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Context. η Car is one of the most intriguing luminous blue variables in the Galaxy. Observations and models of the X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, and infrared emission suggest a central binary in a highly eccentric orbit with a 5.54 yr period residing in its core. 2D and 3D radiative transfer and hydrodynamic simulations predict a primary with a dense and slow stellar wind that interacts with the faster and lower density wind of the secondary. The wind-wind collision scenario suggests that the secondary's wind penetrates the primary's wind creating a low-density cavity in it, with dense walls where the two winds interact. However, the morphology of the cavity and its physical properties are not yet fully constrained. Aims: We aim to trace the inner ̃5-50 au structure of η Car's wind-wind interaction, as seen through Brγ and, for the first time, through the He I 2s-2p line. Methods: We have used spectro-interferometric observations with the K-band beam-combiner GRAVITY at the VLTI. The analyses of the data include (i) parametrical model-fitting to the interferometric observables, (ii) a CMFGEN model of the source's spectrum, and (iii) interferometric image reconstruction. Results: Our geometrical modeling of the continuum data allows us to estimate its FWHM angular size close to 2 mas and an elongation ratio ∊ = 1.06 ± 0.05 over a PA = 130° ± 20°. Our CMFGEN modeling of the spectrum helped us to confirm that the role of the secondary should be taken into account to properly reproduce the observed Brγ and He I lines. Chromatic images across the Brγ line reveal a southeast arc-like feature, possibly associated to the hot post-shocked winds flowing along the cavity wall. The images of the He I 2s-2p line served to constrain the 20 mas (̃50 au) structure of the line-emitting region. The observed morphology of He I suggests that the secondary is responsible for the ionized material that produces the line profile. Both the Brγ and the He I 2s-2p maps are consistent with previous hydrodynamical models of the colliding wind scenario. Future dedicated simulations together with an extensive interferometric campaign are necessary to refine our constraints on the wind and stellar parameters of the binary, which finally will help us predict the evolutionary path of η Car.

Context. Recent observations of the massive young stellar object S255 NIRS 3 have revealed a large increase in both methanol maser flux density and IR emission, which have been interpreted as the result of an accretion outburst, possibly due to instabilities in a circumstellar disk. This indicates that this type of accretion event could be common in young/forming early-type stars and in their lower mass siblings, and supports the idea that accretion onto the star may occur in a non-continuous way. Aims. As accretion and ejection are believed to be tightly associated phenomena, we wanted to confirm the accretion interpretation of the outburst in S255 NIRS 3 by detecting the corresponding burst of the associated thermal jet. Methods. We monitored the radio continuum emission from S255 NIRS 3 at four bands using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. The millimetre continuum emission was also observed with both the Northern Extended Millimeter Array of IRAM and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. Results. We have detected an exponential increase in the radio flux density from 6 to 45 GHz starting right after July 10, 2016, namely about 13 months after the estimated onset of the IR outburst. This is the first ever detection of a radio burst associated with an IR accretion outburst from a young stellar object. The flux density at all observed centimetre bands can be reproduced with a simple expanding jet model. At millimetre wavelengths we infer a marginal flux increase with respect to the literature values and we show this is due to free-free emission from the radio jet. Abridged., Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics

Context: Protostellar jets in high-mass young stellar objects (HMYSOs) play a key role in the understanding of star formation and provide us with an excellent tool to study fundamental properties of HMYSOs. Aims: We aim at studying the physical and kinematic properties of the near-IR (NIR) jet of IRAS\,13481-6124 from au to parsec scales. Methods: Our study includes NIR data from the Very Large Telescope instruments SINFONI, CRIRES, and ISAAC. Information about the source and its immediate environment is retrieved with SINFONI. The technique of spectro-astrometry is performed with CRIRES to study the jet on au scales. The parsec-scale jet and its kinematic and dynamic properties are investigated using ISAAC. Results: The SINFONI spectra in the $H$ and $K$ band are rich in emission lines that are mainly associated with ejection and accretion processes. Spectro-astrometry is applied to the Br$\gamma$ line, and for the first time, to the Br$\alpha$ line, revealing their jet origin with milliarcsecond-scale photocentre displacements ($11-15$\,au). This allows us to constrain the kinematics of the au-scale jet and to derive its position angle ($\sim216^{\circ}$). ISAAC spectroscopy reveals H$_2$ emission along the parsec-scale jet, which allows us to infer kinematic and dynamic properties of the NIR parsec-scale jet. The mass-loss rate inferred for the NIR jet is $\dot{M}_\mathrm{ejec}\sim10^{-4}\mathrm{\,M_\odot\,yr^{-1}}$ and the thrust is $\dot{P}\sim10^{-2}\mathrm{\,M_\odot\,yr^{-1}\,km\,s^{-1}}$ , which is roughly constant for the formation history of the young star. A tentative estimate of the ionisation fraction is derived for the massive jet by comparing the radio and NIR mass-loss rates. An ionisation fraction $\lesssim8\%$ is obtained, which means that the bulk of the ejecta is traced by the NIR jet and that the radio jet only delineates a small portion of it., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A

