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Context. We exploit the increased sensitivity of the recently installed adaptive optics SOUL at the LBT to obtain new high-spatialresolution near-infrared images of the massive young stellar object IRAS20126+4104 and its outflow. Aims. We aim to derive the jet proper motions and kinematics, as well as to study its photometric variability by combining the novel performances of SOUL together with previous near-infrared images. Methods. We used both broad-band (Ks, K') and narrow-band (Br H2) observations from a number of near-infrared cameras (UKIRT/UFTI, SUBARU/CIAO, TNG/NICS, LBT/PISCES, and LBT/LUCI1) to derive maps of the continuum and the H2 emission in the 2.12 µm line. Three sets of images, obtained with adaptive optics (AO) systems (CIAO, in 2003; FLAO, in 2012; SOUL, in 2020), allowed us to derive the proper motions of a large number of H2 knots along the jet. Photometry from all images was used to study the jet variability. Results. We derived knot proper motions in the range of 1.7-20.3 mas yr-1 (i.e. 13-158 km s-1 at 1.64 kpc), implying an average outflow tangential velocity of ~80 km s-1. The derived knot dynamical age spans a ~200-4000 yr interval. A ring-like H2 feature near the protostar location exhibits peculiar kinematics and may represent the outcome of a wide-angle wind impinging on the outflow cavity. Both H2 geometry and velocities agree with those inferred from proper motions of the H2O masers, located at a smaller distance from the protostar. Although the total H2 line emission from the knots does not exhibit time variations at a >~0.3 mag level, we have found a clear continuum flux variation (radiation scattered by the dust in the cavity opened by the jet) which is anti-correlated between the blue-shifted and red-shifted lobes and may be periodic (with a period of ~12-18 yr). We suggest that the continuum variability might be related to inner-disc oscillations which have also caused the jet precession. Conclusions. Our analysis shows that multi-epoch high-spatial-resolution imaging in the near-infrared is a powerful tool to unveil the physical properties of highly embedded massive protostars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An estimate of the degree of CO-depletion (f D) provides information on the physical conditions occurring in the innermost and densest regions of molecular clouds. A key parameter in these studies is the size of the depletion radius, i.e. the radius within which the C-bearing species, and in particular CO, are largely frozen on to dust grains. A strong depletion state (i.e. f D > 10, as assumed in our models) is highly favoured in the innermost regions of dark clouds, where the temperature is <20 K and the number density of molecular hydrogen exceeds a few × 104 cm−3. In this work, we estimate the size of the depleted region by studying the Infrared Dark Cloud (IRDC) G351.77−0.51. Continuum observations performed with the Herschel Space Observatory and the LArge APEX BOlometer CAmera , together with APEX C18O and C17O J  = 2→1 line observations, allowed us to recover the large-scale beam- and line-of-sight-averaged depletion map of the cloud. We built a simple model to investigate the depletion in the inner regions of the clumps in the filament and the filament itself. The model suggests that the depletion radius ranges from 0.02 to 0.15 pc, comparable with the typical filament width (i.e. ∼0.1 pc). At these radii, the number density of H2 reaches values between 0.2 and 5.5 × 105 cm−3. These results provide information on the approximate spatial scales on which different chemical processes operate in high-mass star-forming regions and also suggest caution when using CO for kinematical studies in IRDCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. In order to understand the observed molecular diversity in high-mass star-forming regions, we have to determine the underlying physical and chemical structure of those regions at high angular resolution and over a range of evolutionary stages. Methods. We present a detailed observational and modeling study of the hot core VLA 3 in the high-mass star-forming region AFGL 2591, which is a target region of the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) large program CORE. Using NOEMA observations at 1.37 mm with an angular resolution of ~0″. 42 (1400 au at 3.33 kpc), we derived the physical and chemical structure of the source. We modeled the observed molecular abundances with the chemical evolution code MUSCLE (MUlti Stage ChemicaL codE). Results. With the kinetic temperature tracers CH3CN and H2CO we observe a temperature distribution with a power-law index of q = 0.41 ± 0.08. Using the visibilities of the continuum emission we derive a density structure with a power-law index of p = 1.7 ± 0.1. The hot core spectra reveal high molecular abundances and a rich diversity in complex molecules. The majority of the molecules have an asymmetric spatial distribution around the forming protostar(s), which indicates a complex physical structure on scales <1400 au. Using MUSCLE, we are able to explain the observed molecular abundance of 10 out of 14 modeled species at an estimated hot core