCN, C2H, CH3OH, HCO+, and CO isotopes. Using an iterative minimization technique, observed columns densities and abundances are derived. These values are further compared with results of an advanced chemical model that is based on a steady-state flared disk structure with a vertical temperature gradient, and gas-grain chemical network with surface reactions. We firmly detect HCO+ in the 1--0 transition, tentatively detect HCN, and do not detect CS, C2H, and CH3OH. The observed HCO+ and 13CO column densities as well as the upper limits to the column densities of HCN, CS, C2H, and CH3OH are in good agreement with modeling results and those from previous studies. The AB Aur disk possesses more CO, but is less abundant in other molecular species compared to the DM Tau disk. This is primarily caused by intense UV irradiation from the central Herbig A0 star, which results in a hotter disk where CO freeze out does not occur and thus surface formation of complex CO-bearing molecules might be inhibited.
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observed in 2017 the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), at a frequency of 228.1 GHz (\(\lambda\)=1.3 mm). The ...fundamental physics tests that even a single pulsar orbiting Sgr A* would enable motivate searching for pulsars in EHT datasets. The high observing frequency means that pulsars - which typically exhibit steep emission spectra - are expected to be very faint. However, it also negates pulse scattering, an effect that could hinder pulsar detections in the Galactic Center. Additionally, magnetars or a secondary inverse Compton emission could be stronger at millimeter wavelengths than at lower frequencies. We present a search for pulsars close to Sgr A* using the data from the three most-sensitive stations in the EHT 2017 campaign: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, the Large Millimeter Telescope and the IRAM 30 m Telescope. We apply three detection methods based on Fourier-domain analysis, the Fast-Folding-Algorithm and single pulse search targeting both pulsars and burst-like transient emission; using the simultaneity of the observations to confirm potential candidates. No new pulsars or significant bursts were found. Being the first pulsar search ever carried out at such high radio frequencies, we detail our analysis methods and give a detailed estimation of the sensitivity of the search. We conclude that the EHT 2017 observations are only sensitive to a small fraction (\(\lesssim\)2.2%) of the pulsars that may exist close to Sgr A*, motivating further searches for fainter pulsars in the region.
The Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies (CRAF) is an Expert Committee of the European Science Foundation. It aims to provide a cost-effective single voice on frequency protection issues for ...European radio astronomy observatories and research institutes, achieving a significantly greater impact than that achievable by individual national institutions. By working together, European observatories and institutes can profit from synergy effects, cover many more topics, and learn from each other. CRAF was founded in 1988 and has since then been engaged with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in particular its Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) and its European Communications Committee (ECC). This is the self-evaluation report prepared by CRAF for its periodic review of the years 2011-2021.
The Photon Ring in M87 Broderick, Avery E; Pesce, Dominic W; Tiede, Paul ...
arXiv.org,
08/2022
Paper, Journal Article
Odprti dostop
We report measurements of the gravitationally lensed secondary image -- the first in an infinite series of so-called "photon rings" -- around the supermassive black hole M87* via simultaneous ...modeling and imaging of the 2017 Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations. The inferred ring size remains constant across the seven days of the 2017 EHT observing campaign and is consistent with theoretical expectations, providing clear evidence that such measurements probe spacetime and a striking confirmation of the models underlying the first set of EHT results. The residual diffuse emission evolves on timescales comparable to one week. We are able to detect with high significance a southwestern extension consistent with that expected from the base of a jet that is rapidly rotating in the clockwise direction. This result adds further support to the identification of the jet in M87* with a black hole spin-driven outflow, launched via the Blandford-Znajek process. We present three revised estimates for the mass of M87* based on identifying the modeled thin ring component with the bright ringlike features seen in simulated images, one of which is only weakly sensitive to the astrophysics of the emission region. All three estimates agree with each other and previously reported values. Our strongest mass constraint combines information from both the ring and the diffuse emission region, which together imply a mass-to-distance ratio of \(4.20^{+0.12}_{-0.06}~\mu{\rm as}\) and a corresponding black hole mass of \((7.13\pm0.39)\times10^9M_\odot\), where the error on the latter is now dominated by the systematic uncertainty arising from the uncertain distance to M87*.
Previous studies have found that Vega is surrounded by an extended debris disc that is very smooth in the far infrared, but displays possible clumpiness at 850micron and dust emission peaks at 1.3mm. ...We reobserved Vega at 1.3mm with PdBI to constrain its circumstellar dust distribution. Our observations of a three-field mosaic have a factor of two higher sensitivity than previous observations. We detect Vega photosphere with the expected flux, but none of the previously reported emission peaks that should have been detected at the >6sigma level, with a sensitivity <1mK. This implies that the dust distribution around Vega is principally smooth and circularly symmetric. This also means that no planet is needed to account for dust trapped in mean-motion resonnance.
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