High-Resolution Far-Infrared Studies Of Intermediate-Mass Pre-Main-Sequence Objects

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Date

1998-12

Authors

Di Francesco, James
Evans, Neal J.
Harvey, Paul M.
Mundy, Lee G.
Butner, Harold M.

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Abstract

We have obtained high-resolution far-infrared maps of nine regions with 10 Herbig Ae/Be stars (intermediate-mass pre-main-sequence stars). Similar maps were obtained for 10 embedded IRAS sources with S-v(100 mu m) > S-v(60 mu m) and L similar to 200 L., which are possible evolutionary precursors of Herbig Ae/Be stars. Single far-infrared sources were found in most maps. The embedded sources have positions in agreement with those of the IRAS PSC, but some of the Herbig Ae/Be stars are offset significantly from the position of peak far-infrared emission. For all objects where it was possible to obtain 100 mu m flux densities, they are consistent with those observed by IRAS, but derived 50 mu m Aux densities are larger than expected. The far-infrared maps reveal that objects in at least 17 of 19 emission regions are significantly extended at the 30 "-40 " resolution of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory at 100 mu m. Only sources associated with AB Aur and possibly IRAS 05338-0624 have unresolved far-infrared emission. Detailed analyses of the flux densities and positions from our maps suggest the far-infrared emission in regions with Herbig Ae/Be stars may not immediately surround these stars in all cases. Instead, far-infrared emission from these objects may originate from dust heated externally by the Herbig stars, or from dust heated internally by other sources. For other objects arguably surrounded by far-infrared emission, the Herbig stars or embedded IRAS objects have similar mean deconvolved sizes (i.e., 0.10-0.15 pc), but possibly have different mean deconvolved shapes (i.e., aspect ratios). Thus, far-infrared emission here may originate from flattened dust envelopes; the appearance of a far-infrared object as either a Herbig Ae/Be star or an embedded IRAS source may be merely a matter of viewing orientation.

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Di Francesco, James, Neal J. Evans II, Paul M. Harvey, Lee G. Mundy, and Harold M. Butner. "High-Resolution Far-Infrared Studies of Intermediate-Mass Pre-Main-Sequence Objects." The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 509, No. 1 (Dec., 1998): 324.