This work presents an interferometric study of the massive-binary fraction in the Orion Trapezium cluster with the recently comissioned GRAVITY instrument. We observed a total of 16 stars of mainly OB spectral type. We find three previously unknown companions for θ1 Ori B, θ2 Ori B, and θ2 Ori C. We determined a separation for the previously suspected companion of NU Ori. We confirm four companions for θ1 Ori A, θ1 Ori C, θ1 Ori D, and θ2 Ori A, all with substantially improved astrometry and photometric mass estimates. We refined the orbit of the eccentric high-mass binary θ1 Ori C and we are able to derive a new orbit for θ1 Ori D. We find a system mass of 21.7 M☉ and a period of 53 days. Together with other previously detected companions seen in spectroscopy or direct imaging, eleven of the 16 high-mass stars are multiple systems. We obtain a total number of 22 companions with separations up to 600 AU. The companion fraction of the early B and O stars in our sample is about two, significantly higher than in earlier studies of mostly OB associations. The separation distribution hints toward a bimodality. Such a bimodality has been previously found in A stars, but rarely in OB binaries, which up to this point have been assumed to be mostly compact with a tail of wider companions. We also do not find a substantial population of equal-mass binaries. The observed distribution of mass ratios declines steeply with mass, and like the direct star counts, indicates that our companions follow a standard power law initial mass function. Again, this is in contrast to earlier findings of flat mass ratio distributions in OB associations. We excluded collision as a dominant formation mechanism but find no clear preference for core accretion or competitive accretion.

Context. η Car is one of the most intriguing luminous blue variables in the Galaxy. Observations and models of the X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, and infrared emission suggest a central binary in a highly eccentric orbit with a 5.54 yr period residing in its core. 2D and 3D radiative transfer and hydrodynamic simulations predict a primary with a dense and slow stellar wind that interacts with the faster and lower density wind of the secondary. The wind-wind collision scenario suggests that the secondary’s wind penetrates the primary’s wind creating a low-density cavity in it, with dense walls where the two winds interact. However, the morphology of the cavity and its physical properties are not yet fully constrained. Aims. We aim to trace the inner ∼5–50 au structure of η Car’s wind-wind interaction, as seen through Brγ and, for the first time, through the He I 2s-2p line. Methods. We have used spectro-interferometric observations with the K-band beam-combiner GRAVITY at the VLTI. The analyses of the data include (i) parametrical model-fitting to the interferometric observables, (ii) a CMFGEN model of the source’s spectrum, and (iii) interferometric image reconstruction. Results. Our geometrical modeling of the continuum data allows us to estimate its FWHM angular size close to 2 mas and an elongation ratio ϵ = 1.06 ± 0.05 over a PA = 130° ± 20°. Our CMFGEN modeling of the spectrum helped us to confirm that the role of the secondary should be taken into account to properly reproduce the observed Brγ and He I lines. Chromatic images across the Brγ line reveal a southeast arc-like feature, possibly associated to the hot post-shocked winds flowing along the cavity wall. The images of the He I 2s-2p line served to constrain the 20 mas (∼50 au) structure of the line-emitting region. The observed morphology of He I suggests that the secondary is responsible for the ionized material that produces the line profile. Both the Brγ and the He I 2s-2p maps are consistent with previous hydrodynamical models of the colliding wind scenario. Future dedicated simulations together with an extensive interferometric campaign are necessary to refine our constraints on the wind and stellar parameters of the binary, which finally will help us predict the evolutionary path of η Car.

