scholarly journals Models of Gas-Grain Chemistry in Star-forming Regions

2000 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 147-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Herbst

It is difficult if not impossible to explain the abundances of assorted interstellar molecules in both the gaseous and condensed phases without the use of grain chemistry. Unfortunately, the chemistry occurring on grains is not well understood because of a variety of uncertainties including the nature, size, and shape of dust particles, the binding energies of key species, the dominant mechanism of surface chemistry, and the correct mathematical treatment of surface processes. Still, intrepid astrochemists have used granular chemistry in chemical models of an assortment of sources including cold clouds, protostellar disks, and hot cores. Indeed, the dominant explanation of the saturated gas-phase molecules observed in hot cores involves grain chemistry during an earlier, low temperature phase. Although gas-grain models have elucidated major features of the chemistry, much more work remains to be accomplished before they can be used to help characterize the physical conditions in star-forming regions and their temporal variations.

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (1) ◽  
pp. 276-291
Author(s):  
Beatrice M Kulterer ◽  
Maria N Drozdovskaya ◽  
Audrey Coutens ◽  
Sébastien Manigand ◽  
Gwendoline Stéphan

ABSTRACT Physicochemical models can be powerful tools to trace the chemical evolution of a protostellar system and allow to constrain its physical conditions at formation. The aim of this work is to assess whether source-tailored modelling is needed to explain the observed molecular abundances around young, low-mass protostars or if, and to what extent, generic models can improve our understanding of the chemistry in the earliest stages of star formation. The physical conditions and the abundances of simple, most abundant molecules based on three models are compared. After establishing the discrepancies between the calculated chemical output, the calculations are redone with the same chemical model for all three sets of physical input parameters. With the differences arising from the chemical models eliminated, the output is compared based on the influence of the physical model. Results suggest that the impact of the chemical model is small compared to the influence of the physical conditions, with considered time-scales having the most drastic effect. Source-tailored models may be simpler by design; however, likely do not sufficiently constrain the physical and chemical parameters within the global picture of star-forming regions. Generic models with more comprehensive physics may not provide the optimal match to observations of a particular protostellar system, but allow a source to be studied in perspective of other star-forming regions.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S242) ◽  
pp. 234-235
Author(s):  
T. Umemoto ◽  
N. Mochizuki ◽  
K. M. Shibata ◽  
D.-G. Roh ◽  
H.-S. Chung

AbstractWe present the results of a mm wavelength methanol maser survey towards massive star forming regions. We have carried out Class II methanol maser observations at 86.6 GHz, 86.9 GHz and 107.0 GHz, simultaneously, using the Nobeyama 45 m telescope. We selected 108 6.7 GHz methanol maser sources with declinations above −25 degrees and fluxes above 20 Jy. The detection limit of maser observations was ~3 Jy. Of the 93 sources surveyed so far, we detected methanol emission in 25 sources (27%) and “maser” emission in nine sources (10%), of which thre “maser” sources are new detections. The detection rate for maser emission is about half that of a survey of the southern sky (Caswell et al. 2000). There is a correlation between the maser flux of 107 GHz and 6.7 GHz/12 GHz emission, but no correlation with the “thermal” (non maser) emission. From results of other molecular line observations, we found that the sources with methanol emission show higher gas temperatures and twice the detection rate of SiO emission. This may suggest that dust evaporation and destruction by shock are responsible for the high abundance of methanol molecules, one of the required physical conditions for maser emission.


1999 ◽  
Vol 190 ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Rubio

The molecular gas content in the Magellanic Clouds has been studied, with different spatial coverage and resolution, through obervations of CO(1-0) line emission. In the LMC and the SMC the molecular gas is dominated by clouds whose properties are different from those of their Galactic counterparts. The relation between the intensity of CO emission and molecular hydrogen column density, or the conversion factor X, is different than that of molecular clouds in our Galaxy and depends on the ambient physical conditions. Studying the molecular gas through observations in the H2 emission line may prove an alternative way to determine the molecular content associated with star forming regions in the Magellanic Clouds. In particular, results obtained towards 30 Doradus in the LMC are presented.


2019 ◽  
Vol 629 ◽  
pp. A77
Author(s):  
A. I. Gómez-Ruiz ◽  
A. Gusdorf ◽  
S. Leurini ◽  
K. M. Menten ◽  
S. Takahashi ◽  
...  

