The VLA Perseus Young Protostellar Disk and Multiplicity Survey: A First Look
Abstract
We present a first look at the Jansky VLA Perseus young protostellar disk and multiplicity survey. The formation of disks and binary systems is generally thought to begin early in the star formation process. However, there have not been sufficient numbers of young protostars (Class 0 and I phases) observed with high enough resolution to determine when and where most binaries form and whether or not large disks are common at early times. To make progress on these problems, we are conducting a multiplicity and disk survey of the 73 known Class 0 and I protostars in the Perseus cloud (d∼ 230 pc) using the Jansky VLA at 8 mm, 1 cm, 4 cm and 6.6 cm. We will conduct observations in both B and A configurations to resolve features as small as 15 AU (∼ 0.06''), but with sensitivity to structures as large as ∼4'' in size. We have chosen Perseus because it is the nearest star forming region with a large sample of both Class 0 and Class I protostars. This will be the largest and most complete millimeter/centimeter-wave survey of protostellar binaries and disks ever undertaken, with sensitivity to binary separations from ∼ 5000 AU down to 15 AU and thus sampling the peak of the binary separation distribution 50 AU) toward protostars for the first time. Moreover, we will be able to resolve disks as small as 30 AU. This survey will significantly improve our understanding of the formation mechanisms and prevalence of close binaries and disks during the early stages of star formation. Here we present our initial results from the B-array observations of the Perseus young protostars.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #223
- Pub Date:
- January 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014AAS...22334520S