The origin of the near-infrared (NIR) HI emission lines in young stellar objects are not yet understood. To probe it, we present multi-epoch LBT-LUCIFER spectroscopic observations of the Pa{\delta}, Pa{\beta}, and Br{\gamma} lines observed in the Herbig star VVSer, along with VLTI-AMBER Br{\gamma} spectro-interferometric observations at medium resolution. Our spectroscopic observations show line profile variability in all the HI lines. The strongest variability is observed in the redshifted part of the line profiles. The Br{\gamma} spectro-interferometric observations indicate that the Br{\gamma} line emitting region is smaller than the continuum emitting region. To interpret our results, we employed radiative transfer models with three different flow configurations: magnetospheric accretion, a magneto-centrifugally driven disc wind, and a schematic bipolar outflow. Our models suggest that the HI line emission in VVSer is dominated by the contribution of an extended wind, perhaps a bipolar outflow. Although the exact physical process for producing such outflow is not known, this model is capable of reproducing the averaged single-peaked line profiles of the HI lines. Additionally, the observed visibilities, differential and closure phases are best reproduced when a wind is considered. Nevertheless, the complex line profiles and variability could be explained by changes in the relative contribution of the magnetosphere and/or winds to the line emission. This might indicate that the NIR HI lines are formed in a complex inner disc region where inflow and outflow components might coexist. Furthermore, the contribution of each of these mechanisms to the line appears time variable, suggesting a non-steady accretion/ejection flow., Comment: accepted for publication in MNRAS

Methanol and water masers indicate young stellar objects. They often exhibit flares, and a fraction shows periodic activity. Several mechanisms might explain this behavior but the lack of concurrent infrared (IR) data complicates to identify the cause. Recently, 6.7 GHz methanol maser flares were observed, triggered by accretion bursts of high-mass YSOs which confirmed the IR-pumping of these masers. This suggests that regular IR changes might lead to maser periodicity. Hence, we scrutinized space-based IR imaging of YSOs associated with periodic methanol masers. We succeeded to extract the IR light curve from NEOWISE data for the intermediate mass YSO G107.298+5.639. Thus, for the first time a relationship between the maser and IR variability could be established. While the IR light curve shows the same period of ~34.6 days as the masers, its shape is distinct from that of the maser flares. Possible reasons for the IR periodicity are discussed., 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in: Proceedings IAU Symposium 336 "Astrophysical Masers: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe", Editors: A. Tarchi, M.J. Reid & P. Castangia, updated version with hyperlinks added

Aims: Recently, substantial flaring in the 6.7 GHz methanol maser line has been observed toward the high-mass young stellar object (YSO) S255 NIRS 3, where an accretion burst was also detected in the IR. Our goal is to study the change in the properties of the 6.7 GHz masers between the pre- and outburst phases, and investigate the connection between the maser and the accretion burst. Methods: With the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) and the European VLBI Network (EVN), we performed observations of the 6.7 GHz masers (covering a range in angular resolution from a few milliarcseconds to ≈1'') during the burst phase and compared these observations with pre-burst measurements at similar spatial scales. Results: The accretion burst and the subsequent increase in IR luminosity are very likely the origin of the 6.7 GHz maser flare. Since most maser centers operate in the unsaturated regime, a change by a relatively small factor (≈5) in the flux of pumping photons has produced an exponential growth in the maser intensity. The main pre-burst maser cluster is no longer detected during the burst. Compared to the pre-burst phase, flaring 6.7 GHz masers emit across a different V_LSR range that is more strongly redshifted, and the emission extends over a larger area at larger separation from the high-mass YSO. In particular, the outburst peak emission originates from a remarkably extended (0.̋2-0.̋3) maser plateau at a radial distance of 500-1000 AU from the source. Conclusions: Both the maser flare and the extraordinarily large extent of the maser structure can be a natural consequence of the burst in the accretion luminosity of the high-mass YSO. Our results strongly support models that predict IR radiative pumping for the 6.7 GHz CH3OH masers.

Solar-mass stars form via circumstellar disk accretion (disk-mediated accretion). Recent findings indicate that this process is likely episodic in the form of accretion bursts, possibly caused by disk fragmentation. Although it cannot be ruled out that high-mass young stellar objects (HMYSOs; $M>$8 M$_\odot$, $L_{bol}>$5$\times$10$^3$ L$_\odot$) arise from the coalescence of their low-mass brethren, latest results suggest that they more likely form via disks. Accordingly, disk-mediated accretion bursts should occur. Here we report on the discovery of the first disk-mediated accretion burst from a $\sim$20 M$_\odot$ HMYSO. Our near-infrared images show the brightening of the central source and its outflow cavities. Near-infrared spectroscopy reveals emission lines typical of accretion bursts in low-mass protostars, but orders of magnitude more luminous. Moreover, the energy released and the inferred mass-accretion rate are also orders of magnitude larger. Our results identify disk accretion as the common mechanism of star formation across the entire stellar mass spectrum., 27 pages, 3 figures. Published in Nature Physics, 2016, Vol. 13, pag. 276

