scholarly journals A centrally concentrated sub-solar-mass starless core in the Taurus L1495 filamentary complex

Author(s):  
Kazuki Tokuda ◽  
Kengo Tachihara ◽  
Kazuya Saigo ◽  
Phillipe André ◽  
Yosuke Miyamoto ◽  
...  

Abstract The formation scenario of brown dwarfs is still unclear because observational studies to investigate its initial condition are quite limited. Our systematic survey of nearby low-mass star-forming regions using the Atacama Compact Array (aka the Morita array) and the IRAM 30-m telescope in 1.2 mm continuum has identified a centrally concentrated starless condensation with a central H2 volume density of ∼106 cm−3, MC5-N, connected to a narrow (width ∼0.03 pc) filamentary cloud in the Taurus L1495 region. The mass of the core is $\sim {0.2\!-\!0.4}\, M_{\odot }$, which is an order of magnitude smaller than typical low-mass pre-stellar cores. Taking into account a typical core to star formation efficiency for pre-stellar cores (∼20%–40%) in nearby molecular clouds, brown dwarf(s) or very low-mass star(s) may be going to be formed in this core. We have found possible substructures at the high-density portion of the core, although much higher angular resolution observation is needed to clearly confirm them. The subsequent N2H+ and N2D+ observations using the Nobeyama 45-m telescope have confirmed the high-deuterium fractionation (∼30%). These dynamically and chemically evolved features indicate that this core is on the verge of proto-brown dwarf or very low-mass star formation and is an ideal source to investigate the initial conditions of such low-mass objects via gravitational collapse and/or fragmentation of the filamentary cloud complex.

2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (1) ◽  
pp. L111-L115
Author(s):  
Gavin A L Coleman ◽  
Thomas J Haworth

ABSTRACT Peter Pan discs are a recently discovered class of long-lived discs around low-mass stars that survive for an order of magnitude longer than typical discs. In this paper, we use disc evolutionary models to determine the required balance between initial conditions and the magnitude of dispersal processes for Peter Pan discs to be primordial. We find that we require low transport (α ∼ 10−4), extremely low external photoevaporation (${\le}10^{-9}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }\, {\rm yr^{-1}}$), and relatively high disc masses (>0.25M*) to produce discs with ages and accretion rates consistent with Peter Pan discs. Higher transport (α = 10−3) results in disc lifetimes that are too short and even lower transport (α = 10−5) leads to accretion rates smaller than those observed. The required external photoevaporation rates are so low that primordial Peter Pan discs will have formed in rare environments on the periphery of low-mass star-forming regions, or deeply embedded, and as such have never subsequently been exposed to higher amounts of UV radiation. Given that such an external photoevaporation scenario is rare, the required disc parameters and accretion properties may reflect the initial conditions and accretion rates of a much larger fraction of the discs around low-mass stars.


2019 ◽  
Vol 632 ◽  
pp. A83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Shimajiri ◽  
Ph. André ◽  
E. Ntormousi ◽  
A. Men’shchikov ◽  
D. Arzoumanian ◽  
...  

Context. Herschel imaging surveys of galactic interstellar clouds support a paradigm for low-mass star formation in which dense molecular filaments play a crucial role. The detailed fragmentation properties of star-forming filaments remain poorly understood, however, and the validity of the filament paradigm in the intermediate- to high-mass regime is still unclear. Aims. Here, following up on an earlier 350 μm dust continuum study with the ArTéMiS camera on the APEX telescope, we investigate the detailed density and velocity structure of the main filament in the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334. Methods. We conducted ALMA Band 3 observations in the 3.1 mm continuum and of the N2H+(1–0), HC5N(36–35), HNC(1–0), HC3N(10–9), CH3CCH(6–5), and H2CS(3–2) lines at an angular resolution of ~3′′, corresponding to 0.025 pc at a distance of 1.7 kpc. Results. The NGC 6334 filament was detected in both the 3.1 mm continuum and the N2H+, HC3N, HC5N, CH3CCH, and H2CS lines with ALMA. We identified twenty-six compact (<0.03 pc) dense cores at 3.1 mm and five velocity-coherent fiber-like features in N2H+ within the main filament. The typical length (~0.5 pc) of, and velocity difference (~0.8 km s−1) between, the fiber-like features of the NGC 6334 filament are reminiscent of the properties for the fibers of the low-mass star-forming filament B211/B213 in the Taurus cloud. Only two or three of the five velocity-coherent features are well aligned with the NGC 6334 filament and may represent genuine, fiber sub-structures; the other two features may trace accretion flows onto the main filament. The mass distribution of the ALMA 3.1 mm continuum cores has a peak at ~10 M⊙, which is an order of magnitude higher than the peak of the prestellar core mass function in nearby, low-mass star-forming clouds. The cores can be divided into seven groups, closely associated with dense clumps seen in the ArTéMiS 350 μm data. The projected separation between ALMA dense cores (0.03–0.1 pc) and the projected spacing between ArTéMiS clumps (0.2–0.3 pc) are roughly consistent with the effective Jeans length (0.08 ± 0.03 pc) in the filament and a physical scale of about four times the filament width, respectively, if the inclination angle of the filament to line of sight is ~30°. These two distinct separation scales are suggestive of a bimodal fragmentation process in the filament. Conclusions. Despite being one order of magnitude denser and more massive than the Taurus B211/B213 filament, the NGC 6334 filament has a density and velocity structure that is qualitatively very similar. The main difference is that the dense cores embedded in the NGC 6334 filament appear to be an order of magnitude denser and more massive than the cores in the Taurus filament. This suggests that dense molecular filaments may evolve and fragment in a similar manner in low- and high-mass star-forming regions, and that the filament paradigm may hold in the intermediate-mass (if not high-mass) star formation regime.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S237) ◽  
pp. 488-488
Author(s):  
T. Velusamy ◽  
D. Li ◽  
P. F. Goldsmith ◽  
W. D. Langer