chemical age of ~21 100 yr. In contrast to the observational analysis, our chemical modeling predicts a lower density power-law index of p < 1.4. Reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. Conclusions. Combining high spatial resolution observations with detailed chemical modeling allows us to derive a concise picture of the physical and chemical structure of the famous AFGL 2591 hot core. The next steps are to conduct a similar analysis for the whole CORE sample, and then use this analysis to constrain the chemical diversity in high-mass star formation to a much greater depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The formation process of high-mass stars (>8 M⊙) is poorly constrained, particularly the effects of clump fragmentation creating multiple systems and the mechanism of mass accretion onto the cores. Aims. We study the fragmentation of dense gas clumps, and trace the circumstellar rotation and outflows by analyzing observations of the high-mass (~500 M⊙) star-forming region IRAS 23033+5951. Methods. Using the Northern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) in three configurations and the IRAM 30 m single-dish telescope at 220 GHz, we probe the gas and dust emission at an angular resolution of ~0.45′′, corresponding to 1900 au. Results. In the millimeter (mm) continuum emission, we identify a protostellar cluster with at least four mm-sources, where three of them show a significantly higher peak intensity well above a signal-to-noise ratio of 100. Hierarchical fragmentation from large to small spatial scales is discussed. Two fragments are embedded in rotating structures and drive molecular outflows, traced by 13CO (2–1) emission. The velocity profiles across two of the cores are similar to Keplerian but are missing the highest-velocity components close to the center of rotation, which is a common phenomena from observations like these, and other rotation scenarios are not excluded entirely. Position–velocity diagrams suggest protostellar masses of ~6 and 19 M⊙. Rotational temperatures from fitting CH3CN (12K− 11K) spectra are used for estimating the gas temperature and thereby also the disk stability against gravitational fragmentation, utilizing Toomre's Q parameter. Assuming that the candidate disk is in Keplerian rotation about the central stellar object and considering different disk inclination angles, we identify only one candidate disk as being unstable against gravitational instability caused by axisymmetric perturbations. Conclusions. The dominant sources cover different evolutionary stages within the same maternal gas clump. The appearance of rotation and outflows of the cores are similar to those found in low-mass star-forming regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The unprecedented combination of high-sensitivity and high angular resolution provided by the ALMA interferometer allows us to shed light on the processes leading to the formation of the jet-disc system associated with a Sun-like mass protostar. Aims. We investigate the physical and chemical properties of the gas associated with water and interstellar complex organic molecules around a protostar on solar system scales. Methods. The HH 212 protostellar system, in Orion B, has been mapped, thanks to ALMA-Band 7 Cycle 1 and Cycle 4 observations of dueterated water (HDO) and acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) emission with an angular resolution down to ~0.′′15 (60 au). Results. Many emission lines due to 14 CH3CHO and 1 HDO transitions at high excitation (Eu between 163 and 335 K) have been imaged in the inner ~70 au region. The local thermal equilibrium analysis of the CH3CHO emission leads to a temperature of 78 ± 14 K and a column density of 7.6 ± 3.2 × 1015 cm−2, which, when NH2 $N_{{\textrm{H}_2}}$ N H 2 of 1024 cm−2 is assumed, leads to an abundance of XCH3CHO ≃ $X_{\textrm{CH}_3}\textrm{CHO}\simeq$ X CH 3 CHO ≃ 8 × 10−9. The large velocity gradient analysis of the HDO emission also places severe constraints on the volume density, nH2 ≥ $n_{\textrm{H}_2}\geq$ n H 2 ≥ 108 cm−3. The line profiles are 5–7 km s−1 wide, and CH3CHO and HDO both show a ±2 km s−1 velocity gradient over a size of ~70 au (blue-shifted emission towards the north-west and red-shifted emission towards the south-east) along the disc equatorial plane, in agreement with what was found so far using other molecular tracers. Conclusions. The kinematics of CH3CHO and HDO are consistent with the occurrence of a centrifugal barrier, that is, the infalling envelope-rotating disc ring, which is chemically enriched through low-velocity accretion shocks. The emission radius is ~60 au, in good agreement with what was found before for another interstellar complex organic molecule such as NH2CHO. We support a vertical structure for the centrifugal barrier, suggesting the occurrence of two outflowing, expanding, and rotating rings above and below (of about 40–45 au) the optically thick equatorial disc plane. It is tempting to speculate that these rings could probe the basis of a wind launched from this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conditions leading to the formation of the most massive O-type stars are still an