We report on the discovery and follow-up of the first disk-mediated accretion burst in a high-mass young stellar object (HMYSO), S255IR NIRS 3. Our results strengthen the idea that massive stars form through disks via episodic accretion, pointing to a common formation mechanism across the entire stellar mass spectrum. Moreover, our data reveal a tight correlation between the burst, the onset of a methanol maser flare and boosting of pre-existent radio jet emission.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

We present (sub)millimeter imaging at 0.5'' resolution of the massive star-forming region G358.93-0.03 acquired in multiple epochs at 2 and 3 months following the recent flaring of its 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission. Using SMA and ALMA, we have discovered 14 new Class II methanol maser lines ranging in frequency from 199 GHz to 361 GHz, which originate mostly from vt=1 torsionally-excited transitions and include one vt=2 transition. The latter detection provides the first observational evidence that Class II maser pumping involves levels in the vt=2 state. The masers are associated with the brightest continuum source (MM1), which hosts a line-rich hot core. The masers present a consistent curvilinear spatial velocity pattern that wraps around MM1, suggestive of a coherent physical structure 1200 au in extent. In contrast, the thermal lines exhibit a linear pattern that crosses MM1 but at progressive position angles that appear to be a function of either increasing temperature or decreasing optical depth. The maser spectral profiles evolved significantly over one month, and the intensities dropped by factors of 3.0 to 7.2, with the vt=2 line showing the largest change. A small area of maser emission from only the highest excitation lines closest to MM1 has disappeared. There are seven additional dust continuum sources in the protocluster, including another hot core (MM3). We do not find evidence for a significant change in (sub)millimeter continuum emission from any of the sources during the one month interval, and the total protocluster emission remains comparable to prior single dish measurements., 10 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. All maser transitions detected in this object can be displayed via an option on the advanced interface of http://splatalogue.net

During their formation phase stars gain most of their mass in violent episodic accretion events, such as observed in FU Orionis (FUor) and EXor stars. V346 Normae is a well-studied FUor that underwent a strong outburst beginning in $\sim1980$. Here, we report photometric and spectroscopic observations which show that the visual/near-infrared brightness has decreased dramatically between the 1990s and 2010 (${\Delta}R\approx10.9^{\rm m}$, ${\Delta}J\approx7.8^{\rm m}$, ${\Delta}K\approx5.8^{\rm m}$). The spectral properties of this fading event cannot be explained with variable extinction alone, but indicate a drop in accretion rate by 2-3 orders of magnitude, marking the first time that a member of the FUor class has been observed to switch to a very low accretion phase. Remarkably, in the last few years (2011-2015) V346 Nor has brightened again at all near-infrared wavelengths, indicating the onset of a new outburst event. The observed behaviour might be consistent with the clustered luminosity bursts that have been predicted by recent gravitational instability and fragmentation models for the early stages of protostellar evolution. Given V346 Nor's unique characteristics (concerning outburst duration, repetition frequency, and spectroscopic diagnostics), our results also highlight the need for revisiting the FUor/EXor classification scheme., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted at MNRAS Letters

Aims: We want to study the physical properties of the ionized jet emission in the vicinity of an O-type young stellar object (YSO), and estimate how efficient is the transfer of energy and momentum from small- to large-scale outflows. Methods: We conducted Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) observations, at both 22 and 45 GHz, of the compact and faint radio continuum emission in the high-mass star-forming region G023.01-00.41, with an angular resolution between 0.3" and 0.1", and a thermal rms of the order of 10 uJy/beam. Results: We discovered a collimated thermal (bremsstrahlung) jet emission, with a radio luminosity (L_rad) of 24 mJy kpc^2 at 45 GHz, in the inner 1000 AU from an O-type YSO. The radio thermal jet has an opening angle of 44 degrees and brings a momentum rate of 8 10^-3 M_sun yr^-1 km/s. By combining the new data with previous observations of the molecular outflow and water maser shocks, we can trace the outflow emission from its driving source through the molecular clump, across more than two order of magnitude in length (500 AU-0.2 pc). We find that the momentum-transfer efficiency, between the inner jet emission and the extended outflow of entrained ambient gas, is near unity. This result suggests that the large-scale flow is swept-up by the mechanical force of the radio jet emission, which originates in the inner 1000 AU from the high-mass YSO., 5 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics

