Kiefer et al. reported the detection of infalling Ca ii absorption in HD 172555, a member of the β Pictoris Moving Group (βPMG). We obtained HST Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and Cosmic ...Origins Spectrograph spectroscopy of this star at 2 epochs separated by a week, and we report the discovery of infalling gas in resonant transitions of Si iii and iv, C ii and iv, and neutral atomic oxygen. Variable absorption is seen in the C ii transitions and is optically thick, with covering factors which range between 58% and 68%, similar to features seen in β Pictoris. The O i spectral profile resembles that of C ii, showing a strong low-velocity absorption to +50 km s−1 in the single spectral segment obtained during orbital night, as well as what may be higher-velocity absorption. Studies of the mid-IR spectrum of this system have suggested the presence of silica. The O i absorption differs from that seen in Si iii, suggesting that the neutral atomic oxygen does not originate in SiO dissociation products but in a more volatile parent molecule such as CO.
Context. Studying gas chemistry in protoplanetary disks is key to understanding the process of planet formation. Sulfur chemistry in particular is poorly understood in interstellar environments, and ...the location of the main reservoirs remains unknown. Protoplanetary disks in Taurus are ideal targets for studying the evolution of the composition of planet forming systems. Aims. We aim to elucidate the chemical origin of sulfur-bearing molecular emission in protoplanetary disks, with a special focus on H2S emission, and to identify candidate species that could become the main molecular sulfur reservoirs in protoplanetary systems. Methods. We used IRAM 30 m observations of nine gas-rich young stellar objects (YSOs) in Taurus to perform a survey of sulfur-bearing and oxygen-bearing molecular species. In this paper we present our results for the CS 3–2 (ν0 = 146.969 GHz), H2CO 21,1−11,0 (ν0 = 150.498 GHz), and H2S 11,0−10,1 (ν0 = 168.763 GHz) emission lines. Results. We detected H2S emission in four sources out of the nine observed, significantly increasing the number of detections toward YSOs. We also detected H2CO and CS in six out of the nine. We identify a tentative correlation between H2S 11,0−10,1 and H2CO 21,1−11,0 as well as a tentative correlation between H2S 11,0−10,1 and H2O 818−707. By assuming local thermodynamical equilibrium, we computed column densities for the sources in the sample, with N(o-H2S) values ranging between 2.6 × 1012 cm−2 and 1.5 × 1013 cm−2.
Sulphur is one of the most abundant elements in the Universe (S/H
1.3
10
) and plays a crucial role in biological systems on Earth. The understanding of its chemistry is therefore of major ...importance.
Our goal is to complete the inventory of S-bearing molecules and their abundances in the prototypical photodissociation region (PDR) the Horsehead nebula to gain insight into sulphur chemistry in UV irradiated regions. Based on the WHISPER (Wide-band High-resolution Iram-30m Surveys at two positions with Emir Receivers) millimeter (mm) line survey, our goal is to provide an improved and more accurate description of sulphur species and their abundances towards the core and PDR positions in the Horsehead.
The Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) methodology and the molecular excitation and radiative transfer code RADEX were used to explore the parameter space and determine physical conditions and beam-averaged molecular abundances.
A total of 13 S-bearing species (CS, SO, SO
, OCS, H
CS - both ortho and para - HDCS, C
S, HCS
, SO
, H
S, S
H, NS and NS
) have been detected in the two targeted positions. This is the first detection of SO
in the Horsehead and the first detection of NS
in any PDR. We find a differentiated chemical behaviour between C-S and O-S bearing species within the nebula. The C-S bearing species C
S and o-H
CS present fractional abundances a factor of > two higher in the core than in the PDR. In contrast, the O-S bearing molecules SO, SO
, and OCS present similar abundances towards both positions. A few molecules, SO
, NS, and NS
, are more abundant towards the PDR than towards the core, and could be considered as PDR tracers.
This is the first complete study of S-bearing species towards a PDR. Our study shows that CS, SO, and H
S are the most abundant S-bearing molecules in the PDR with abundances of ∼ a few 10
. We recall that SH, SH
, S, and S
are not observable at the wavelengths covered by the WHISPER survey. At the spatial scale of our observations, the total abundance of S atoms locked in the detected species is < 10
, only ∼0.1% of the cosmic sulphur abundance.
