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Methanol Masers as Tracers of Circumstellar Disks
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 11:05 authored by Norris, RP, Byleveld, SE, Diamond, PJ, Simon EllingsenSimon Ellingsen, Ferris, RH, Gough, RG, Kesteven, MJ, Peter McCullochPeter McCulloch, Phillips, CJ, Reynolds, JE, Tzioumis, AK, Takahashi, Y, Troup, ER, Wellington, KJWe show that in many methanol maser sources the masers are located in lines, with a velocity gradient along them which suggests that the masers are situated in edge-on circumstellar, or protoplanetary, disks. We present VLBI observations of the methanol maser source G309.92 + 0.48, in the 12.2 GHz (2 0-3 -1 E) transition, which confirm previous observations that the masers in this source lie along a line. We show that such sources are not only linear in space but, in many cases, also have a linear velocity gradient. We then model these and other data in both the 6.7 GHz (5 1-6 0 A +) and the 12.2 GHz (2 0-3 -1 E) transition from a number of star formation regions and show that the observed spatial and velocity distribution of methanol masers, and the derived Keplerian masses, are consistent with a circumstellar disk rotating around an OB star. We consider this and other hypotheses and conclude that about half of these methanol masers are probably located in edge-on circumstellar disks around young stars. This is of particular significance for studies of circumstellar disks because of the detailed velocity information available from the masers. © 1998. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
History
Publication title
The Astrophysical JournalVolume
508Pagination
EJISSN
0004-637XDepartment/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
The American Astronomical SocietyPlace of publication
ChicagoRepository Status
- Restricted