To probe the circumstellar environment of IRAS 13481-6124, a 20 M_sun high-mass young stellar object (HMYSO) with a parsec-scale jet and accretion disc, we investigate the origin of its Br\gamma-emission line through NIR interferometry. We present the first AMBER/VLTI observations of the Br\gamma-emitting region in an HMYSO at R~1500. Our AMBER/VLTI observations reveal a spatially and spectrally resolved Br\gamma-line in emission with a strong P Cygni profile, indicating outflowing matter with a terminal velocity of ~500 km/s. Visibilities, differential phases, and closure phases are detected in our observations within the spectral line and in the adjacent continuum. Both total visibilities (continuum plus line emitting region) and pure-line visibilities indicate that the Br\gamma-emitting region is more compact (2-4 mas in diameter or ~6-13 au at 3.2 kpc) than the continuum-emitting region (~5.4 mas or ~17 au). The absorption feature is also spatially resolved at the longest baselines (81 and 85 m) and has a visibility that is slightly smaller than the continuum-emitting region. The differential phases at the four longest baselines display an \u2018S\u2019-shaped structure across the line, peaking in the blue- and red-shifted high-velocity components. The calibrated photocentre shifts are aligned with the known jet axis, i.e they are probably tracing an ionised jet. The high-velocity components (v_r~100-500 km/s) are located far from the source, whereas the low-velocity components (0-100 km/s) are observed to be closer, indicating a strong acceleration of the gas flow in the inner 10 au. Finally, a non-zero closure phase along the continuum is detected. By comparing our observations with the synthetic images of the continuum around 2.16 um, we confirm that this feature originates from the asymmetric brightness distribution of the continuum owing to the inclination of the inner disc., Comment: To be published in A&A letters

We present the discovery of 816 high amplitude infrared variable stars ($\Delta K_{\rm s} >$ 1 mag) in 119 deg$^2$ of the Galactic midplane covered by the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) survey. Almost all are new discoveries and about 50$\%$ are YSOs. This provides further evidence that YSOs are the commonest high amplitude infrared variable stars in the Galactic plane. In the 2010-2014 time series of likely YSOs we find that the amplitude of variability increases towards younger evolutionary classes (class I and flat-spectrum sources) except on short timescales ($$100 days) and 162 short-term variables. Eruptive YSOs and faders tend to have the highest amplitudes and eruptive systems have the reddest SEDs. Follow up spectroscopy in a companion paper verifies high accretion rates in the eruptive systems. Variable extinction is disfavoured by the 2 epochs of colour data. These discoveries increase the number of eruptive variable YSOs by a factor of at least 5, most being at earlier stages of evolution than the known FUor and EXor types. We find that eruptive variability is at least an order of magnitude more common in class I YSOs than class II YSOs. Typical outburst durations are 1 to 4 years, between those of EXors and FUors. They occur in 3 to 6\% of class I YSOs over a 4 year time span., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 51 pages, 23 figures

IRAS04325+2402 (herafter IRAS04325) is a complex protostellar system hosting two young stellar objects (AB and C in the following) at a separation of 1250AU. Here we present new deep Gemini imaging and spectroscopy for the system covering the wavelength regime from 1-12mu as well as Sub-Millimeter Array interferometry at 870mu, in combination with Spitzer and literature data. Object AB is a low-mass star with a disk/envelope system and an outflow cavity, which is prominently seen in infrared images. Object C, previously suspected to be a brown dwarf, is likely a very low mass star, with an effective temperature of ~3400K. It features an edge-on disk and an elongated envelope, and shows strong indications for accretion and ejection activity. Both objects are likely to drive parsec-scale molecular outflows. The two objects are embedded in an isolated, dense molecular cloud core. High extinction, lack of X-ray emission, and relatively high bolometric luminosity argue for a very young age below 1Myr. The disk/outflow systems of AB and C are misaligned by ~60deg against each other and by 80 and 40deg against the orbital plane of the binary. The system might be a good case for primordial misalignment, as opposed to misalignment caused by dynamical interactions, because the outflow direction is constant and the realignment timescale is likely larger than the system age. This favours turbulent fragmentation, rather than rotational fragmentation, as the formation scenario. We show that the spectral energy distributions and images for the two objects can be reproduced with radiative transfer models for disk/envelope systems. Our analysis provides reassurance in the established paradigm for the structure and early evolution of YSOs, but stresses the importance of developing 3D models with sophisticated dust chemistry (abridged).