Exocomets: A spectroscopic survey Rebollido, I.; Eiroa, C.; Montesinos, B. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
07/2020, Volume:
639
Journal Article, Web Resource
Peer reviewed
Open access
Context.
While exoplanets are now routinely detected, the detection of small bodies in extrasolar systems remains challenging. Since the discovery of sporadic events, which are interpreted to be ...exocomets (falling evaporating bodies) around
β
Pic in the early 1980s, only ∼20 stars have been reported to host exocomet-like events.
Aims.
We aim to expand the sample of known exocomet-host stars, as well as to monitor the hot-gas environment around stars with previously known exocometary activity.
Methods.
We have obtained high-resolution optical spectra of a heterogeneous sample of 117 main-sequence stars in the spectral type range from B8 to G8. The data were collected in 14 observing campaigns over the course of two years from both hemispheres. We analysed the Ca
II
K&H and Na
I
D lines in order to search for non-photospheric absorptions that originated in the circumstellar environment and for variable events that could be caused by the outgassing of exocomet-like bodies.
Results.
We detected non-photospheric absorptions towards 50% of the sample, thus attributing a circumstellar origin to half of the detections (i.e. 26% of the sample). Hot circumstellar gas was detected in the metallic lines inspected via narrow stable absorptions and/or variable blue- and red-shifted absorption events. Such variable events were found in 18 stars in the Ca
II
and/or Na
I
lines; six of them are reported in the context of this work for the first time. In some cases, the variations we report in the Ca
II
K line are similar to those observed in
β
Pic. While we do not find a significant trend in the age or location of the stars, we do find that the probability of finding CS gas in stars with larger
v
sin
i
is higher. We also find a weak trend with the presence of near-infrared excess and with anomalous (
λ
Boo-like) abundances, but this would require confirmation by expanding the sample.
Sulphur is one of the most abundant elements in the Universe. Surprisingly, sulphuretted molecules are not as abundant as expected in the interstellar medium and the identity of the main sulphur ...reservoir is still an open question.CONTEXTSulphur is one of the most abundant elements in the Universe. Surprisingly, sulphuretted molecules are not as abundant as expected in the interstellar medium and the identity of the main sulphur reservoir is still an open question.Our goal is to investigate the H2S chemistry in dark clouds, as this stable molecule is a potential sulphur reservoir.AIMSOur goal is to investigate the H2S chemistry in dark clouds, as this stable molecule is a potential sulphur reservoir.Using millimeter observations of CS, SO, H2S, and their isotopologues, we determine the physical conditions and H2S abundances along the cores TMC 1-C, TMC 1-CP, and Barnard 1b. The gas-grain model Nautilus is used to model the sulphur chemistry and explore the impact of photo-desorption and chemical desorption on the H2S abundance.METHODSUsing millimeter observations of CS, SO, H2S, and their isotopologues, we determine the physical conditions and H2S abundances along the cores TMC 1-C, TMC 1-CP, and Barnard 1b. The gas-grain model Nautilus is used to model the sulphur chemistry and explore the impact of photo-desorption and chemical desorption on the H2S abundance.Our modeling shows that chemical desorption is the main source of gas-phase H2S in dark cores. The measured H2S abundance can only be fitted if we assume that the chemical desorption rate decreases by more than a factor of 10 when n H > 2 × 104. This change in the desorption rate is consistent with the formation of thick H2O and CO ice mantles on grain surfaces. The observed SO and H2S abundances are in good agreement with our predictions adopting an undepleted value of the sulphur abundance. However, the CS abundance is overestimated by a factor of 5 - 10. Along the three cores, atomic S is predicted to be the main sulphur reservoir.RESULTSOur modeling shows that chemical desorption is the main source of gas-phase H2S in dark cores. The measured H2S abundance can only be fitted if we assume that the chemical desorption rate decreases by more than a factor of 10 when n H > 2 × 104. This change in the desorption rate is consistent with the formation of thick H2O and CO ice mantles on grain surfaces. The observed SO and H2S abundances are in good agreement with our predictions adopting an undepleted value of the sulphur abundance. However, the CS abundance is overestimated by a factor of 5 - 10. Along the three cores, atomic S is predicted to be the main sulphur reservoir.The gaseous H2S abundance is well reproduced, assuming undepleted sulphur abundance and chemical desorption as the main source of H2S. The behavior of the observed H2S abundance suggests a changing desorption efficiency, which would probe the snowline in these cold cores. Our model, however, highly overestimates the observed gas-phase CS abundance. Given the uncertainty in the sulphur chemistry, we can only conclude that our data are consistent with a cosmic elemental S abundance with an uncertainty of a factor of 10.CONCLUSIONSThe gaseous H2S abundance is well reproduced, assuming undepleted sulphur abundance and chemical desorption as the main source of H2S. The behavior of the observed H2S abundance suggests a changing desorption efficiency, which would probe the snowline in these cold cores. Our model, however, highly overestimates the observed gas-phase CS abundance. Given the uncertainty in the sulphur chemistry, we can only conclude that our data are consistent with a cosmic elemental S abundance with an uncertainty of a factor of 10.
