对59个北天EGO天体方向上的分子云~(12)COJ=2-1和J=3-2频谱观测研究

为了研究有大质量恒星形成的分子云与其它分子云之间的差异,对北天的59个作为大质量恒星形成区的Spitzer延展绿色天体(Extended Green Objects,简称EGOs)视线方向进行了分子云~(12)CO J=2-1和J=3-2频谱观测,并与文献中对同一批天体方向观测得到的~(12)CO J=1-0频谱数据合并进行分析.对与EGO天体成协的分子云(简称EGO分子云)和其它non-EGO分子云进行了CO多跃迁谱线强度和宽度的统计比较分析.在数据统计的基础上,讨论了这两类分子云的气体温度分布、密度分布、速度场分布对观测数据统计特征的影响.分析结果表明,直接决定是否有大质量恒星形成的关键因素可能并不是巨分子云的质量是否足够大,而是巨分子云的引力塌缩程度足否充分(即分子云团块的体积填充因子是否足够大).     

巨分子云的聚合形成与臂结构

本分析了在巨分子云聚合形成机制下旋臂扰动的影响，结果表明，在巨分子云聚合形成过程中，当不考虑恒星形成引起的巨分子云的破裂时，旋臂的存在使分子云在绕星系中心作自转运动时，在旋臂区域分子云的密度大大增加而使大质量分子云由于碰撞而形成，特别能促使一些质量更大的巨分子云形成。但当这些聚合形成的大质量分子云走出旋臂区域进入臂间区域时，它们又会自动瓦解。因此在整个星系盘上，与没有旋臂扰动情况相比，Ｆ（Ｍ）〈     

不同类别分子区域中的CO辐射巡测

用紫金山天文台青海观测站13．7米毫米波望远镜新安装的3毫米系统,对一组包括大质量恒星形成区、稠密云核、Bok球、主序前发射线星和演化晚期恒星的源进行了12COJ＝1－0的辐射搜寻．结果在不同质量恒星形成区域全部测到了12CO辐射,并发现了大的线宽、红和蓝的线翼、线心速度变化及多重辐射的特征,表明相应源可能具有双极喷流,存在膨胀、旋转或多核斑结构．有两个演化晚期星中已观测到了12COJ＝1－0谱线,说明其具有较浓厚的拱星气体包层．     

一个大质量恒星形成复合体的动力学性质

恒星形成于分子云之中, 分子外向流是恒星形成正在进行的重要动力学特征, 也是研究和认识恒星形成的重要契入点. 利用紫金山天文台青海观测站德令哈13.7m毫米波望远镜, 采用5种分子谱线探针(包括¹²CO、¹³CO、C¹⁸O、HCO$^+$ $J=1-0$和CS $J=2-1$, J为角动量量子数), 对一个包含IRAS 19230+1506、IRAS 19232+1504和G050.3179--00.4186这3个源的大质量恒星形成复合体进行了成图观测研究. 通过对以上分子谱线数据并结合红外波段巡天数据的分析, 在这3个源中首次探测到了分子外向流活动, 并确定了分子外向流的中心驱动源. 最后对这3个源进行了分子外向流相关物理量参数的计算, 分析了这些物理量参数之间的关系, 结果表明分子外向流的性质与中心驱动源的性质息息相关.     

巨分子云的聚合形成与旋臂结构

本文分析了在巨分子云聚合形成机制下旋臂扰动的影响 .结果表明 ,在巨分子云聚合形成过程中 ,当不考虑恒星形成引起的巨分子云的碎裂时 ,旋臂的存在使分子云在绕星系中心作自转运动时 ,在旋臂区域分子云的密度大大增加而使较多的大质量分子云由于碰撞而形成 ,特别能促使一些质量更大的巨分子云形成 .但当这些聚合形成的大质量分子云走出旋臂区域进入臂间区域时 ,它们又会自动瓦解 .因此在整个星系盘上 ,与没有旋臂扰动情况相比 ,F(M )∝logM的曲线只是相应地往上有一平移 ,而对形成的中间质量的巨分子云的数量基本没有影响     

红外尘泡N109中的恒星形成

与电离氢区成协的红外尘泡是研究恒星形成尤其是触发恒星形成的理想天体实验室.利用多波段数据对银河系中最大的尘泡之一N109进行了研究,分析了它对其近邻介质及其中恒星形成活动的影响.研究发现N109周围存在56个致密团块,主要分布在正北部和西部.它们均可能形成恒星,其中5个很可能形成大质量恒星,而其他的均可能形成小质量恒星...     