enigma in modern astrophysics. To assess the physical conditions of high-mass protostars in their main accretion phase, here we present a case study of a young massive clump selected from the ATLASGAL survey, G328.2551–0.5321. The source exhibits a bolometric luminosity of 1.3 × 104L⊙, which allows us to estimate that its current protostellar mass lies between ~11 and 16 M⊙. We show high angular resolution observations with ALMA that reach a physical scale of ~400 au. To reveal the structure of this high-mass protostellar envelope in detail at a ~0.17′′ resolution, we used the thermal dust continuum emission and spectroscopic information, amongst others from the CO (J = 3–2) line, which is sensitive to the high-velocity molecular outflow of the source. We also used the SiO (J = 8–7) and SO2 (J = 82,6 − 71,7) lines, which trace shocks along the outflow, as well as several CH3OH and HC3N lines that probe the gas of the inner envelope in the closest vicinity of the protostar. Our observations of the dust continuum emission reveal a single high-mass protostellar envelope, down to our resolution limit. We find evidence for a compact, marginally resolved continuum source that is surrounded by azimuthal elongations that could be consistent with a spiral pattern. We also report on the detection of a rotational line of CH3OH within its vt = 1 torsionally excited state. This shows two bright emission peaks that are spatially offset from the dust continuum peak and exhibit a distinct velocity component ±4.5 km s−1 offset from the systemic velocity of the source. Rotational diagram analysis and models based on local thermodynamic equilibrium assumption require high CH3OH column densities that reach N(CH3OH) = 1.2−2 × 1019 cm−2, and kinetic temperatures of the order of 160–200 K at the position of these peaks. A comparison of their morphology and kinematics with those of the outflow component of the CO line and the SO2 line suggests that the high-excitation CH3OH spots are associated with the innermost regions of the envelope. While the HC3N v7 = 0 (J = 37–36) line is also detected in the outflow, the HC3N v7 = 1e (J = 38–37) rotational transition within the first vibrationally excited state of the molecule shows a compact morphology. We find that the velocity shifts at the position of the observed high-excitation CH3 OH spots correspond well to the expected Keplerian velocity around a central object with 15 M⊙ consistent with the mass estimate based on the bolometric luminosity of the source. We propose a picture where the CH3 OH emission peaks trace the accretion shocks around the centrifugal barrier, pinpointing the interaction region between the collapsing envelope and an accretion disc. The physical properties of the accretion disc inferred from these observations suggest a specific angular momentum several times higher than typically observed towards low-mass protostars. This is consistent with a scenario of global collapse setting on at larger scales that could carry a more significant amount of kinetic energy compared to the core-collapse models of low-mass star formation. Furthermore, our results suggest that vibrationally excited HC3 N emission could be a new tracer for compact accretion discs around high-mass protostars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Protostellar jets and outflows are key features of the star-formation process, and primary processes of the feedback of young stars on the interstellar medium. Understanding the underlying shocks is necessary to explain how jet and outflow systems are launched, and to quantify their chemical and energetic impacts on the surrounding medium. Aims: We performed a high-spectral resolution study of the [OI]63μm emission in the outflow of the intermediate-mass Class 0 protostar Cep E-mm. The goal is to determine the structure of the outflow, to constrain the chemical conditions in the various components, and to understand the nature of the underlying shocks, thus probing the origin of the mass-loss phenomenon. Methods: We present observations of the OI ³P1 → ³P2, OH between ²Π1/2J = 3/2 and J = 1/2 at 1837.8 GHz, and CO (16-15) lines with the GREAT receiver onboard SOFIA towards three positions in the Cep E protostellar outflow: Cep E-mm (the driving protostar), Cep E-BI (in the southern lobe), and Cep E-BII (the terminal position in the southern lobe). Results: The CO (16-15) line is detected at all three positions. The [OI]63μm line is detected in Cep E-BI and BII, whereas the OH line is not detected. In Cep E-BII, we identify three kinematical components in OI and CO. These were already detected in CO transitions and relate to spatial components: the jet, the HH377 terminal bow-shock, and the outflow cavity. We measure line temperature and line integrated intensity ratios for all components. The OI column density is higher in the outflow cavity than in the jet, which itself is higher than in the terminal shock. The terminal shock is the region where the abundance ratio of OI to CO is the lowest (about 0.2), whereas the jet component is atomic (N(OI)/N(CO)~2.7). In the jet, we compare the [OI]63μm observations with shock models that successfully fit the integrated intensity of 10 CO lines. We