Context.
Stellar ages are key to improving our understanding of different astrophysical phenomena. However, many techniques to estimate stellar ages are highly model-dependent. The lithium depletion ...boundary (LDB), based on the presence or absence of lithium in low-mass stars, can be used to derive ages in stellar associations of between 20 and 500 Ma.
Aims.
The purpose of this work is to revise former LDB ages in stellar associations in a consistent way, taking advantage of the homogeneous
Gaia
parallaxes as well as bolometric luminosity estimations that do not rely on monochromatic bolometric corrections.
Methods.
We studied nine open clusters and three moving groups characterised by a previous determination of the LDB age. We gathered all the available information from our data and the literature: membership, distances, photometric data, reddening, metallicity, and surface gravity. We re-assigned membership and calculated bolometric luminosities and effective temperatures using distances derived from
Gaia
DR2 and multi-wavelength photometry for individual objects around the former LDB. We located the LDB using a homogeneous method for all the stellar associations. Finally, we estimated the age by comparing it with different evolutionary models.
Results.
We located the LDB for the twelve stellar associations and derived their ages using several theoretical evolutionary models. We compared the LDB ages among them, along with data obtained with other techniques, such as isochrone fitting, ultimately finding some discrepancies among the various approaches. Finally, we remark that the 32 Ori MG is likely to be composed of at least two populations of different ages.
Context. The first hydrostatic core (FHSC) phase is a brief stage in the protostellar evolution that is difficult to detect. Its chemical composition determine that of later evolutionary stages. ...Numerical simulations are the tool of choice to study these objects. Aims. Our goal is to characterize the chemical evolution of gas and dust during the formation of the FHSC. Moreover, we are interested in analyzing, for the first time with 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, the role of grain growth in its chemistry. Methods. We postprocessed 2 × 10 5 tracer particles from a RAMSES non-ideal MHD simulation using the codes NAUTILUS and SHARK to follow the chemistry and grain growth throughout the simulation. Results. Gas-phase abundances of most of the C, O, N, and S reservoirs in the hot corino at the end of the simulation match the ice-phase abundances from the prestellar phase. Interstellar complex organic molecules such as methyl formate, acetaldehyde, and formamide are formed during the warm-up process. Grain size in the hot corino ( n H > 10 11 cm −3 ) increases forty-fold during the last 30 kyr, with negligible effects on its chemical composition. At moderate densities (10 10 < n H < 10 11 cm −3 ) and cool temperatures 15 < T < 50 K, increasing grain sizes delay molecular depletion. At low densities ( n H ~ 10 7 cm −3 ), grains do not grow significantly. To assess the need to perform chemo-MHD calculations, we compared our results with a two-step model that reproduces well the abundances of C and O reservoirs, but not the N and S reservoirs. Conclusions. The chemical composition of the FHSC is heavily determined by that of the parent prestellar core. Chemo-MHD computations are needed for an accurate prediction of the abundances of the main N and S elemental reservoirs. The impact of grain growth in moderately dense areas delaying depletion permits the use of abundance ratios as grain growth proxies.