W51M分子云中H和He复合线的观测研究

W51M (W51 Main)是一个和HⅡ区成协的大质量恒星形成区,在其中可以探测到众多的分子谱线和H、He射电复合线.中国科学院上海天文台基于天马65 m望远镜对W51M的观测数据,证认了主量子数在74–117之间的H、He复合发射线,其中主量子数在74–78之间的H和He的α复合线均被探测到.结合H和He复合线的多普勒致宽,算出该HⅡ区的电子温度约为7400 K, He+/H+的离子丰度比约为0.09,这与已有的研究基本吻合.考虑高信噪比的复合线,即H(n)α(74n78),计算得出W51M的平均湍动速度是13.767 km·s-1.通过确定W51M或其他HⅡ区中的复合线,获取电子温度、湍动速度以及其他物理参量,在电子数密度、元素丰度、恒星形成率等方面进行了探讨,对分子谱线以及其他波段的复合线研究具有借鉴意义.     

猎户座分子云团中弥散电离介质的视向速度及线强度比分布

恒星形成区是研究恒星形成物理过程最重要的天体物理实验室. 猎户座分子云团是研究各种质量恒星形成和相关年轻恒星性质的一个著名天区. 通过对恒星形成区的光学光谱分析, 可以获取其内部热电离气体的运动学和化学性质. 基于国家大科学装置郭守敬望远镜(LAMOST)的光谱观测数据, 从LAMOST I期光谱巡天数据中筛选出8个指向猎户座分子云团的观测面板, 获取了1300多条针对猎户座分子云团内弥散电离介质的有效光谱. 选取不受星际介质污染的背景天光光谱构建超级天光, 对这些光谱数据做减天光处理, 并进一步测量其发射线性质,包括Ha、N Ⅱ] λ 6584、[S Ⅱ]λλ 6717和6731等发射线的中心波长和积分流量等.最后给出猎户座分子云团内弥散电离介质的视向速度和线强度比分布情况.     

IRAS 02232+6138的13CO、C18O、HCO+和N2H+的观测研究

利用中国科学院紫金山天文台德令哈观测站13．7米望远镜在IRAS 02232 6138方向进行了13CO,C18O,HCO 和N2H 的观测．随着探针分子的激发密度从13CO到N2H 逐渐增加, IRAS02232 6138云核的尺度从13CO的2．40 pc减小到N2H 的0．54pc,云核的维里质量从13CO的2．2×103M⊙减小到N2H 的5．1×102M⊙．研究发现,该方向区域内存在双极分子外流．对云核的空间密度结构用幂函数n(r)αr-α的形式进行拟合分析,得到α=2．3-1．2;随着探测密度的增加,该指数逐渐变平．分析得到, 13CO／C18O分子丰度比值为12．4±6．9,与暗云的11．8±5．9及大质量核的9．0-15．6值一致;N2H 丰度是3．5±2．5×10-10,与暗云核的1．0-5．0×10-10和大质量核的1．2-12．8×10-10值一致;HCO 丰度为0．9±0．5×10-9,接近大质量核的1．6-2．4×10-9值,没有发现HCO 丰度增长．结合IRAS数据,得到云核的光度质量比范围为37-163(L／M)⊙,由IRAS光度估计, IRAS 02232 6138方向云核内嵌埋的大约是一颗主序O7．5星．     

新单极高速分子外向流源IRAS19282+1814

^12CoJ=1-0成图观测表明在IRAS19282 1814附近存在着一个蓝向单极高速分子外流，计算了其基本参量并进行了分析，它的成协红外源IRAS19282 1814可能是大质量年轻星体，其IRAS波段色指数表明该源深埋于气体和尘埃物质之中，由60-100μm流量密度获得尘埃温度为30K,它的附近没有其他的源，所以IRAS19282 1814可能是外向流的驱动源。     

