Jes K. Jørgensen and Ewine F. van Dishoeck 2010 ApJ 710 L72 doi:10.1088/2041-8205/710/1/L72
WATER VAPOR IN THE INNER 25 AU OF A YOUNG DISK AROUND A LOW-MASS PROTOSTAR*
FREE ISSUEJes K. Jørgensen1,4 and Ewine F. van Dishoeck2,3
Show affiliationsWater is one of the key molecules in the physical and chemical evolution of star- and planet-forming regions. We here report the first spatially resolved observation of thermal emission of (an isotopologue of) water with the Plateau de Bure Interferometer toward the deeply embedded Class 0 protostar NGC 1333-IRAS4B. The observations of the H18 2O 31,3-22,0 transition at 203.4 GHz resolve the emission of water toward this source with an extent of about 0
2 corresponding to the inner 25 AU (radius). The H18 2O emission reveals a tentative velocity gradient perpendicular to the extent of the protostellar outflow/jet probed by observations of CO rotational transitions and water masers. The line is narrow, 
1 km s–1 (FWHM), significantly less than what would be expected for emission from an infalling envelope or accretion shock, but consistent with emission from a disk seen at a low inclination angle. The water column density inferred from these data suggests that the water emitting gas is a thin warm layer containing about 25 M Earth of material, 0.03% of the total disk mass traced by continuum observations.
- Footnote
- Keywords
astrochemistry; ISM: abundances; ISM: individual objects (NGC 1333-IRAS4B); protoplanetary disks; stars: formation
- Dates
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Issue 1 (2010 February 10)
Received 2009 October 18, accepted for publication 2010 January 7
Published 2010 January 22
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Water Vapor in the Inner 25 AU of a Young Disk Around a Low-Mass Protostar
Jes K. Jørgensen and Ewine F. van Dishoeck 2010 ApJ 710 L72
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