Context. The sulfur abundance is poorly known in most environments. Yet, deriving the sulfur abundance is key to understanding the evolution of the chemistry from molecular clouds to planetary ...atmospheres. We present observations of H2S 110-101 at 168.763 GHz toward the Herbig Ae star AB Aur. Aims: We aim to study the abundance of sulfuretted species toward AB Aur and to constrain how different species and phases contribute to the sulfur budget. Methods: We present new NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometric observations of the continuum and H2S 110-101 line at 168.763 GHz toward AB Aur. We derived radial and azimuthal profiles and used them to compare the geometrical distribution of different species in the disk. Assuming local thermodynamical equilibrium (LTE), we derived column density and abundance maps for H2S, and we further used Nautilus to produce a more detailed model of the chemical abundances at different heights over the mid-plane at a distance of r = 200 au. Results: We have resolved H2S emission in the AB Aur protoplanetary disk. The emission comes from a ring extending from 0.67″ (~109 au) to 1.69″ (~275 au). Assuming T = 30 K, nH = 109 cm−3, and an ortho-to-para ratio of three, we derived a column density of (2.3 ± 0.5) × 1013 cm−2. Under simple assumptions, we derived an abundance of (3.1 ± 0.8) × 10−10 with respect to H nuclei, which we compare with Nautilus models to deepen our understanding of the sulfur chemistry in protoplanetary disks. Chemical models indicate that H2S is an important sulfur carrier in the solid and gas phase. We also find an important transition at a height of ~12 au, where the sulfur budget moves from being dominated by ice species to being dominated by gas species. Conclusions: We confirm that present-day models still struggle to simultaneously reproduce the observed column densities of the different sulfuretted species, and the observed abundances are still orders of magnitude away from the cosmic sulfur abundance. Studying sulfuretted species in detail in the different phases of the interstellar medium is key to solving the issue.
We present initial results from time-series imaging at infrared wavelengths of 0.9 deg2 in the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC). During Fall 2009 we obtained 81 epochs of Spitzer 3.6 and 4.5 Delta *mm data ...over 40 consecutive days. We extracted light curves with ~3% photometric accuracy for ~2000 ONC members ranging from several solar masses down to well below the hydrogen-burning mass limit. For many of the stars, we also have time-series photometry obtained at optical (Ic ) and/or near-infrared (JK s ) wavelengths. Our data set can be mined to determine stellar rotation periods, identify new pre-main-sequence eclipsing binaries, search for new substellar Orion members, and help better determine the frequency of circumstellar disks as a function of stellar mass in the ONC. Our primary focus is the unique ability of 3.6 and 4.5 Delta *mm variability information to improve our understanding of inner disk processes and structure in the Class I and II young stellar objects (YSOs). In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the YSOVAR Orion data obtained in Fall 2009 and highlight our light curves for AA-Tau analogs--YSOs with narrow dips in flux, most probably due to disk density structures passing through our line of sight. Detailed follow-up observations are needed in order to better quantify the nature of the obscuring bodies and what this implies for the structure of the inner disks of YSOs.
ABSTRACT
We present high angular resolution 1.1 mm continuum and spectroscopic Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations of the well-known massive protocluster Mon R2 IRS 3. The ...continuum image at 1.1 mm shows two components, IRS 3 A and IRS 3 B, that are separated by ∼0.65 arcsec. We estimate that IRS 3 A is responsible of ∼80 per cent of the continuum flux, being the most massive component. We explore the chemistry of IRS 3 A based on the spectroscopic observations. In particular, we have detected intense lines of S-bearing species such as SO, SO2, H2CS, and OCS, and of the complex organic molecules (COMs) methyl formate (CH3OCHO) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3). The integrated intensity maps of most species show a compact clump centred on IRS 3 A, except the emission of the COMs that is more intense towards the near-IR nebula located to the south of IRS 3 A, and HC3N whose emission peak is located ∼0.5 arcsec NE from IRS 3 A. The kinematical study suggests that the molecular emission is mainly coming from a rotating ring and/or an unresolved disc. Additional components are traced by the ro-vibrational HCN ν2 = 1 3→2 line which is probing the inner disc/jet region, and the weak lines of CH3OCHO, more likely arising from the walls of the cavity excavated by the molecular outflow. Based on SO2 we derive a gas kinetic temperature of T$_k\, \sim$ 170 K towards the IRS 3 A. The most abundant S-bearing species is SO2 with an abundance of ∼ 1.3 × 10−7, and χ(SO/SO2) ∼ 0.29. Assuming the solar abundance, SO2 accounts for ∼1 per cent of the sulphur budget.