Examinando por Autor "Fontani, F."

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Acceso Abierto
A chemical study of carbon fractionation in external galaxies
(Oxford Academics: Blackwell Publishing, 2020-07-18) Viti, S.; Fontani, F.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Research Council (ERC); Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC); 0000-0003-4493-8714; 0000-0003-0348-3418; 0000-0001-8504-8844; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
In the interstellar medium carbon exists in the form of two stable isotopes 12C and 13C and their ratio is a good indicator of nucleosynthesis in galaxies. However, chemical fractionation can potentially significantly alter this ratio and in fact observations of carbon fractionation within the same galaxy has been found to vary from species to species. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the carbon fractionation for selected abundant carbon-bearing species in order to determine the conditions that may lead to a spread of the 12C/13C ratio in external galaxies. We find that carbon fractionation is sensitive to almost all the physical conditions we investigated, it strongly varies with time for all species but CO, and shows pronounced differences across species. Finally, we discuss our theoretical results in the context of the few observations of the 12C/13C in both local and higher redshift galaxies.
Restringido
ALMA–IRDC – II. First high-angular resolution measurements of the 14N/15N ratio in a large sample of infrared-dark cloud cores
(Oxford Academics: Oxford University Press, 2021-03-22) Fontani, F.; Barnes, A. T.; Caselli, P.; Henshaw, J. D.; Cosentino, G.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Tan, J. C.; Pineda, J. E.; Law, C. Y.; European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI)
The 14N/15N ratio in molecules exhibits a large variation in star-forming regions, especially when measured from N2H+ isotopologues. However, there are only a few studies performed at high-angular resolution. We present the first interferometric survey of the 14N/15N ratio in N2H+ obtained with Atacama Large Millimeter Array observations towards four infrared-dark clouds harbouring 3 mm continuum cores associated with different physical properties. We detect N15NH+ (1–0) in ∼20−40 per cent of the cores, depending on the host cloud. The 14N/15N values measured towards the millimetre continuum cores range from a minimum of ∼80 up to a maximum of ∼400. The spread of values is narrower than that found in any previous single-dish survey of high-mass star-forming regions and than that obtained using the total power data only. This suggests that the 14N/15N ratio is on average higher in the diffuse gaseous envelope of the cores and stresses the need for high-angular resolution maps to measure correctly the 14N/15N ratio in dense cores embedded in IRDCs. The average 14N/15N ratio of ∼210 is also lower than the interstellar value at the Galactocentric distance of the clouds (∼300–330), although the sensitivity of our observations does not allow us to unveil 14N/15N ratios higher than ∼400. No clear trend is found between the 14N/15N ratio and the core physical properties. We find only a tentative positive trend between 14N/15N and H2 column density. However, firmer conclusions can be drawn only with higher sensitivity measurements.
Restringido
ALMA–IRDC: dense gas mass distribution from cloud to core scales
(Oxford Academics: Oxford University Press, 2021-03-22) Barnes, A. T.; Henshaw, J. D.; Fontani, F.; Pineda, J. E.; Cosentino, G.; Tan, J. C.; Caselli, P.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Law, C. Y.; Avison, A.; Bigiel, F.; Feng, S.; Kong, S.; Longmore, S. N.; Moser, L.; Parker, R. J.; Sánchez Monge, Á.; Wang, K.; European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG); East Asia Core Observatories Association (EACOA); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); National Key Research and Development Program of China; Peking University; Avison, A. [0000-0002-2562-8609]
Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are potential hosts of the elusive early phases of high mass star formation (HMSF). Here, we conduct an in-depth analysis of the fragmentation properties of a sample of 10 IRDCs, which have been highlighted as some of the best candidates to study HMSF within the Milky Way. To do so, we have obtained a set of large mosaics covering these IRDCs with Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) at Band 3 (or 3 mm). These observations have a high angular resolution (∼3 arcsec; ∼0.05 pc), and high continuum and spectral line sensitivity (∼0.15 mJy beam−1 and ∼0.2 K per 0.1 km s−1 channel at the N2H+ (1 − 0) transition). From the dust continuum emission, we identify 96 cores ranging from low to high mass (M = 3.4−50.9 M⊙) that are gravitationally bound (αvir = 0.3−1.3) and which would require magnetic field strengths of B = 0.3−1.0 mG to be in virial equilibrium. We combine these results with a homogenized catalogue of literature cores to recover the hierarchical structure within these clouds over four orders of magnitude in spatial scale (0.01–10 pc). Using supplementary observations at an even higher angular resolution, we find that the smallest fragments (<0.02 pc) within this hierarchy do not currently have the mass and/or the density required to form high-mass stars. None the less, the new ALMA observations presented in this paper have facilitated the identification of 19 (6 quiescent and 13 star-forming) cores that retain >16 M⊙ without further fragmentation. These high-mass cores contain trans-sonic non-thermal motions, are kinematically sub-virial, and require moderate magnetic field strengths for support against collapse. The identification of these potential sites of HMSF represents a key step in allowing us to test the predictions from high-mass star and cluster formation theories.