find that these models most likely do not fit the [OI]63μm data. Conclusions: The high intensity of OI emission points towards the propagation of additional dissociative or alternative FUV-irradiated shocks, where the illumination comes from the shock itself. A picture emerges from the sample of low-to-high mass protostellar outflows, where similar observations have been performed, with the effects of illumination increasing with the mass of the protostar. These findings need confirmation with more observational constraints and a larger sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Protostars of intermediate-mass provide a bridge between theories of low- and high-mass star formation. Molecular outflows emerging from such sources can be used to determine the influence of fragmentation and multiplicity on protostellar evolution through the apparent correlation of outflow forces of intermediate-mass protostars with the total luminosity instead of the individual luminosity. Aims. The aim of this paper is to derive outflow forces from outflows of six intermediate-mass protostellar regions and validate the apparent correlation between total luminosity and outflow force seen in earlier work, as well as remove uncertainties caused by different methodologies. Methods. By comparing CO 6–5 observations obtained with APEX with non-LTE radiative transfer model predictions, the optical depths, temperatures and densities of the gas of the molecular outflows are derived. Outflow forces, dynamical timescales, and kinetic luminosities are subsequently calculated. Results. Outflow parameters, including the forces, were derived for all sources. Temperatures in excess of 50 K were found for all flows, in line with recent low-mass results. However, comparison with other studies could not corroborate conclusions from earlier work on intermediate-mass protostars which hypothesized that fragmentation enhances outflow forces in clustered intermediate-mass star formation. Any enhancement in comparison with the classical relation between outflow force and luminosity can be attributed to the use of a higher excitation line and improvement in methods. They are in line with results from low-mass protostars using similar techniques. Conclusions. The role of fragmentation on outflows is an important ingredient to understand clustered star formation and the link between low- and high-mass star formation. However, detailed information on spatial scales of a few 100 AU, covering all individual members is needed to make the necessary progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of massive stars is a fundamental open issue in modern astrophysics. Pre-ALMA interferometric studies reveal precursors to early B to late O type stars with collapsing envelopes of 15-20M on 1000-3000AU size-scales. To search for more massive envelopes we selected the most massive nearby young clumps from the ATLASGAL survey to study their protostellar content with ALMA. Our first results using the intermediate scales revealed by the ALMA ACA array providing 3-5" angular resolution, corresponding to ~0.05- 0.1 pc size-scales, reveals a sample of compact objects. These massive, dense cores are on average two-times more massive than previous studies of similar types of objects. We expect that once the full survey is completed, it will provide a comprehensive view on the origin of the most massive stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The investigation of the disk formation and jet launching mechanism in protostars is crucial to understanding the earliest stages of star and planet formation. Aims. We aim to constrain the physical and dynamical properties of the molecular jet and disk of the HH 212 protostellar system at unprecedented angular scales, exploiting the capabilities of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). Methods. The ALMA observations of HH 212 in emission lines from sulfur-bearing molecules, SO 98-87, SO 1011-1010, SO282,6-71,7, are compared with simultaneous CO 3-2, SiO 8-7 data. The molecules column density and abundance are estimated using simple radiative transfer models. Results. SO 98-87 and SO282,6-71,7 show broad velocity profiles. At systemic velocity, they probe the circumstellar gas and the cavity walls. Going from low to high blue- and red-shifted velocities the emission traces the wide-angle outflow and the fast (~100-200 km s-1), collimated (~90 AU) molecular jet revealing the inner knots with timescales ≤50 yr. The jet transports a mass-loss rate ≥ 0.2-2 x 10-6 M⊙ yr-1, implying high ejection efficiency (≥ 0.03-0.3). The SO and SO2 abundances in the jet are ~ 10-7-10-6. SO 1011-1010 emission is compact and shows small-scale velocity gradients, indicating that it originates partly from the rotating disk previously seen in HCO+ and C17O, and partly from the base of the jet. The disk mass is ≥ 0.002-0.013M⊙ and the SO abundance in the disk is ~ 10-8-10-7. Conclusions. SO and SO2 are effective tracers of the molecular jet in the inner few hundreds AU from the protostar. Their abundances indicate that 1-40% of sulfur is in SO and SO2 due to shocks in the jet/outflow and/or to ambipolar diffusion at the wind base. The SO abundance in the