FUor outbursts in young stellar objects (YSOs) are the most dramatic events among episodic accretion phenomena. The origin of these bursts is not clear: disk instabilities and/or disk perturbations by an external body being the most viable hypotheses. Here, we report our VLT/SINFONI high angular resolution AO-assisted observations of 2MASS J06593158-0405277, which is undergoing a recently discovered FUor outburst. Our observations reveal the presence of an extended disc-like structure around the FUor, a very low-mass companion (2MASS J06593158-0405277B) at ~100 au in projection, and, possibly, a third closer companion at ~11 au. These sources appear to be young, displaying accretion signatures. Assuming the components are physically linked, 2MASS J06593158-0405277 would then be one of the very few triple systems observed in FUors., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters

Accretion and ejection are tightly connected and represent the fundamental mechanisms regulating star formation. However, the exact physical processes involved are not yet fully understood. We present high angular and spectral resolution observations of the Br Gamma emitting region in the Herbig Ae star HD163296 (MWC275) in order to probe the origin of this line and constrain the physical processes taking place at sub-AU scales in the circumstellar region. By means of VLTI-AMBER observations at high spectral resolution (R~12000), we studied interferometric visibilities, wavelength-differential phases, and closure phases across the Br Gamma line of HD163296. To constrain the physical origin of the Br Gamma line in Herbig Ae stars, all the interferometric observables were compared with the predictions of a line radiative transfer disc wind model. The measured visibilities clearly increase within the Br Gamma line, indicating that the Br Gamma emitting region is more compact than the continuum. By fitting a geometric Gaussian model to the continuum-corrected Br Gamma visibilities, we derived a compact radius of the Br Gamma emitting region of ~0.07+/-0.02AU (Gaussian half width at half maximum; or a ring-fit radius of ~0.08+/-0.02AU). To interpret the observations, we developed a magneto-centrifugally driven disc wind model. Our best disc wind model is able to reproduce, within the errors, all the interferometric observables and it predicts a launching region with an outer radius of ~0.04AU. However, the intensity distribution of the entire disc wind emitting region extends up to ~0.16AU. Our observations, along with a detailed modelling of the Br Gamma emitting region, suggest that most of the Br Gamma emission in HD163296 originates from a disc wind with a launching region that is over five times more compact than previous estimates of the continuum dust rim radius., Accepted for publication in A&A

We present an in-depth near-IR analysis of a sample of H 2 outflows from young embedded sources to compare the physical properties and cooling mechanisms of the different flows. The sample comprises 23 outflows driven by Class 0 and I sources having low-intermediate luminosity. We have obtained narrow band images in H 2 2.12 μ m and [$\ion{Fe}{ii}$] 1.64 μ m and spectroscopic observations in the range 1-2.5 μ m. From [$\ion{Fe}{ii}$] images we detected spots of ionized gas in ~74% of the outflows which in some cases indicate the presence of embedded HH-like objects. H 2 line ratios have been used to estimate the visual extinction and average temperature of the molecular gas. A v values range from ~2 to ~15 mag; average temperatures range between ~2000 and ~4000 K. In several knots, however, a stratification of temperatures is found with maximum values up to 5000 K. Such a stratification is more commonly observed in those knots which also show [$\ion{Fe}{ii}$] emission, while a thermalized gas at a single temperature is generally found in knots emitting only in molecular lines. Combining narrow band imaging (H 2 , 2.12 μ m and [$\ion{Fe}{ii}$], 1.64 μ m) with the parameters derived from the spectroscopic analysis, we are able to measure the total luminosity of the H 2 and [$\ion{Fe}{ii}$] shocked regions ($L_{\rm H_2}$ and $L_{[\ion{Fe}{ii}]}$) in each flow. H 2 is the major NIR coolant with an average $L_{\rm H_2}$/$L_{[\ion{Fe}{ii}]}$ ratio of ~10 2 . We find that ~83% of the sources have a $L_{\rm H_2}$/ L bol ratio ~0.04, irrespective of the Class of the driving source, while a smaller group of sources (mostly Class I) have $L_{\rm H_2}$/ L bol an order of magnitude smaller. Such a separation reveals the non-homogeneous behaviour of Class I, where sources with very different outflow activity can be found. This is consistent with other studies showing that among Class I one can find objects with different accretion properties, and it demonstrates that the H 2 power in the jet can be a powerful tool to identify the most active sources among the objects of this class.