Restringido
FAUST I. The hot corino at the heart of the prototypical Class I protostar L1551 IRS5.
(Oxford Academics: Oxford University Press, 2020-07-21) Bianchi, S.; Chandler, C. J.; Ceccarelli, C.; Codella, C.; Sakai, N.; López Sepulcre, A.; Maud, L. T.; Moellenbrock, G.; Svoboda, B.; Watanabe, Y.; Sakai, T.; Ménard, F.; Aikawa, Y.; Alves, F.; Balucani, N.; Bouvier, M.; Caselli, P.; Caux, E.; Charnley, S.; Choudhury, S.; De Simone, M.; Dulieu, F.; Durán, A.; Evans, L.; Favre, C.; Fedele, D.; Feng, S.; Fontani, F.; Francis, L.; Hama, T.; Hanawa, T.; Herbst, E.; Hirota, T.; Imai, M.; Isella, A.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Johnstone, D.; Kahane, C.; Lefloch, B.; Loinard, L.; Maureira, M. J.; Mercimek, S.; Miotello, A.; Mori, S.; Nakatani, R.; Nomura, H.; Oba, Y.; Ohashi, S.; Okoda, Y.; Ospina Zamudio, J.; Oya, Y.; Pineda, J.; Podio, L.; Rimola, A.; Segura Cox, D.; Shirley, Y.; Taquet, V.; Testi, L.; Vastel, C.; Viti, S.; Watanabe, N.; Witzel, A.; Xue, C.; Zhao, B.; Zhang, Y.; Yamamoto, S.; European Research Council (ERC); Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM); Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR); Balucani, N. [0000-0001-5121-5683]; De Oliveira Alves, F. [0000-0002-7945-064X]; Hama, T. [0000-0002-4991-4044]; Ohashi, S. [0000-0002-9661-7958]; Johnstone, D. [0000-0002-6773-459X]; Watanabe, Y. [0000-0002-9668-3592]; Ceccarelli, C. [0000-0001-9664-6292]; Pineda, J. [0000-0002-3972-1978]; Fedele, D. [0000-0001-6156-0034]; Mercimek, S. [0000-0002-0742-7934]; Xue, C. [0000-0003-2760-2119]; Sakai, N. [0000-0002-3297-4497]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
The study of hot corinos in solar-like protostars has been so far mostly limited to the Class 0 phase, hampering our understanding of their origin and evolution. In addition, recent evidence suggests that planet formation starts already during Class I phase, which therefore represents a crucial step in the future planetary system chemical composition. Hence, the study of hot corinos in Class I protostars has become of paramount importance. Here, we report the discovery of a hot corino towards the prototypical Class I protostar L1551 IRS5, obtained within the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) Large Program FAUST (Fifty AU STudy of the chemistry in the disc/envelope system of solar-like protostars). We detected several lines from methanol and its isotopologues (13CH3OH and CH2DOH), methyl formate, and ethanol. Lines are bright towards the north component of the IRS5 binary system, and a possible second hot corino may be associated with the south component. The methanol lines' non-LTE analysis constrains the gas temperature (∼100 K), density (≥1.5 × 108 cm−3), and emitting size (∼10 au in radius). All CH3OH and 13CH3OH lines are optically thick, preventing a reliable measure of the deuteration. The methyl formate and ethanol relative abundances are compatible with those measured in Class 0 hot corinos. Thus, based on this work, little chemical evolution from Class 0 to I hot corinos occurs.
Acceso Abierto
FAUST. II. Discovery of a Secondary Outflow in IRAS 15398−3359: Variability in Outflow Direction during the Earliest Stage of Star Formation?