disk is 3-4 orders of magnitude larger than in evolved protoplanetary disks. This may be due to an SO enhancement in the accretion shock at the envelope-disk interface or in spiral shocks if the disk is partly gravitationally unstable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the physical and chemical processes at work during the formation of a massive protostar based on the observation of water in an outflow from a very young object previously detected in H2 and SiO in the IRAS 17233-3606 region. We estimated the abundance of water to understand its chemistry, and to constrain the mass of the emitting outflow. We present new observations of shocked water obtained with the HIFI receiver onboard Herschel. We detected water at high velocities in a range similar to SiO. We self-consistently fitted these observations along with previous SiO data through a state-of-the-art, one-dimensional, stationary C-shock model. We found that a single model can explain the SiO and H2O emission in the red and blue wings of the spectra. Remarkably, one common area, similar to that found for H2 emission, fits both the SiO and H2O emission regions. This shock model subsequently allowed us to assess the shocked water column density, NH2O = 1.2 × 1018 cm-2, mass, MH2O = 12.5 M⊕, and its maximum fractional abundance with respect to the total density, xH2O = 1.4 × 10-4. The corresponding water abundance in fractional column density units ranges between 2.5×10-5 and 1.2×10-5, in agreement with recent results obtained in outflows from low- and high-mass young stellar objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The outflow driven by the class 0 low-mass protostar L1157-mm stands out because of its peculiar chemical richness. However, its complex spatial/velocity structure makes it difficult to interpret observations of different molecular tracers. Aims. We aim to map at high spatial resolution different molecular tracers that are important tools for studying shocks and/or thermaldensity structures in outflows. Methods. We used the Submillimeter Array at 1.4 mm to observe the blue lobe of the L1157 outflow at high spatial resolution (~3''). Results. We detected SiO, H2CO, and CH3OH lines from several molecular clumps that constitute the outflow. All three molecules were detected along the wall of the inner cavity that is thought to be related to the later ejection event. On the other hand, no emission was detected toward positions related to an old ejection episode, which is very likely due to space filtering from the interferometer. The H2CO and CH3OH emission is detected only at velocities close to the systemic velocity. The spatial distributions of the H2CO and CH3OH are similar. These emission lines trace the U-shaped structure seen in the mid-infrared image. In contrast, the SiO emission is detected in a wider velocity range with a peak at ~14 km s-1 blueshifted from the systemic velocity. The SiO emission is brightest at the B1 position, which corresponds to the apex of the U-shaped structure. There are two compact SiO clumps along the faint arc-like feature to the east of the U-shaped structure. At the B1 position, there are two velocity components; one is a compact clump with a size of ~1500 AU seen at high velocity, the other is an extended component with lower velocities. The kinematic structure at the B1 position is different from that expected in a single bow shock. Most likely the high-velocity SiO clump at the B1 position is kinetically independent of the low-velocity gas. The line ratio between SiO (5-4) and SiO (2-1) suggests that the high-velocity SiO clumps consist of high-density gas of n ~ 105-106 cm-3, which is similar to the density of the bullets in extremely high velocity (EHV) jets. The high-velocity SiO clumps in L1157 probably have the same origin as the EHV bullets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of molecular outflows in high-mass young stellar objects reveal important information about the formation process of massive stars. We therefore selected the close-by IRAS 17233-3606 massive star-forming region to perform SiO observations with the SMA interferometer in the (5-4) line and with the APEX single-dish telescope in the (5-4) and (8-7) transitions. In this paper, we present a study of one of the outflows in the region, OF1, which shows several properties similar to jets driven by low-mass protostars, such as HH211 and HH212. It is compact and collimated, and associated with extremely high velocity CO emission, and SiO emission at high velocities. We used a state-of-the-art shock model to constrain the pre-shock density and shock velocity of OF1. The model also allowed us to self-consistently estimate the mass of the OF1 outflow. The shock parameters inferred by the SiO modelling are comparable with those found for low-mass protostars, only with higher pre-shock density values, yielding an outflow mass in agreement with those obtained for molecular outflows driven by early B-type young stellar objects. Our study shows that it is possible to model the SiO emission in high-mass star-forming regions in the same way as for shocks from low-mass young stellar objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]