A $\mathsf{3{-}5~\mu}$m VLT spectroscopic survey of embedded young low mass stars I

• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20031030
• Publication Date: 2003-09-09T09:56:50Z
• Authors: K. M. Pontoppidan; H. J. Fraser; E. Dartois; W.-F. Thi; E. F. van Dishoeck; A. C. A. Boogert; L. d'Hendecourt; A. G. G. M. Tielens; S. E. Bisschop
• Keywords: stars : pre-main sequence; AURIGA MOLECULAR CLOUD; infrared : ISM; Solid state physics. Nanoscience; FOS: Physical sciences; SPECTRAL ENERGY-DISTRIBUTIONS; Astrophysics; astrochemistry - stars: circumstellar matter - ISM: dust; 530; 01 natural sciences; INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY; ISM : molecules; MICRON KECK/NIRSPEC SPECTRA; DARK CLOUD; 0103 physical sciences; stars : circumstellar matter; ABSORPTION FEATURES; astrochemistry; extinction; Astrophysics (astro-ph); GRAIN MANTLES; extinction - ISM: molecules - infrared: ISM - stars: pre-main sequence; 520; 13. Climate action; ISM : dust; SOLID CO; INTERSTELLAR GRAINS; HIGH-RESOLUTION

Medium resolution (lambda/Delta lambda = 5000-10000) VLT-ISAAC M-band spectra are presented of 39 young stellar objects in nearby low-mass star forming clouds showing the 4.67 micron stretching vibration mode of solid CO. By taking advantage of the unprecedentedly large sample, high S/N ratio and high spectral resolution, similarities in the ice profiles from source to source are identified. It is found that excellent fits to all the spectra can be obtained using a phenomenological decomposition of the CO stretching vibration profile at 4.67 micron into 3 components. All observed interstellar CO profiles can thus be uniquely described by a model depending on only 3 linear fit parameters, indicating that a maximum of 3 specific molecular environments of solid CO exist under astrophysical conditions. A simple physical model of the CO ice is presented, which shows that the 2139.9 cm-1 component is indistinguishable from pure CO ice. It is concluded, that in the majority of the observed lines of sight, 60-90% of the CO is in a nearly pure form. In the same model the 2143.7 cm-1 component can possibly be explained by the longitudinal optical (LO) component of the vibrational transition in pure crystalline CO ice which appears when the background source is linearly polarised. Furthermore the absorption band from solid 13CO at 2092 cm-1 is detected towards IRS 51 in the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex and an isotopic ratio of 12CO/13CO=68+/-10 is derived. It is shown that all the observed solid 12CO profiles, along with the solid 13CO profile, are consistent with grains with an irregularly shaped CO ice mantle simulated by a Continuous Distribution of Ellipsoids (CDE), but inconsistent with the commonly used models of spherical grains in the Rayleigh limit. [Abstract abridged]<br/>30 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Preprint w. high res figures available at http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~pontoppi/ms3823.pdf<br/>