Signatures of UV radiation in low-mass protostars I. Origin of HCN and CN emission in the Serpens Main region
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Signatures of UV radiation in low-mass protostars I. Origin of HCN and CN emission in the Serpens Main region. / Mirocha, Agnieszka; Karska, Agata; Gronowski, Marcin; Kristensen, Lars E.; Tychoniec, Lukasz; Harsono, Daniel; Figueira, Miguel; Gladkowski, Marcin; Zoltowski, Michal.
In: Astronomy & Astrophysics, Vol. 656, A146, 16.12.2021.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - Signatures of UV radiation in low-mass protostars I. Origin of HCN and CN emission in the Serpens Main region
AU - Mirocha, Agnieszka
AU - Karska, Agata
AU - Gronowski, Marcin
AU - Kristensen, Lars E.
AU - Tychoniec, Lukasz
AU - Harsono, Daniel
AU - Figueira, Miguel
AU - Gladkowski, Marcin
AU - Zoltowski, Michal
PY - 2021/12/16
Y1 - 2021/12/16
N2 - Context. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) influences the physics and chemistry of star-forming regions, but its properties and significance in the immediate surroundings of low-mass protostars are still poorly understood.Aims. Our aim is to extend the use of the CN/HCN ratio, already established for high-mass protostars, to the low-mass regime to trace and characterize the UV field around low-mass protostars on similar to 0.6 x 0.6 pc scales.Methods. We present 5' x 5' maps of the Serpens Main Cloud encompassing ten protostars observed with the EMIR receiver at the IRAM 30 m telescope in CN 1-0, HCN 1-0, CS 3-2, and some of their isotopologs. The radiative-transfer code RADEX and the chemical model Nahoon were used to determine column densities of molecules, gas temperature and density, and the UV field strength, G(0).Results. The spatial distribution of HCN and CS are closely correlated with CO 6-5 emission, that traces outflows. The CN emission is extended from the central protostars to their immediate surroundings also tracing outflows, likely as a product of HCN photodissociation. The ratio of CN to HCN total column densities ranges from similar to 1 to 12 corresponding to G(0) approximate to 10(1) -10(3) for gas densities and temperatures typical for outflows of low-mass protostars.Conclusions. UV radiation associated with protostars and their outflows is indirectly identified in a significant part of the Serpens Main low-mass star-forming region. Its strength is consistent with the values obtained from the OH and H2O ratios observed with Herschel and compared with models of UV-illuminated shocks. From a chemical viewpoint, the CN to HCN ratio is an excellent tracer of UV fields around low- and intermediate-mass star-forming regions.
AB - Context. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) influences the physics and chemistry of star-forming regions, but its properties and significance in the immediate surroundings of low-mass protostars are still poorly understood.Aims. Our aim is to extend the use of the CN/HCN ratio, already established for high-mass protostars, to the low-mass regime to trace and characterize the UV field around low-mass protostars on similar to 0.6 x 0.6 pc scales.Methods. We present 5' x 5' maps of the Serpens Main Cloud encompassing ten protostars observed with the EMIR receiver at the IRAM 30 m telescope in CN 1-0, HCN 1-0, CS 3-2, and some of their isotopologs. The radiative-transfer code RADEX and the chemical model Nahoon were used to determine column densities of molecules, gas temperature and density, and the UV field strength, G(0).Results. The spatial distribution of HCN and CS are closely correlated with CO 6-5 emission, that traces outflows. The CN emission is extended from the central protostars to their immediate surroundings also tracing outflows, likely as a product of HCN photodissociation. The ratio of CN to HCN total column densities ranges from similar to 1 to 12 corresponding to G(0) approximate to 10(1) -10(3) for gas densities and temperatures typical for outflows of low-mass protostars.Conclusions. UV radiation associated with protostars and their outflows is indirectly identified in a significant part of the Serpens Main low-mass star-forming region. Its strength is consistent with the values obtained from the OH and H2O ratios observed with Herschel and compared with models of UV-illuminated shocks. From a chemical viewpoint, the CN to HCN ratio is an excellent tracer of UV fields around low- and intermediate-mass star-forming regions.
KW - stars: protostars
KW - ISM: jets and outflows
KW - ISM: molecules
KW - ISM: individual objects: Serpens Main
KW - stars: formation
KW - astrochemistry
KW - STAR-FORMING REGIONS
KW - YOUNG STELLAR OBJECTS
KW - J CO OBSERVATIONS
KW - MOLECULAR LINE
KW - SUBMILLIMETER-CONTINUUM
KW - HERSCHEL-PACS
KW - GAS EMISSION
KW - KEY PROGRAM
KW - GOULD BELT
KW - DENSE GAS
U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/202140833
DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/202140833
M3 - Journal article
VL - 656
JO - Astronomy & Astrophysics
JF - Astronomy & Astrophysics
SN - 0004-6361
M1 - A146
ER -
ID: 288787243