TY - JOUR

T1 - Physicochemical models

T2 - source-tailored or generic?

AU - Kulterer, Beatrice M.

AU - Drozdovskaya, Maria N.

AU - Coutens, Audrey

AU - Manigand, Sebastien

AU - Stephan, Gwendoline

PY - 2020/8/14

Y1 - 2020/8/14

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - astrochemistry

KW - protoplanetary discs

KW - stars: protostars

KW - ISM: abundances

KW - DENSE INTERSTELLAR CLOUDS

KW - ALMA-PILS SURVEY

KW - IRAS 16293-2422

KW - PRESTELLAR CORES

KW - STARLESS CORES

KW - DARK CLOUDS

KW - EVOLUTION

KW - PHOTODESORPTION

KW - PROTOSTARS

KW - GAS

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/staa2443

DO - 10.1093/mnras/staa2443

M3 - Journal article

VL - 498

SP - 276

EP - 291

JO - Royal Astronomical Society. Monthly Notices

JF - Royal Astronomical Society. Monthly Notices

SN - 0035-8711

IS - 1

ER -