Mid and Far Infrared Observations of Protostellar Jets

In this paper I will review the mid- and far-infrared observations obtained by the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) in jets and outflows from Young Stellar Objects (YSOs). The spectral range covered by ISO, from ～ 2.5 to 200 μm,includes transitions of the main gas cooling species (i.e. H₂, CO, H₂O, O) excited at temperatures of ～100–2000 K, which are not usually investigated through ground-based facilities. I will in particular focus on few important science cases addressed by the ISO spectroscopic observations, namely the observations of pure rotational H₂ lines, the detection of thermal H₂O lines, and the analysis on how the far infrared spectra of jets change with the evolution.     

Geochemical evidence for mixing of magmatic fluids with seawater,Nisyros hydrothermal system,Greece

The chemical and isotopic compositions (δD_H2O, δ¹⁸O_H2O, δ¹⁸O_CO2, δ¹³C_CO2, δ³⁴S, and He/N₂ and He/Ar ratios) of fumarolic gases from Nisyros, Greece, indicate that both arc-type magmatic water and local seawater feed the hydrothermal system. Isotopic composition of the deep fluid is estimated to be +4.9±0.5‰ for δ¹⁸O and ?11±5‰ for δD corresponding to a magmatic water fraction of 0.7. Interpretation of the stable water isotopes was based on liquid–vapor separation conditions obtained through gas geothermometry. The H₂–Ar, H₂–N₂, and H₂–H₂O geothermometers suggest reservoir temperatures of 345±15 °C, in agreement with temperatures measured in deep geothermal wells, whereas a vapor/liquid separation temperature of 260±30 °C is indicated by gas equilibria in the H₂O–H₂–CO₂–CO–CH₄ system. The largest magmatic inputs seem to occur below the Stephanos–Polybotes Micros crater, whereas the marginal fumarolic areas of Phlegeton–Polybotes Megalos craters receive a smaller contribution of magmatic gases.     

ISO-LWS Observations of the NGC7129 Star Forming Region

We present far-infrared observations of the surroundings of the Herbig Be star LkHα234 in NGC7129, obtained with the Long Wavelength Spectrometer on board of the Infrared Space Observatory. [CII]158μm, [OI]63μm and [OI]146μm lines are detected everywhere in the mapped region and their intensity ratios are consistent with the model predictions of a photodissociation region. The spatial distribution of the emission features indicates the presence of a peak which does not coincide with the position of LkHα234, but is more likely associated with another nearby Herbig star, namely BD+65°1637; the far-ultraviolet field intensity and the density derived from our observations are fully consistent with this hypothesis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Absorption Features of Ices Toward NGC7538 IRS1

In this paper we present a comparison of the observed absorption band at about 660 cm-1 (15.1 μm) toward NGC7538 IRS1 attributed to the bending mode of solid CO2 with laboratory spectra of ion irradiated mixtures. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An X‐shooter survey of star forming regions: Low‐mass stars and sub‐stellar objects

We present preliminary results of our X‐shooter survey in star forming regions. In this contribution we focus on subsamples of young stellar and sub‐stellar objects (YSOs) in the Lupus star forming region and in the TW Hya association. We show that the X‐shooter spectra are suitable for conducting several parallel studies such as YSO + disk fundamental parameters, accretion and outflow activity in the very low‐mass (VLM) and sub‐stellar regimes, as well as magnetic activity in young VLM YSOs, and Li abundance determinations. The capabilities of X‐shooter in terms of wide spectral coverage, resolution and limiting magnitudes, allow us to assess simultaneously the accretion/outflow, magnetic activity, and disk diagnostics, from the UV and optical to the near‐IR, avoiding ambiguities due to possible YSO variability (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)