(The Institute of Physics (IOP), 2021-03-22) Okoda, Y.; Oya, Y.; Francis, L.; Johnstone, D.; Inutsuka, S. I.; Ceccarelli, C.; Codella, C.; Chandler, C. J.; Sakai, N.; Aikawa, Y.; Alves, F.; Balucani, N.; Bianchi, E.; Bouvier, M.; Caselli, P.; Caux, E.; Charnley, S.; Choudhury, S.; De Simone, M.; Dulieu, F.; Durán, A.; Evans, L.; Favre, C.; Fedele, D.; Feng, S.; Fontani, F.; Hama, T.; Hanawa, T.; Herbst, E.; Hirota, T.; Imai, M.; Isella, A.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Kahane, C.; Lefloch, B.; Loinard, L.; López Sepulcre, A.; Maud, L. T.; Maureira, M. J.; Ménard, F.; Mercimek, S.; Miotello, A.; Moellenbrock, G.; Mori, S.; Murillo, Nadia M.; Nakatani, R.; Nomura, H.; Oba, Y.; O´Donoghue, R.; Ohashi, S.; Ospina Zamudio, J.; Pineda, J. E.; Podio, L.; Rimola, A.; Sakai, T.; Segura Cox, D.; Shirley, Y.; Svoboda, B.; Taquet, V.; Testi, L.; Vastel, C.; Viti, S.; Watanabe, N.; Watanabe, Y.; Witzel, A.; Xue, C.; Zhang, Y.; Zhao, B.; Yamamoto, S.; European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS); Okoda, Y. [0000-0003-3655-5270]; Oya, Y. [0000-0002-0197-8751]; Francis, L. [0000-0001-8822-6327]; Johnstone, D. [0000-0002-6773-459X]; Inutsuka, S. I. [0000-0003-4366-6518]; Ceccarelli, C. [0000-0001-9664-6292]; Codella, C. [0000-0003-1514-3074]; Chandler, C. [0000-0002-7570-5596]; Sakai, N. [0000-0002-3297-4497]; Aikawa, Y. [0000-0003-3283-6884]; Alves, F. [0000-0002-7945-064X]; Balucani, N. [0000-0001-5121-5683]; Bianchi, E. [0000-0001-9249-7082]; Bouvier, M. [0000-0003-0167-0746]; Caselli, P. [0000-0003-1481-7911]; De Simone, M. [0000-0001-5659-0140]; Feng, S. [0000-0002-4707-8409]; Fontani, F. [0000-0003-0348-3418]; Hama, T. [0000-0002-4991-4044]; Hanawa, T. [0000-0002-7538-581X]; Herbst, E. [0000-0002-4649-2536]; Hirota, T. [0000-0003-1659-095X]; Imai, M. [0000-0002-5342-6262]; Isella, A. [0000-0001-8061-2207]; Jiménez Serra, I. [0000-0003-4493-8714]; Kahane, C. [0000-0003-1691-4686]; Loinard, L. [0000-0002-5635-3345]; López Sepulcre, A. [0000-0002-6729-3640]; Maud, L. T. [0000-0002-7675-3565]; Maureira, M. J. [0000-0002-7026-8163]; Menard, F. [0000-0002-1637-7393]; Miotello, A. [0000-0002-7997-2528]; Moellenbrock, G. [0000-0002-3296-8134]; Oba, Y. [0000-0002-6852-3604]; Ohashi, S. [0000-0002-9661-7958]; Pineda, J. E. [0000-0002-3972-1978]; Rimola, A. [0000-0002-9637-4554]; Sakai, T. [0000-0003-4521-7492]; Segura Cox, D. [0000-0003-3172-6763]; Svoboda, B. [0000-0002-8502-6431]; Taquet, V. [0000-0003-0407-7489]
We have observed the very low-mass Class 0 protostar IRAS 15398−3359 at scales ranging from 50 to 1800 au, as part of the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array Large Program FAUST. We uncover a linear feature, visible in H2CO, SO, and C18O line emission, which extends from the source in a direction almost perpendicular to the known active outflow. Molecular line emission from H2CO, SO, SiO, and CH3OH further reveals an arc-like structure connected to the outer end of the linear feature and separated from the protostar, IRAS 15398−3359, by 1200 au. The arc-like structure is blueshifted with respect to the systemic velocity. A velocity gradient of 1.2 km s−1 over 1200 au along the linear feature seen in the H2CO emission connects the protostar and the arc-like structure kinematically. SO, SiO, and CH3OH are known to trace shocks, and we interpret the arc-like structure as a relic shock region produced by an outflow previously launched by IRAS 15398−3359. The velocity gradient along the linear structure can be explained as relic outflow motion. The origins of the newly observed arc-like structure and extended linear feature are discussed in relation to turbulent motions within the protostellar core and episodic accretion events during the earliest stage of protostellar evolution.