恒星形成过程中的天体物理现象

恒星形成于分子云环境中。近30多年的观测研究使得天文学家对小质量恒星的形成有了相对明确的认识：小质量恒星通过坍缩、吸积和外向流的路标而形成。至于大质量恒星，其形成过程还存在着许多不确定因素，现有的观测证据表明：大质量恒星也可能通过坍缩、吸积和外向流的路标来形成，但也不排除在星团中通过中小质量恒星聚合而成的因素。大质量恒星形成与致密电离氢区(UCHII)成协较好，而与大质量恒星形成区成协的分子云环境中，既有大质量恒星也有小质量恒星形成。综述了恒星形成各个阶段的观测结果和研究现状以及成协的天体物理环境情况。未来的观测和研究重点在于，大质量恒星形成以及星团环境中的恒星形成。     

Massive young stellar objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud: water masers and ESO-VLT 3–4 μm spectroscopy

We investigate the conditions of star formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We have conducted a survey for water maser emission arising from massive young stellar objects in the 30 Doradus region (N 157) and several other H  ii regions in the LMC (N 105A, N 113 and N 160A). We have identified a new maser source in 30 Dor at the systemic velocity of the LMC. We have obtained 3–4 μm spectra, with the European Southern Observatory (ESO)-Very Large Telescope (VLT), of two candidate young stellar objects. N 105A IRS1 shows H recombination line emission, and its Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) and mid-infrared colours are consistent with a massive young star ionizing the molecular cloud. N 157B IRS1 is identified as an embedded young object, based on its SED and a tentative detection of water ice. The data on these four H  ii regions are combined with mid-infrared archival images from the Spitzer Space Telescope to study the location and nature of the embedded massive young stellar objects and signatures of stellar feedback. Our analysis of 30 Dor, N 113 and N 160A confirms the picture that the feedback from the massive O- and B-type stars, which creates the H  ii regions, also triggers further star formation on the interfaces of the ionized gas and the surrounding molecular cloud. Although in the dense cloud N 105A star formation seems to occur without evidence of massive star feedback, the general conditions in the LMC seem favourable for sequential star formation as a result of feedback. In an Appendix , we present water maser observations of the galactic red giants R Doradus and W Hydrae.     

Spectroscopic constraints on outflows from BN-type objects

New high-quality high spectral resolution observations of the HI line emission from massive young stellar objects are described and discussed. It is proposed that two distinct physical components contribute to the observed emission. One of these is an optically-thick high-velocity stellar wind, the other a more slowly moving optically-thin volume of gas that may, in the case of S106IR at least, be caused by mass loading of the stellar wind. This decomposition is shown to resolve a long-standing problem regarding the relative widths of high and low opacity lines.     

Theory of bipolar outflows from high-mass young stellar objects

There is a growing number of observational indicators for the presence of bipolar outflows in massive, young stellar objects that are still accreting mass as part of their formation process. In particular, there is evidence that the outflows from these objects can attain higher velocities and kinetic luminosities than their lower-mass counterparts. Furthermore, the higher-mass objects appear to smoothly continue the correlation found in T Tauri stars between outflow and accretion signatures, and in several cases there are direct clues to the existence of a circumstellar disk from optical and infrared imaging and spectroscopy as well as from millimeter-wavelength interferometry. These results suggest that the disk-outflow connection found in low-mass pre-main-sequence stars extends to more massive objects, and that a similar physical mechanism may drive the outflows in both cases. We examine the observational basis for this hypothesis and consider how the commonly invoked centrifugally driven wind models of bipolar outflows in low-mass stars would be affected by the various physical processes (such as photoionization, photoevaporation, radiation pressure, and stellar wind ram pressure) that operate in higher-mass stars. We then list some of the interesting questions that one could hope to address as this young field of research continues to develop.     