We have performed a detailed study of the star-forming region associated with the IRAS source 08448-4343 in the cloud D of the Vela Molecular Ridge. Our investigation covers a wide spectral range from the near IR, through the thermal IR to the mm-band exploiting both imaging and spectroscopic facilities in each spectral regime. A picture emerges of a dust structure which hosts a near IR cluster and multiple well-collimated H2 jets; these jets originate from different sources lying in a compact region at the cluster centre. The peak of the 1.2 mm map does not coincide with the IRAS peak, thus tracing a less evolved and denser region with a colder dust with respect to that traced by IRAS. This view is also confirmed by the observations of CS transitions from J = 2− 1t oJ = 7−6. The mm peak can be associated with the position of a red object, already proposed in previous studies as the driving source of the main jet in the field. This jet, extended along more than 0.3 pc, is composed of individual knots whose radial velocities decrease with increasing distance from the central source, which is resolved into at least six 2 µm peaks. The reddest and coldest of these peaks is well aligned with the inner knots of the jet. The spectral energy distribution of the central source resembles that of an intermediate luminosity, Class I protostar, whose youth is discussed in terms of the efficiency of the energy transfer into the jet.

We present near infrared (IR) spectra (0.98--2.5 mu m) from the group of Herbig-Haro (HH) objects comprising HH99: a series of knots forming a bow, HH99B, and a separate knot, HH99A. Observations of H2, [Fe II] and [C I] are used to constrain shock model parameters and determine the origin of the emission. Previous work has shown that it is likely that the atomic and ionic emission arises in regions of higher ionization than the molecular emission. On the basis of observations, it has often been suggested that the [Fe II] and [C I] emission could arise, for example, at the apex of a bow shock, with the H2 emission produced in the wings. Accordingly, we have combined models of C-component and J-type shocks in order to reproduce the observed H2, [Fe II] and [C I] line spectra. We can account for the H2 emission towards the HH99B complex by means of J-type shocks with magnetic precursors. We derive shock velocities of about 30 km s-1 and ages of order 100 yr; the pre-shock gas has a density of approximately 10^4 cm-3 and the magnetic field is approximately 100 mu G. The J-type shocks required to reproduce the intensities of the observed [Fe II] and [C I] lines have velocities of 50 km s-1. It is necessary to assume that Fe has been previously eroded from grains, probably by the earlier passage of a C-type shock wave. Thus, our analysis supports the view that molecular outflows are episodic phenomena whose observed emission arises in shock waves.

The star forming region associated with IRAS 08211-4158 and located in the Vela Molecular Ridge (VMR) has been investigated with low ( R≈ 600) and high resolution ( R≈ 9000) near infrared spectroscopy (1−2.5 µm) together with narrow band ((Fe  )a nd H 2) and broad band (H, K, L, M) imaging. The photometric results allow us to identify for the first time a young cluster with the less evolved star lying toward its center. Our results confirm that the most massive stars found in the clusters of the VMR do not form before the low mass ones. In particular, the only bipolar jet detected across the investigated field is driven by the most massive object which lacks an optical counterpart. Such a jet is composed of individual knots showing several H2 and (Fe ) emission lines indicative of a coexistence of different shocks responsible for their excitation. Physical parameters of the emitting gas such as electron density, extinction and temperature have been derived from the low resolution spectroscopy. Some knots are already thermalized, while other present a stratification of temperature up to values of 5000 K. Through high resolution spectroscopy the (Fe ) lines profile for the majority of the knots can be resolved in a double peaked structure which is consistent with bow shock model predictions. Moreover, the radial velocity component is determined for different knots. Finally, by comparing (Fe ) images taken in different epochs, we have been able to derive the proper motion for some knots, hence to evaluate their total velocity (∼300 km s −1 ), the dynamical age and the jet inclination with respect to the plane of the sky.