Acceso Abierto
First survey of HCNH+ in high-mass star-forming cloud cores
(EDP Sciences, 2021-07-23) Fontani, F.; Colzi, L.; Redaelli, E.; Sipilä, O.; Caselli, P.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Commission (EC); Comunidad de Madrid
Context. Most stars in the Galaxy, including the Sun, were born in high-mass star-forming regions. It is hence important to study the chemical processes in these regions to better understand the chemical heritage of the Solar System and most of the stellar systems in the Galaxy. Aims. The molecular ion HCNH+ is thought to be a crucial species in ion-neutral astrochemical reactions, but so far it has been detected only in a handful of star-forming regions, and hence its chemistry is poorly known. Methods. We observed with the IRAM 30 m Telescope 26 high-mass star-forming cores in different evolutionary stages in the J = 3−2 rotational transition of HCNH+. Results. We report the detection of HCNH+ in 16 out of 26 targets. This represents the largest sample of sources detected in this molecular ion to date. The fractional abundances of HCNH+ with respect to H2, [HCNH+], are in the range 0.9−14 × 10−11, and the highest values are found towards cold starless cores, for which [HCNH+] is of the order of 10−10. The abundance ratios [HCNH+]/[HCN] and [HCNH+]/[HCO+] are both ≤0.01 for all objects except for four starless cores, which are well above this threshold. These sources have the lowest gas temperatures and average H2 volume density values in the sample. Based on this observational difference, we ran two chemical models, ‘cold’ and ‘warm’, which attempt to match the average physical properties of the cold(er) starless cores and the warm(er) targets as closely as possible. The reactions occurring in the latter case are investigated in this work for the first time. Our predictions indicate that in the warm model HCNH+ is mainly produced by reactions with HCN and HCO+, while in the cold model the main progenitor species of HCNH+ are HCN+ and HNC+. Conclusions. The observational results indicate, and the model predictions confirm, that the chemistry of HCNH+ is different in cold–early and warm–evolved cores, and the abundance ratios [HCNH+]/[HCN] and [HCNH+]/[HCO+] can be useful astrochemical tools to discriminate between different evolutionary phases in the process of star formation.
Acceso Abierto
Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) VI. Chemical evolution of sulfuretted species along the outflows driven by the low-mass protostellar binary NGC 1333-IRAS4A
(EDP Sciences, 2020-05-15) Taquet, V.; Codella, C.; De Simone, M.; López Sepulcre, A.; Pineda, J. E.; Segura Cox, D.; Ceccarelli, C.; Caselli, P.; Gusdorf, A.; Persson, M. V.; Alves, F.; Caux, E.; Favre, C.; Fontani, F.; Neri, R.; Oya, Y.; Sakai, N.; Vastel, C.; Yamamoto, S.; Bachiller, R.; Balucani, N.; Bianchi, E.; Bizzocchi, L.; Chacón Tanarro, A.; Dulieu, F.; Enrique Romero, J.; Feng, S.; Holdship, J.; Lefloch, B.; Al Edhari, A. J.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Kahane, C.; Lattanzi, V.; Ospina Zamudio, J.; Podio, L.; Punanova, A.; Rimola, A.; Sims, I. R.; Spezzano, S.; Testi, L.; Theulé, P.; Ugliengo, P.; Vasyunin, A. I.; Vazart, F.; Viti, S.; Witzel, A.; Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR); European Research Council (ERC); Ceccarelli, C. [0000-0001-9664-6292]; Balucani, N. [0000-0001-5121-5683]; Rimola, A. [0000-0002-9637-4554]; Al Edhari, A. J. [0000-0003-4089-841X]; De Oliveira Alves, F. [0000-0002-7945-064X]; Lefloch, B. [0000-0002-9397-3826]; Persson, M. V. [0000-0002-1100-5734]; Bachiller, R. [0000-0002-5331-5386]; Pineda, J. [0000-0002-3972-1978]; Segura Cox, D. [0000-0003-3172-6763]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Context. Low-mass protostars drive powerful molecular outflows that can be observed with millimetre and submillimetre telescopes. Various sulfuretted species are known to be bright in shocks and could be used to infer the physical and chemical conditions throughout the observed outflows. Aims. The evolution of sulfur chemistry is studied along the outflows driven by the NGC 1333-IRAS4A protobinary system located in the Perseus cloud to constrain the physical and chemical processes at work in shocks. Methods. We observed various transitions from OCS, CS, SO, and SO2 towards NGC 1333-IRAS4A in the 1.3, 2, and 3 mm bands using the IRAM NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array and we interpreted the observations through the use of the Paris-Durham shock model. Results. The targeted species clearly show different spatial emission along the two outflows driven by IRAS4A. OCS is brighter on small and large scales along the south outflow driven by IRAS4A1, whereas SO2 is detected