A Herschel study of the high-mass protostar IRAS20126+4104

TL;DR

This study uses Herschel observations to analyze the physical properties of the high-mass star-forming region IRAS20126+4104, providing detailed insights into its luminosity, mass, temperature, density, and outflow characteristics.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive multi-wavelength analysis combining continuum and line emission data to refine the understanding of the region's physical conditions and confirms the central B-type star's role.

Findings

Confirmed the B-type star as the source of luminosity and outflow.

Derived accurate estimates of mass, temperature, and density distributions.

Mapped shocked regions and estimated mass-loss rates.

Abstract

We performed Herschel observations of the continuum and line emission from the high-mass star-forming region IRAS20126+4104, which hosts a well-studied B-type (proto)star powering a bipolar outflow and is associated with a Keplerian circumstellar disk. The continuum images at six wavelengths allowed us to derive an accurate estimate of the bolometric luminosity and mass of the molecular clump enshrouding the disk. The same region has been mapped in 12 rotational transitions of carbon monoxide, which were used in synergy with the continuum data to determine the temperature and density distribution inside the clump and improve upon the mass estimate. The maps of two fine structure oxygen far-IR lines were used to estimate the volume density of the shocked region at the surface of the southern lobe of the outflow and the mass-loss rate. Our findings lend further support to the scenario previously proposed by various authors, confirming that at the origin of the bolometric luminosity and bipolar outflow from IRAS20126+4104 is a B-type star located at the centre of the Keplerian disk.