As part of a 1-2.5m spectroscopic survey of jets and molecular outflows, we present the spectra of three Herbig Haro chains (HH111, HH240/241, HH120) characterized by strong emission from several Feii transitions originating from the first 13 fine structure levels. Such emission is correlated with optical Sii emission and appears to decrease moving away from the driving source. From the analysis of the Feii lines we have derived electron densities values in the range 3 10 3 - 2 10 4 cm 3 , which are systematically larger than those inferred from optical Sii line ratios. We suggest that Feii lines, having critical densities higher than the optical Sii transitions, trace either regions of the post-shock cooling layers with higher compression, or a section of the jet axis at a higher degree of ionization. Strong H2 emission lines are also detected along the three flows and their analysis indicates that a combination of dierent shocks can be responsible for their excitation in the dierent objects. Consequently the Feii line emission, which requires the presence of fast dissociative shocks, is completely independent from the excitation mechanism giving rise to the molecular emission. In addition to the Feii and H2 lines, emission from other species such as Ci ,S ii ,N i as well as recombination lines from the Paschen series are detected and have been used as a reference to infer the gas-phase iron abundance in the observed HH objects. We estimate a grain destruction eciency of about 30-60%: the highest value is found for HH240A, which also shows the highest degree of excitation among the observed objects.

Spectroscopy in the J band (even at low resolutions of R 103) is a mode commonly available in most near-IR spectrographs but is rarely exploited in star formation studies. We show how it is a crucial tool to tracing the physics (temperature, density, excitation mechanisms) of protostellar jets and Herbig-Haro (HH) objects. In this framework the spectrum of HH 43 is revisited as both a clear demonstration of our statement and a case of slow J-type shock excitation.

(Abridged) METHODS: We performed SMA observations at 1.3 mm with both the most extended and compact array configurations, providing sub-arcsecond and high sensitivity maps of various molecular lines, including both hot-core and outflow tracers. We also reconstruct the spectral energy distribution of the region from millimeter to near infrared wavelengths, using the Herschel/Hi-GAL maps, as well as archival data. RESULTS: From the spectral energy distribution, we derive a bolometric luminosity of about 4x10^4 Lsun. Our interferometric observations reveal that the distribution of dense gas and dust in the HMC is significantly flattened and extends up to a radius of 8000 AU from the center of radio continuum and maser emission in the region. The equatorial plane of this HMC is strictly perpendicular to the elongation of the collimated bipolar outflow, as imaged on scales of about 0.1-0.5 pc in the main CO isotopomers as well as in the SiO(5-4) line. In the innermost HMC regions (ca. 1000 AU), the velocity field traced by the CH3CN(12_K-11_K) line emission shows that molecular gas is both expanding along the outflow direction following a Hubble-law, and rotating about the outflow axis, in agreement with the (3-D) velocity field traced by methanol masers. The velocity field associated with rotation indicates a dynamical mass of 19 Msun at the center of the core. The latter is likely to be concentrated in a single O9.5 ZAMS star, consistent with the estimated bolometric luminosity of G023.01-00.41. The physical properties of the CO(2-1) outflow emission, such as its momentum rate 6x10^-3 Msun km/s /yr and its outflow rate 2x10^-4 Msun/yr, support our estimates of the luminosity (and mass) of the embedded young stellar object., Comment: 24 pages, 11 figures, 6 tables, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics

As part of the POISSON project (Protostellar Optical-Infrared Spectral Survey on NTT), we present the results of the analysis of low-resolution NIR spectra 0.9-2.4 um) of two samples of YSOs in Lupus and Serpens (52 and 17 objects), with masses 0.1-2.0 Msun and ages from 10^5 to a few 10^7 yr. After determining the accretion parameters of the Lup and Ser targets by analysing their HI near-IR emission features, we added the results to those from previous regions (investigated in POISSON with the same methodology). We obtained a final catalogue (143 objects) of mass accretion rates (Macc) derived in a homogeneous fashion and analysed how Macc correlates with M* and how it evolves in time. We derived the accretion luminosity (Lacc) and Macc for Lup and Ser objects from the Br_gamma line by using relevant empirical relationships from the literature that connect HI line luminosity and Lacc. To minimise the biases and also for self-consistency, we re-derived mass and age for each source using the same set of evolutionary tracks. We observe a correlation MaccM*^2.2, similarly to what has previously been observed in several star-forming clouds. The time variation of Macc is roughly consistent with the expected evolution in viscous disks, with an asymptotic decay that behaves as t^-1.6. However, Macc values are characterised by a large scatter at similar ages and are on average higher than the predictions of viscous models. Although part of the scattering may be related to the employed empirical relationship and to uncertainties on the single measurements, the general distribution and decay trend of the Macc points are real. These findings might be indicative of a large variation in the initial mass of the disks, of fairly different viscous laws among disks, of varying accretion regimes, and of other mechanisms that add to the dissipation of the disks, such as photo-evaporation., Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, accepted by A&A