rather along the outflow driven by IRAS4A2 that is extended along the north east–south west direction. SO is detected at extremely high radial velocity up to + 25 km s−1 relative to the source velocity, clearly allowing us to distinguish the two outflows on small scales. Column density ratio maps estimated from a rotational diagram analysis allowed us to confirm a clear gradient of the OCS/SO2 column density ratio between the IRAS4A1 and IRAS4A2 outflows. Analysis assuming non Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium of four SO2 transitions towards several SiO emission peaks suggests that the observed gas should be associated with densities higher than 105 cm−3 and relatively warm (T > 100 K) temperatures in most cases. Conclusions. The observed chemical differentiation between the two outflows of the IRAS4A system could be explained by a different chemical history. The outflow driven by IRAS4A1 is likely younger and more enriched in species initially formed in interstellar ices, such as OCS, and recently sputtered into the shock gas. In contrast, the longer and likely older outflow triggered by IRAS4A2 is more enriched in species that have a gas phase origin, such as SO2.
Acceso Abierto
Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) VII. Discovery of a cold dense methanol blob toward the L1521F VeLLO system.
(EDP Sciences, 2020-04-02) Favre, C.; Vastel, C.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Quénard, D.; Caselli, P.; Ceccarelli, C.; Chacón Tanarro, A.; Fontani, F.; Holdship, J.; Oya, Y.; Punanova, A.; Saki, N.; Spezzano, S.; Yamamoto, S.; Neri, R.; López Sepulcre, A.; Alves, F.; Bachiller, R.; Balucani, N.; Bianchi, E.; Bizzocchi, L.; Codella, C.; Caux, E.; De Simone, M.; Enrique Romero, J.; Dulieu, F.; Feng, S.; Al Edhari, A. J.; Lefloch, B.; Ospina Zamudio, J.; Pineda, J.; Podio, L.; Rimola, A.; Segura Cox, D.; Sims, I. R.; Taquet, V.; Testi, L.; Theulé, P.; Ugliengo, P.; Vasyunin, A. I.; Vazart, F.; Viti, S.; Witzel, A.; Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR); Spanish FEDER; Russian Science Foundation (RSF); European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Al Edhari, A. J. [0000-0003-4089-841X]; Rimola, A. [0000-0002-9637-4554]; Balucani, N. [0000-0001-5121-5683]; Ceccarelli, C. [0000-0001-9664-6292]; De Oliveira Alves, F. [0000-0002-7945-064X]; Pineda, J. E. [0000-0002-3972-1978]; Segura Cox, D. [0000-0003-3172-6763]; Bachiller, R. [0000-0002-5331-5386]; Fontani, F. [0000-0003-0348-3418]; Sakai, N. [0000-0002-3297-4497]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Aims. The Seeds Of Life In Space IRAM/NOEMA large program aims at studying a set of crucial complex organic molecules in a sample of sources with a well-known physical structure that covers the various phases of solar-type star formation. One representative object of the transition from the prestellar core to the protostar phases has been observed toward the very low luminosity object (VeLLO) L1521F. This type of source is important to study to link prestellar cores and Class 0 sources and also to constrain the chemical evolution during the process of star formation. Methods. Two frequency windows (81.6–82.6 GHz and 96.65–97.65 GHz) were used to observe the emission from several complex organics toward the L1521F VeLLO. These setups cover transitions of ketene (H2CCO), propyne (CH3CCH), formamide (NH2CHO), methoxy (CH3O), methanol (CH3OH), dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3), and methyl formate (HCOOCH3). Results. Only two transitions of methanol (A+, E2) have been detected in the narrow window centered at 96.7 GHz (with an upper limit on E1) in a very compact emission blob (~7′′ corresponding to ~1000 au) toward the northeast of the L1521F protostar. The CS 2–1 transition is also detected within the WideX bandwidth. Consistently with what has been found in prestellar cores, the methanol emission appears ~1000 au away from the dust peak. The location of the methanol blob coincides with one of the filaments that have previously been reported in the literature. The excitation temperature of the gas inferred from methanol is (10 ± 2) K, while the H2 gas density (estimated from the detected CS 2–1 emission and previous CS 5–4 ALMA observations) is a factor >25 higher than the density in the surrounding environment (n(H2) ≥ 107 cm−3). Conclusions. Based on its compactness, low excitation temperature, and high gas density, we suggest that the methanol emission detected with NOEMA is (i) either a cold and dense shock-induced blob that formed recently (≤ a few hundred years) by infalling gas or (ii) a cold and dense fragment that may just have been formed as a result of the intense gas dynamics within the L1521F VeLLO system.
