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Register a new userDisentangling protostellar evolutionary stages in clustered environments using Spitzer-IRS spectra and comprehensive SED modeling
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When studying the evolutionary stages of protostars that form in clusters, the role of any intracluster medium cannot be neglected. High foreground extinction can lead to situations where young stellar objects (YSOs) appear to be in earlier evolutionary stages than they actually are, particularly when using simple criteria like spectral indices. To address this issue, we have assembled detailed SED characterizations of a sample of 56 Spitzer-identified candidate YSOs in the clusters NGC 2264 and IC 348. For these, we use spectra obtained with the Infrared Spectrograph onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope and ancillary multi-wavelength photometry. The primary aim is twofold: 1) to discuss the role of spectral features, particularly those due to ices and silicates, in determining a YSOs evolutionary stage, and 2) to perform comprehensive modeling of spectral energy distributions (SEDs) enhanced by the IRS data. The SEDs consist of ancillary optical-to-submillimeter multi-wavelength data as well as an accurate description of the 9.7 micron silicate feature and of the mid-infrared continuum derived from line-free parts of the IRS spectra. We find that using this approach, we can distinguish genuine protostars in the cluster from T Tauri stars masquerading as protostars due to external foreground extinction. Our results underline the importance of photometric data in the far-infrared/submillimeter wavelength range, at sufficiently high angular resolution to more accurately classify cluster members. Such observations are becoming possible now with the advent of the Herschel Space Observatory.
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We present the Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Spectrograph spectrum of the Orion A protostar HOPS-68. The mid-infrared spectrum reveals crystalline substructure at 11.1, 16.1, 18.8, 23.6, 27.9, and 33.6 microns superimposed on the broad 9.7 and 18 micron amorphous silicate features; the substructure is well matched by the presence of the olivine end-member forsterite. Crystalline silicates are often observed as infrared emission features around the circumstellar disks of Herbig Ae/Be stars and T Tauri stars. However, this is the first unambiguous detection of crystalline silicate absorption in a cold, infalling, protostellar envelope. We estimate the crystalline mass fraction along the line-of-sight by first assuming that the crystalline silicates are located in a cold absorbing screen and secondly by utilizing radiative transfer models. The resulting crystalline mass fractions of 0.14 and 0.17, respectively, are significantly greater than the upper limit found in the interstellar medium (< 0.02-0.05). We propose that the amorphous silicates were annealed within the hot inner disk and/or envelope regions and subsequently transported outward into the envelope by entrainment in a protostellar outflow
We aim to estimate and analyse the physical properties of the infrared counterparts of HMPOs by comparing their spectral energy distributions (SED) with those predicted by radiative transfer accretion models of YSOs. The SED of 68 IRCs are extended beyond the GLIMPSE photometry to the possible limits, from the near-infrared to the millimetre wavelengths by using the 2MASS, GLIMPSE version 2.0 catalogs, MSX, IRAS and some single dish (and interferometric) (sub)mm data. An online SED fitting tool that uses 2D radiative transfer accretion models of YSOs is employed to fit the observed SED to obtain various physical parameters. The SED of IRCs were fitted by models of massive protostars with a range of masses between 5-42 Msun and ages between 10^3 and 10^6 years. The median mass and age are 10 Msun and 10^4 yrs. The envelopes are large with a mean size of ~ 0.2-0.3 pc and show a distribution that is very similar to the distribution of the sizes of 8 micron nebulae discussed in Paper I. The estimated envelope accretion rates are high with a mean value of 10^(-3) Msun/yr and show a power law dependence to mass with an exponent of 2, suggesting spherical accretion at those scales. Disks are found to exist in most of the sources with a mean mass of 10^(-1.4+-0.7) Msun. The observed infrared-millimetre SED of the infrared counterparts of HMPOs are successfully explained with an YSO accretion model. The modelled sources mostly represent proto-B stars although some of them could become O stars in future. We demonstrate that many of these results may represent a realistic picture of massive star formation, despite some of the results which may be an effect of the assumptions within the models.
Disks are ubiquitous in stellar astronomy, and play a crucial role in the formation and evolution of stars. In this contribution we present an overview of the most recent results, with emphasis on high spatial and spectral resolution. We will start with a general discussion on direct versus indirect detection of disks, and then traverse the HR diagram starting with the pre-Main Sequence and ending with evolved stars.
Dust grains in the planet forming regions around young stars are expected to be heavily processed due to coagulation, fragmentation and crystallization. This paper focuses on the crystalline silicate dust grains in protoplanetary disks. As part of the Cores to Disks Legacy Program, we obtained more than a hundred Spitzer/IRS spectra of TTauri stars. More than 3/4 of our objects show at least one crystalline silicate emission feature that can be essentially attributed to Mg-rich silicates. Observational properties of the crystalline features seen at lambda > 20 mu correlate with each other, while they are largely uncorrelated with the properties of the amorphous silicate 10 mu feature. This supports the idea that the IRS spectra essentially probe two independent disk regions: a warm zone (< 1 AU) emitting at lambda ~ 10 mu and a much colder region emitting at lambda > 20 mu (< 10 AU). We identify a crystallinity paradox, as the long-wavelength crystalline silicate features are 3.5 times more frequently detected (~55 % vs. ~15%) than the crystalline features arising from much warmer disk regions. This suggests that the disk has an inhomogeneous dust composition within ~10 AU. The abundant crystalline silicates found far from their presumed formation regions suggests efficient outward radial transport mechanisms in the disks. The analysis of the shape and strength of both the amorphous 10 mu feature and the crystalline feature around 23 mu provides evidence for the prevalence of micron-sized grains in upper layers of disks. Their presence in disk atmospheres suggests efficient vertical diffusion, likely accompanied by grain-grain fragmentation to balance the efficient growth expected. Finally, the depletion of submicron-sized grains points toward removal mechanisms such as stellar winds or radiation pressure.
Our knowledge of circumstellar disks has traditionally been based on studies of dust. However, gas dominates the disk mass and its study is key to understand the star and planet formation process. Spitzer can access gas emission lines in the mid-infrared, providing new diagnostics of the physical conditions in accretion disks and outflows. We have studied the spectra of 64 pre-main-sequence stars in Taurus using Spitzer/IRS observations. We have detected H2 (17.03, 28.22 $mu$m) emission in 6 objects, [Ne II] (12.81 $mu$m) in 18 objects, and [Fe II] (17.93, 25.99 $mu$m) in 7 objects. [Ne II] detections are found primarily in Class II objects. The luminosity of the [Ne II] line, is in general higher for objects known to drive jets than for those without known jets, but the two groups are not statistically distinguishable. We have searched for correlations between the line luminosities and different parameters related to the star-disk system. The [Ne II] luminosity is correlated with X-ray luminosity for Class II objects. The [NeII] luminosity is correlated with disk mass and accretion rate when the sample is divided into high and low accretors. We also find correlations between [NeII] luminosity and mid-IR continuum luminosity and with luminosity of the [O I] (6300 AA) line, the latter being an outflow tracer. [Fe II] luminosity correlates with mass accretion rate. No correlations were found between H2 luminosity and several tested parameters. Our study reveals a general trend toward accretion-related phenomena as the origin of the gas emission lines. Shocks in jets and outflowing material are more likely to play a significant role than shocks in infalling material. The role of X-ray irradiation is less prominent but still present for [Ne II], in particular for Class II sources, the lack of correlation between [Fe II] and [Ne II] points toward different emitting mechanisms.
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