Our goal is to study relatively quiescent dense gas cores, isolated from disruptive stars, to understand the initial conditions of massive star formation. Determining their mass, size, dynamical status, and core mass distribution is a starting point to understand the mechanisms for formation, collapse, and the origin of their IMF. We obtained CSO 350 μm, images of quiescent regions in Orion and detected 51 resolved or nearly resolved molecular cores with masses ranging from 0.1 M to 46 M (Li et al. 2006). The mean mass is 9.8 M, which is one order of magnitude higher than that of the resolved cores in low mass star forming regions, such as Taurus. Our sample includes largely thermally unstable cores, which implies that the cores are supported neither by thermal pressure nor by turbulence, and are probably supercritical. They are likely precursors of protostars.


2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S270) ◽  
pp. 103-106
Author(s):  
R. Rao ◽  
J.-M. Girart ◽  
D. P. Marrone

AbstractThere have been a number of theoretical and computational models which state that magnetic fields play an important role in the process of star formation. Competing theories instead postulate that it is turbulence which is dominant and magnetic fields are weak. The recent installation of a polarimetry system at the Submillimeter Array (SMA) has enabled us to conduct observations that could potentially distinguish between the two theories. Some of the nearby low mass star forming regions show hour-glass shaped magnetic field structures that are consistent with theoretical models in which the magnetic field plays a dominant role. However, there are other similar regions where no significant polarization is detected. Future polarimetry observations made by the Submillimeter Array should be able to increase the sample of observed regions. These measurements will allow us to address observationally the important question of the role of magnetic fields and/or turbulence in the process of star formation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 587 (1) ◽  
pp. 407-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laird M. Close ◽  
Nick Siegler ◽  
Melanie Freed ◽  
Beth Biller

2009 ◽  
Vol 707 (2) ◽  
pp. 1023-1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Vázquez-Semadeni ◽  
Gilberto C. Gómez ◽  
A.-Katharina Jappsen ◽  
Javier Ballesteros-Paredes ◽  
Ralf S. Klessen

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (S336) ◽  
pp. 33-36
Author(s):  
S. Kalenskii ◽  
S. Kurtz ◽  
P. Hofner ◽  
P. Bergman ◽  
C.M. Walmsley ◽  
...  

AbstractWe present a review of the properties of Class I methanol masers detected in low-mass star forming regions (LMSFRs). These masers, henceforth called LMMIs, are associated with postshock gas in the lobes of chemically active outflows in LMSFRs NGC1333, NGC2023, HH25, and L1157. LMMIs share the main properties with powerful masers in regions of massive star formation and are a low-luminosity edge of the total Class I maser population. However, the exploration of just these objects may push forward the exploration of Class I masers, since many LMSFRs are located only 200–300 pc from the Sun, making it possible to study associated objects in detail. EVLA observations with a 0.2″ spatial resolution show that the maser images consist of unresolved or barely resolved spots with brightness temperatures up to 5 × 105 K. The results are “marginally” consistent with the turbulent model of maser emission.


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.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S246) ◽  
pp. 73-74
Author(s):  
Saurabh Sharma ◽  
A. K. Pandey ◽  
D. K. Ojha ◽  
W. P. Chen ◽  
S. K. Ghosh ◽  
...  

AbstractWe have carried out a multi-wavelength study of the star forming region NGC 1893 to make a comprehensive exploration of the effects of massive stars on low mass star formation. Using deep optical U BV RI broad band, Hα narrow band photometry and slit-less spectroscopy along with archival data from the surveys such as 2MASS, MSX, IRAS and NVSS, we have studied the region to understand the star formation scenario in the region.


2019 ◽  
Vol 626 ◽  
pp. A132 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Molet ◽  
N. Brouillet ◽  
T. Nony ◽  
A. Gusdorf ◽  
F. Motte ◽  
...  

Context. High-mass analogues of low-mass prestellar cores are searched for to constrain the models of high-mass star formation. Several high-mass cores, at various evolutionary stages, have been recently identified towards the massive star-forming region W43-MM1 and amongst them a high-mass prestellar core candidate. Aims. We aim to characterise the chemistry in this high-mass prestellar core candidate, referred to as W43-MM1 core #6, and its environment. Methods. Using ALMA high-spatial resolution data of W43-MM1, we have studied the molecular content of core #6 and a neighbouring high-mass protostellar core, referred to as #3, which is similar in size and mass to core #6. We first subtracted the continuum emission using a method based on the density distribution of the intensities on each pixel. Then, from the distribution of detected molecules, we identified the molecules centred on the prestellar core candidate (core #6) and those associated to shocks related to outflows and filament formation. Then we constrained the column densities and temperatures of the molecules detected towards the two cores. Results. While core #3 appears to contain a hot core with a temperature of about 190 K, core #6 seems to have a lower temperature in the range from 20 to 90 K from a rotational diagram analysis. We have considered different source sizes for core #6 and the comparison of the abundances of the detected molecules towards the core with various interstellar sources shows that it is compatible with a core of size 1000 au with T = 20−90 K or a core of size 500 au with T ~ 80 K. Conclusions. Core #6 of W43-MM1 remains one of the best high-mass prestellar core candidates even if we cannot exclude that it is at the very beginning of the protostellar phase of high-mass star formation.


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