Acceso Abierto
Singly and doubly deuterated formaldehyde in massive star-forming regions
(EDP Sciences, 2021-09-07) Zahorecz, S.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Testi, L.; Immer, K.; Fontani, F.; Caselli, P.; Wang, K.; Onishi, T.; European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKRDPC); Zahorecz, S. [0000-0001-6149-1278]
Context. Deuterated molecules are good tracers of the evolutionary stage of star-forming cores. During the star formation process, deuterated molecules are expected to be enhanced in cold, dense pre-stellar cores and to deplete after protostellar birth. Aims. In this paper, we study the deuteration fraction of formaldehyde in high-mass star-forming cores at different evolutionary stages to investigate whether the deuteration fraction of formaldehyde can be used as an evolutionary tracer. Methods. Using the APEX SEPIA Band 5 receiver, we extended our pilot study of the J = 3 →2 rotational lines of HDCO and D2CO to eleven high-mass star-forming regions that host objects at different evolutionary stages. High-resolution follow-up observations of eight objects in ALMA Band 6 were performed to reveal the size of the H2CO emission and to give an estimate of the deuteration fractions HDCO/H2CO and D2CO/HDCO at scales of ~6″ (0.04–0.15 pc at the distance of our targets). Results. Our observations show that singly and doubly deuterated H2CO are detected towards high-mass protostellar objects (HMPOs) and ultracompact H II regions (UC H II regions), and the deuteration fraction of H2CO is also found to decrease by an order of magnitude from the earlier HMPO phases to the latest evolutionary stage (UC H II), from ~0.13 to ~0.01. We have not detected HDCO and D2CO emission from the youngest sources (i.e. high-mass starless cores or HMSCs). Conclusions. Our extended study supports the results of the previous pilot study: the deuteration fraction of formaldehyde decreases with the evolutionary stage, but higher sensitivity observations are needed to provide more stringent constraints on the D/H ratio during the HMSC phase. The calculated upper limits for the HMSC sources are high, so the trend between HMSC and HMPO phases cannot be constrained.
Restringido
SiO emission as a probe of cloud–cloud collisions in infrared dark clouds
(Oxford Academics: Oxford University Press, 2020-09-25) Cosentino, R.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Henshaw, J. D.; Caselli, P.; Viti, S.; Barnes, A. T.; Tan, T. C.; Fontani, F.; Wu, B.; European Research Council (ERC); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Henshaw, J. [0000-0001-9656-7682]; Fontani, F. [0000-0003-0348-3418]; Barnes, A. [0000-0003-0410-4504]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are very dense and highly extincted regions that host the initial conditions of star and stellar cluster formation. It is crucial to study the kinematics and molecular content of IRDCs to test their formation mechanism and ultimately characterize these initial conditions. We have obtained high-sensitivity Silicon Monoxide, SiO(2–1), emission maps towards the six IRDCs, G018.82–00.28, G019.27+00.07, G028.53–00.25, G028.67+00.13, G038.95–00.47, and G053.11+00.05 (cloud A, B, D, E, I, and J, respectively), using the 30-m antenna at the Instituto de Radioastronomía Millimétrica (IRAM30m). We have investigated the SiO spatial distribution and kinematic structure across the six clouds to look for signatures of cloud–cloud collision events that may have formed the IRDCs and triggered star formation within them. Towards clouds A, B, D, I, and J, we detect spatially compact SiO emission with broad-line profiles that are spatially coincident with massive cores. Towards the IRDCs A and I, we report an additional SiO component that shows narrow-line profiles and that is widespread across quiescent regions. Finally, we do not detect any significant SiO emission towards cloud E. We suggest that the broad and compact SiO emission detected towards the clouds is likely associated with ongoing star formation activity within the IRDCs. However, the additional narrow and widespread SiO emission detected towards cloud A and I may have originated from the collision between the IRDCs and flows of molecular gas pushed towards the clouds by nearby H II regions.
