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| Paper: |
A Resolved Keplerian Disk Around the Class 0 Protostar L1527: A Path for Disk Formation Studies in the ALMA Era |
| Volume: |
476, New Trends in Radio Astronomy in the ALMA Era |
| Page: |
131 |
| Authors: |
Tobin, J. J. |
| Abstract: |
The formation of proto-planetary disks begins during the earliest phase of the star formation process, while
the nascent protostar is still surrounded by a dense envelope of gas and dust. I present millimeter
interferometer observations from CARMA and the SMA at ∼0.3″ (42 AU) resolution, revealing an edge-on
R ∼ 150 AU proto-planetary disk around the Class 0 protostar L1527. Observations
of the 13CO (J = 2 → 1) transition trace a rotation curve that is consistent with Keplerian
rotation (v ∝ R–0.5) are used to derive a protostellar mass
of 0.19 ± 0.04 M☉. These observations represent the
first direct measurement of protostellar mass from disk rotation and the most definitive evidence for a
large disk around a typical Class 0 protostar. This lays the ground work for ALMA, which will be needed to make significant gains
in the area of disk formation with vastly improved resolution and sensitivity. Most importantly, ALMA's
ability to detect faint molecular lines will enable masses of a large number of Class 0 protostars to be
measured for the first time. |
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