Studying the formation of massive stars with VLT/X‐shooter

The birth process and (early) evolution of massive stars is still poorly understood. Massive stars are rare, their birthplaces are hidden from view and their formation timescale is short. So far, our physical knowledge of these young massive stars has been derived from near‐IR imaging and spectroscopy, revealing populations of young OB‐type stars, some still surrounded by a (remnant?) accretion disk, others apparently “normal” main sequence stars powering H II regions. The most important spectral features of OB‐type stars are, however, located in the UV and optical range. With VLT/X‐shooter it is possible to extend the spectral coverage of these young massive stars into the optical range, to better determine their photospheric properties, to study the onset of the stellar wind, and to characterize the physical structure of the circumstellar disk (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The spatial evolution of stellar structures in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We present an analysis of the spatial distribution of various stellar populations within the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We combine mid-infrared selected young stellar objects, optically selected samples with mean ages between ∼9 and ∼1000 Myr and existing stellar cluster catalogues to investigate how stellar structures form and evolve within the LMC. For the analysis we use Fractured Minimum Spanning Trees, the statistical Q parameter and the two-point correlation function. Restricting our analysis to young massive (OB) stars, we confirm our results obtained for M33, namely that the luminosity function of the groups is well described by a power law with index −2, and that there is no characteristic length-scale of star-forming regions. We find that stars in the LMC are born with a large amount of substructure, consistent with a two-dimensional fractal distribution with dimension     and evolve towards a uniform distribution on a time-scale of ∼175 Myr. This is comparable to the crossing time of the galaxy, and we suggest that stellar structure, regardless of spatial scale, will be eliminated in a crossing time. This may explain the smooth distribution of stars in massive/dense young clusters in the Galaxy, while other, less massive, clusters still display large amounts of structure at similar ages. By comparing the stellar and star cluster distributions and evolving time-scales, we show that infant mortality of clusters (or 'popping clusters') has a negligible influence on the galactic structure. Finally, we quantify the influence of the elongation, differential extinction and contamination of a population on the measured Q value.     

Mass loss from very young massive stars (Mitteilungen der Universitäts-Sternwarte zu Jena Nr. 172)

A very important property of very young and massive stars (BN objects) is their intensive mass loss. We describe the main methods to derive the mass loss rates. Available observations are used to characterize the ionized stellar winds and the CO flows. The results are confronted with theories describing the anisotropic mass loss.     

Galaxies and Star Clusters – From the Computer to the Real World

G01 New evidence for a connection between massive black holes and ULX G02 Long‐Term Evolution of Massive Black Hole Binaries G03 NBODY Meets Stellar Population Synthesis G04 N‐body modelling of real globular star clusters G05 Fokker‐Planck rotating models of globular clusters with black hole G06 Observational Manifestation of chaos in spiral galaxies: quantitative analysis and qualitative explanation G07 GRAPE Clusters: Beyond the Million‐Body Problem G08 Orbital decay of star clusters and Massive Black Holes in cuspy galactic nuclei G09 An Edge‐on Disk Galaxy Catalog G10 Complexes of open clusters in the Solar neighborhood G11 Search for and investigation of new stellar clusters using the data from huge stellar catalogues G12 Computing 2D images of 3D galactic disk models G13 Outer Pseudoring in the Galaxy G14 Where are tidal‐dwarf galaxies? G15 Ultra compact dwarf galaxies in nearby clusters G16 Impact of an Accretion Disk on the Structure of a stellar cluster in active galactic nuclei G17 Order and Chaos in the edge‐on profiles of disk galaxies G18 On the stability of OB‐star configurations in the Orion Nebula cluster G19 Older stars captured in young star clusters by cloud collapse G20 General features of the population of open clusters within 1 kpc from the Sun G21 Unstable modes in thin stellar disks G22 From Newton to Einstein – Dynamics of N‐body systems G23 On the relation between the maximum stellar mass and the star cluster mass     

Stellar dynamics in young clusters: the formation of massive runaways and very massive runaway mergers

In the present paper we combine an N-body code that simulates the dynamics of young dense stellar systems with a massive star evolution handler that accounts in a realistic way for the effects of stellar wind mass loss. We discuss two topics.

1. The formation and the evolution of very massive stars (with masses >120 M_⊙) is followed in detail. These very massive stars are formed in the cluster core as a consequence of the successive (physical) collisions of the 10–20 most massive stars in the cluster (this process is known as ‘runaway merging’). The further evolution is governed by stellar wind mass loss during core hydrogen and core helium burning (the WR phase of very massive stars). Our simulations reveal that, as a consequence of runaway merging in clusters with solar and supersolar values, massive black holes can be formed, but with a maximum mass ≈70 M_⊙. In low-metallicity clusters, however, it cannot be excluded that the runaway-merging process is responsible for pair-instability supernovae or for the formation of intermediate-mass black holes with a mass of several 100 M_⊙.
2. Massive runaways can be formed via the supernova explosion of one of the components in a binary system (the Blaauw scenario), or via dynamical interaction of a single star and a binary or between two binaries in a star cluster. We explore the possibility that the most massive runaways (e.g. ζ Pup, λ Cep, BD+43°3654) are the product of the collision and merger of two or three massive stars.