Acceso Abierto
The GUAPOS project: G31.41+0.31 Unbiased ALMA sPectral Observational Survey I. Isomers of C2H4O2
(EDP Sciences, 2020-12-02) Mininni, C.; Beltrán, M. T.; Rivilla, V. M.; Sánchez Monge, A.; Fontani, F.; Möller, T.; Cesaroni, R.; Schilke, P.; Viti, S.; Jiménez Serra, I.; Colzi, L.; Lorenzani, A.; Testi, L.; Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (MIUR); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Research Council (ERC); Mininni, C. [0000-0002-2974-4703]; Beltrán Sorolla, M. T. [0000-0003-3315-5626]; Rivilla, V. M. [0000-0002-2887-5859]; Sánchez Monge, A. [0000-0002-3078-9482]; Fontani, F. [0000-0003-0348-3418]; Möller, T. [0000-0002-9277-8025]; Cesaroni, R. [0000-0002-2430-5103]; Schilke, P. [0000-0003-2141-5689]; Viti, S. [0000-0001-8504-8844]; Jiménez Serra, I. [0000-0003-4493-8714]; Colzi, L. [0000-0001-8064-6394]; Lorenzani, A. [0000-0002-4685-3434]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Context. One of the goals of astrochemistry is to understand the degree of chemical complexity that can be reached in star-forming regions, along with the identification of precursors of the building blocks of life in the interstellar medium. To answer such questions, unbiased spectral surveys with large bandwidth and high spectral resolution are needed, in particular, to resolve line blending in chemically rich sources and identify each molecule (especially for complex organic molecules). These kinds of observations have already been successfully carried out, primarily towards the Galactic Center, a region that shows peculiar environmental conditions. Aims. We present an unbiased spectral survey of one of the most chemically rich hot molecular cores located outside the Galactic Center, in the high-mass star-forming region G31.41+0.31. The aim of this 3mm spectral survey is to identify and characterize the physical parameters of the gas emission in different molecular species, focusing on complex organic molecules. In this first paper, we present the survey and discuss the detection and relative abundances of the three isomers of C2H4O2: methyl formate, glycolaldehyde, and acetic acid. Methods. Observations were carried out with the ALMA interferometer, covering all of band 3 from 84 to 116 GHz (~32 GHz bandwidth) with an angular resolution of 1.2′′ × 1.2′′ (~ 4400 au × 4400 au) and a spectral resolution of ~0.488 MHz (~1.3−1.7 km s−1). The transitions of the three molecules have been analyzed with the software XCLASS to determine the physical parameters of the emitted gas. Results. All three isomers were detected with abundances of (2 ± 0.6) × 10−7, (4.3−8) × 10−8, and (5.0 ± 1.4) × 10−9 for methyl formate, acetic acid, and glycolaldehyde, respectively. Methyl formate and acetic acid abundances are the highest detected up to now, if compared to sources in the literature. The size of the emission varies among the three isomers with acetic acid showing the most compact emission while methyl formate exhibits the most extended emission. Different chemical pathways, involving both grain-surface chemistry and cold or hot gas-phase reactions, have been proposed for the formation of these molecules, but the small number of detections, especially of acetic acid and glycolaldehyde, have made it very difficult to confirm or discard the predictions of the models. The comparison with chemical models in literature suggests the necessity of grain-surface routes for the formation of methyl formate in G31, while for glycolaldehyde both scenarios could be feasible. The proposed grain-surface reaction for acetic acid is not capable of reproducing the observed abundance in this work, while the gas-phase scenario should be further tested, given the large uncertainties involved.