The Inner Envelope and Disk of L1527 Revealed: Gemini L'-band Scattered Light Imaging

TL;DR

High-resolution L'-band imaging of the Class 0 protostar L1527 IRS reveals a bipolar scattered light structure with a dark lane, providing insights into the inner disk and cavity features of the protostar.

Contribution

This study provides detailed high-resolution imaging of L1527 IRS's inner structure, resolving features previously seen only as point sources and supporting models of a bright inner cavity and disk.

Findings

Resolved bipolar scattered light structure with a dark lane.

Measured extent of scattered light lobes and dark lane.

Consistent with models of a bright inner cavity and disk structure.

Abstract

We present high-resolution L'-band imaging of the inner scattered light structure of Class 0 protostar L1527 IRS (IRAS 04368+2557) taken with the Gemini North telescope. The central point-source like feature seen in Spitzer Space Telescope IRAC images is resolved in the Gemini image into a compact bipolar structure with a narrow dark lane in the center. Two scattered light lobes are extended ~1.8" (200 AU) perpendicular to the direction of the outflow and ~2.5" (350 AU) along the outflow axis; the narrow dark lane between the scattered light lobes is ~0.45" (60 AU) thick. The observations are consistent with our initial modeling of a bright inner cavity separated by a dark lane due to extinction along the line of sight of the central protostar by the disk (Tobin et al. 2008). The bright, compact scattered light might be due to complex inner structure generated by the outflow, as suggested in our first paper, or it may more likely be the upper layers of the disk forming from infalling matter.