Context. OMC-2/3 is one of the nearest embedded cluster-forming regions that includes intermediate-mass protostars at early stages of evolution. A previous CO (3–2) mapping survey towards this region revealed outflow activity related to sources at different evolutionary phases. Aims. The present work presents a study of the warm gas in the high-velocity emission from several outflows found in CO (3–2) emission by previous observations, determines their physical conditions, and makes a comparison with previous results in low-mass star-forming regions. Methods. We used the CHAMP+ heterodyne array on the APEX telescope to map the CO (6–5) and CO (7–6) emission in the OMC-2 FIR 6 and OMC-3 MMS 1-6 regions, and to observe 13CO (6–5) at selected positions. We analyzed these data together with previous CO (3–2) observations. In addition, we mapped the SiO (5–4) emission in OMC-2 FIR 6. Results. The CO (6–5) emission was detected in most of the outflow lobes in the mapped regions, while the CO (7–6) was found mostly in the OMC-3 outflows. In the OMC-3 MMS 5 outflow, a previously undetected extremely high-velocity gas was found in CO (6–5). This extremely high-velocity emission arises from the regions close to the central object MMS 5. Radiative transfer models revealed that the high-velocity gas from MMS 5 outflow consists of gas with nH2 = 104–105 cm−3 and T > 200 K, similar to what is observed in young Class 0 low-mass protostars. For the other outflows, values of nH2 > 104 cm−3 were found. Conclusions. The physical conditions and kinematic properties of the young intermediate-mass outflows presented here are similar to those found in outflows from Class 0 low-mass objects. Due to their excitation requirements, mid − J CO lines are good tracers of extremely high-velocity gas in young outflows likely related to jets.


2000 ◽  
Vol 534 (2) ◽  
pp. 770-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos G. Pavlakis ◽  
Nikolaos D. Kylafis

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S242) ◽  
pp. 162-163
Author(s):  
B. Hutawarakorn Kramer ◽  
J. L. Caswell ◽  
A. Sukom ◽  
J. E. Reynolds

AbstractOH masers are sensitive probes of the kinematics, physical conditions, and magnetic fields in star-forming regions. The maser site OH 330.953-0.182 has been studied using the Long Baseline Array of the Australia Telescope National Facility. Simultaneous observations of the 1665- and 1667-MHz hydroxyl ground-state transitions yield a series of maps at velocity spacing 0.09kms−1, in both right- and left-hand circular polarization, with tenth-arcsec spatial resolution. Several clusters of maser spots have been detected within a five-arcsec region. Eight Zeeman pairs were found, and in one case, at 1665 MHz, there is a nearby 1667-MHz pair indicating a similar value of magnetic field and velocity. Over the whole site, all magnetic field estimates are toward us (negative), and range from -3.7 to -5.8 mG. We also compared the morphology and kinematics of the 1665- and 1667-MHz maser spots with those from the excited state of OH at 6035 MHz and from methanol at 6668 MHz.


2019 ◽  
Vol 631 ◽  
pp. A137 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Calcutt ◽  
E. R. Willis ◽  
J. K. Jørgensen ◽  
P. Bjerkeli ◽  
N. F. W. Ligterink ◽  
...  

Context. Propyne (CH3CCH), also known as methyl acetylene, has been detected in a variety of environments, from Galactic star-forming regions to extragalactic sources. These molecules are excellent tracers of the physical conditions in star-forming regions, allowing the temperature and density conditions surrounding a forming star to be determined. Aims. This study explores the emission of CH3CCH in the low-mass protostellar binary, IRAS 16293–2422, and examines the spatial scales traced by this molecule, as well as its formation and destruction pathways. Methods. Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations from the Protostellar Interferometric Line Survey (PILS) were used to determine the abundances and excitation temperatures of CH3CCH towards both protostars. This data allows us to explore spatial scales from 70 to 2400 au. This data is also compared with the three-phase chemical kinetics model MAGICKAL, to explore the chemical reactions of this molecule. Results. CH3CCH is detected towards both IRAS 16293A and IRAS 16293B, and is found the hot corino components, one around each source, in the PILS dataset. Eighteen transitions above 3σ are detected, enabling robust excitation temperatures and column densities to be determined in each source. In IRAS 16293A, an excitation temperature of 90 K and a column density of 7.8 × 1015 cm−2 best fits the spectra. In IRAS 16293B, an excitation temperature of 100 K and 6.8 × 1015 cm−2 best fits the spectra. The chemical modelling finds that in order to reproduce the observed abundances, both gas-phase and grain-surface reactions are needed. The gas-phase reactions are particularly sensitive to the temperature at which CH4 desorbs from the grains. Conclusions. CH3CCH is a molecule whose brightness and abundance in many different regions can be utilised to provide a benchmark of molecular variation with the physical properties of star-forming regions. It is essential when making such comparisons, that the abundances are determined with a good understanding of the spatial scale of the emitting region, to ensure that accurate abundances are derived.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (H15) ◽  
pp. 406-407
Author(s):  
Doug Johnstone

AbstractCoordinated multi-wavelength surveys of molecular clouds are providing strong constraints on the physical conditions within low-mass star-forming regions. In this manner, Perseus and Ophiuchus have been exceptional laboratories for testing the earliest phases of star formation. Highlights of these results are: (1) dense cores form only in high column density regions, (2) dense cores contain only a few percent of the cloud mass, (3) the mass distribution of the dense cores is similar to the IMF, (4) the more massive cores are most likely to contain embedded protostars, and (5) the kinematics of the dense cores and the bulk gas show significant coupling.


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