Protostellar Disks and Envelope
Team responsible: Dieter Nuernberger (ESO)
Team members: Ralf Siebenmorgen (ESO), Michael Sterzi (ESO)
Links:
README files: M17NGC 3603Orion
Finding charts: M17NGC3603Orion
Abstract:
AO supported IFU spectroscopy of disks/envelopes around high mass protostellar candidates to study physical properties and kinematics of the circumstellar gas+dust.
Project description:
High mass protostars are usually deeply embedded in their natal environment which can be penetrated only at wavelengths beyond the mid infrared. However, in the neighbourhood of early type main sequence stars strong stellar winds and energetic/ionizing photons might help to lift the curtains around the protostars and thus make them accessible to today's state-of-the-art near and mid infrared instruments.
Very recently, by means of sensitive imaging observations in the near and mid IR, Nuernberger (2003) and Chini etal (2004) have identified promising high mass protostellar candidates in two Galactic HII regions, namely NGC3603 and M17. These sources, together with the enigmatic Orion BN source known from the literature, may play a decisive role in our understanding of high mass star formation processes. In particular, as there is strong evidence for the existence of (accretion) disks around these sources, the accretion scenario may be favoured against the collision (coalescence) scenario.
In the framework of the SINFONI Science Verification programme we propose to perform sensitive, AO supported IFU spectroscopy of the disk/envelope features around the high mass protostellar candidates to study physical properties, chemical composition and kinematics of the circumstellar gas and dust. To adequately complement the SINFONI/SPIFFI spectroscopic data with high spatial resolution imaging data, for all proposed targets NACO near infrared imaging data are available. In addition, Orion BN and NGC3603 IRS9 are also suggested for the Science Verification programme of VISIR.
Observing strategy
M17disk: K band IFU spectroscopy; primarily using SPIFFI's 100 mas camera (FOV = 3.2" x 3.2"); if possible we also intend to observe a small mosaic (3x3 dither pattern; 5" - 6" offsets) using SPIFFI's 250 mas camera (FOV = 8" x 8").
AO reference = SAO161357, RA = 18:20:27.64 , DEC = -16:12:01.1, V=9.7, J=6.9, H=6.0, K=5.8, L=5.7, M=5.5 mag
at a distance of 21.3" towards the east of our science target (see Finding Chart for the M17disk). DITs and NDITs need to be adjusted during source acquisiton. Observations with SPIFFI's 100 mas camera should be executed repeatedly during several nights (i.e., 1-2 times per night) to obtain a small time series to study time variability of both continuum and lines due to ongoing accretion processes.
Orion BN: IFU spectroscopy in K, J and H bands of 7 selected positions in the immediate neighbourhood of Orion BN (see related README File and Finding Chart); primarily using SPIFFI's 100 mas camera (FOV = 3.26quot x 3.2") and 250 mas camera (FOV = 8" x 8").
AO reference = Orion BN, RA = 05:35:14.12 , DEC = -05:22:22.9, K=8 mag
or altern. TCC0016 , RA = 05:35:14.91 , DEC = -05:22:39.3, V=14 mag
self-referencing and within a distance of less than 30" from our other science pointings (see Finding Chart for Orion BN). DITs and NDITs need to be adjusted during source acquisiton.
NGC3603 IRS9: K band IFU spectroscopy of 5 selected positions in the NGC3603 IRS9 region (see related README File and Finding Chart); primarily using SPIFFI's 250 mas camera (FOV = 8" x 8") but also looking for some exposures using SPIFFI's 100 mas camera (FOV = 3.2" x 3.2").
AO reference = NGC3603 IRS9A, RA = 11:15:11.34 , DEC = -61:16:45.2, K=8.5 mag
self-referencing and within a distance of less than 10" from our other science pointings (see Finding Chart for NGC3603 IRS9). DITs and NDITs need to be adjusted during source acquisiton.
