Characterization of CO2 Ice Toward the Rho Ophiuchi Dark Cloud
Abstract
We present column densities for CO2 and H2 ice toward ~30 Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) in the Rho Ophiuchi dark cloud. We compare abundance ratios with the spatial distribution of the YSOs, their evolutionary state, and their local environment. In addition, we consider similarities and differences between the abundance ratios in Rho Ophiuchi, Taurus, and background objects in order to investigate possible differences due to regions of low mass star formation, low and high mass star formation, and the quiescent interstellar medium. While Taurus and background objects toward three dark clouds have been extensively studied (see, for example, Zasowski et al., 2009 and Whittet et al. 2009), no large study toward Rho Ophiuchi has been completed to date. However, variations in abundance ratios due to the spatial distribution of YSOs in the molecular cloud have been found. For example, Pontoppidan (2006) found an enhancement of CO2 and CO ice toward the Ophiuchus-F core, but with a sample size of five sources. Our study provides more information regarding differences in abundance ratios related to the spatial distribution of the sources by considering YSOs throughout the entire dark cloud rather than a single core. In addition, our large sample size allows a better statistical comparison with YSOs in other environments, as well as the evolutionary state of YSOs within Rho Ophiuchi.
- Publication:
-
Midwest Astrochemistry Meeting 2010
- Pub Date:
- November 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010mwac.meet..P17W