Team members: Ralf Siebenmorgen (ESO), Michael Sterzi (ESO)
Links:
README files: M17NGC 3603Orion
Finding charts: M17NGC3603Orion
Abstract:
AO supported IFU spectroscopy of disks/envelopes around high mass protostellar candidates to study physical properties and kinematics of the circumstellar gas+dust.
| Name | RA(2000) | DEC(2000) | Plate-Scale(s) | Bands(s) | Exp.time(on source) |
| Orion BN | 05:35:14.1 | -05:22:23 | 100+250 | J,H,K | 5-10 h |
| NGC3603 IRS9 | 11:15:11.3 | -61:16:45 | 100+250 | K | 5-10 h |
| M17 disk | 18:20:26.3 | -16:12:10 | 100+250 | K | 5-10 h |
Project description:
High mass protostars are usually deeply embedded in their natal environment which can be penetrated only at wavelengths beyond the mid infrared. However, in the neighbourhood of early type main sequence stars strong stellar winds and energetic/ionizing photons might help to lift the curtains around the protostars and thus make them accessible to today's state-of-the-art near and mid infrared instruments.
Very recently, by means of sensitive imaging observations in the near and mid IR, Nuernberger (2003) and Chini etal (2004) have identified promising high mass protostellar candidates in two Galactic HII regions, namely NGC3603 and M17. These sources, together with the enigmatic Orion BN source known from the literature, may play a decisive role in our understanding of high mass star formation processes. In particular, as there is strong evidence for the existence of (accretion) disks around these sources, the accretion scenario may be favoured against the collision (coalescence) scenario.
In the framework of the SINFONI Science Verification programme we propose to perform sensitive, AO supported IFU spectroscopy of the disk/envelope features around the high mass protostellar candidates to study physical properties, chemical composition and kinematics of the circumstellar gas and dust. To adequately complement the SINFONI/SPIFFI spectroscopic data with high spatial resolution imaging data, for all proposed targets NACO near infrared imaging data are available. In addition, Orion BN and NGC3603 IRS9 are also suggested for the Science Verification programme of VISIR.
Observing strategy
M17disk: K band IFU spectroscopy; primarily using SPIFFI's 100 mas camera (FOV = 3.2" x 3.2"); if possible we also intend to observe a small mosaic (3x3 dither pattern; 5" - 6" offsets) using SPIFFI's 250 mas camera (FOV = 8" x 8").
AO reference = SAO161357, RA = 18:20:27.64 , DEC = -16:12:01.1, V=9.7, J=6.9, H=6.0, K=5.8, L=5.7, M=5.5 mag
at a distance of 21.3" towards the east of our science target (see Finding Chart for the M17disk). DITs and NDITs need to be adjusted during source acquisiton. Observations with SPIFFI's 100 mas camera should be executed repeatedly during several nights (i.e., 1-2 times per night) to obtain a small time series to study time variability of both continuum and lines due to ongoing accretion processes.
Orion BN: IFU spectroscopy in K, J and H bands of 7 selected positions in the immediate neighbourhood of Orion BN (see related README File and Finding Chart); primarily using SPIFFI's 100 mas camera (FOV = 3.26quot x 3.2") and 250 mas camera (FOV = 8" x 8").
AO reference = Orion BN, RA = 05:35:14.12 , DEC = -05:22:22.9, K=8 mag
or altern. TCC0016 , RA = 05:35:14.91 , DEC = -05:22:39.3, V=14 mag
self-referencing and within a distance of less than 30" from our other science pointings (see Finding Chart for Orion BN). DITs and NDITs need to be adjusted during source acquisiton.
NGC3603 IRS9: K band IFU spectroscopy of 5 selected positions in the NGC3603 IRS9 region (see related README File and Finding Chart); primarily using SPIFFI's 250 mas camera (FOV = 8" x 8") but also looking for some exposures using SPIFFI's 100 mas camera (FOV = 3.2" x 3.2").
AO reference = NGC3603 IRS9A, RA = 11:15:11.34 , DEC = -61:16:45.2, K=8.5 mag
self-referencing and within a distance of less than 10" from our other science pointings (see Finding Chart for NGC3603 IRS9). DITs and NDITs need to be adjusted during source acquisiton.