A compact Keplerian-like disc and H30$α$ emission towards the radio jet in the massive protostar W75N(B)-VLA3

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sanchez-Monge, A., Gomez, J. F., Torrelles, J. M., Curiel, S., Girart, J. M., Surcis, G., Carrasco-Gonzalez, C., Anglada, G., Fuller, G. A., Goddi, C., Vlemmings, W. H. T., Rodriguez-Kamenetzky, A. R., van Langevelde, H. J., Kim, J. -S., Kim, S. W., Canto, J.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Sanchez-Monge, A.
Gomez, J. F.
Torrelles, J. M.
Curiel, S.
Girart, J. M.
Surcis, G.
Carrasco-Gonzalez, C.
Anglada, G.
Fuller, G. A.
Goddi, C.
Vlemmings, W. H. T.
Rodriguez-Kamenetzky, A. R.
van Langevelde, H. J.
Kim, J. -S.
Kim, S. W.
Canto, J.
author_facet Sanchez-Monge, A.
Gomez, J. F.
Torrelles, J. M.
Curiel, S.
Girart, J. M.
Surcis, G.
Carrasco-Gonzalez, C.
Anglada, G.
Fuller, G. A.
Goddi, C.
Vlemmings, W. H. T.
Rodriguez-Kamenetzky, A. R.
van Langevelde, H. J.
Kim, J. -S.
Kim, S. W.
Canto, J.
contents Studying young, high-mass stellar objects is challenging for testing models of massive star formation due to their great distances, often kiloparsecs away. This requires extremely high-angular resolution to resolve features like accretion discs around massive protostars. Consequently, while powerful, collimated outflows are evident in massive protostars, the compact accretion discs anticipated at their centres are still proving difficult to pinpoint. This study presents ALMA continuum and molecular line observations at 1.3 mm of the massive protostar W75N(B)-VLA3. The observations achieve an angular resolution of $\sim$0.12$^{\prime\prime}$ ($\sim$156 au). Dense gas tracers reveal a circumstellar disc of $\sim$450 au in radius surrounding VLA3, with an orientation perpendicular to its associated thermal radio jet. From the millimetre continuum, a total mass of $\approx$0.43-1.74 $M_\odot$ is estimated for the disc. The disc's velocity profile is consistent with Keplerian rotation around a protostar of $\approx$16 $M_\odot$. This adds VLA3 to the small number of massive disc-protostar-jet systems documented in the literature with a centrifugally supported disc with a radius less than 500 au. Additionally, we detected H30$α$ recombination line emission towards the radio jet powered by VLA3. Despite limitations in the spatial and spectral resolution, our data reveal a very broad line, indicative of high-velocity motions, as well as a tentative velocity gradient in the jet's direction, thus favouring the H30$α$ emission to originate from the radio jet. Should this interpretation be confirmed with new observations, W75N(B)-VLA3 could represent the first protostellar radio jet for which a thermal radio recombination line has been detected.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_21747
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A compact Keplerian-like disc and H30$α$ emission towards the radio jet in the massive protostar W75N(B)-VLA3
Sanchez-Monge, A.
Gomez, J. F.
Torrelles, J. M.
Curiel, S.
Girart, J. M.
Surcis, G.
Carrasco-Gonzalez, C.
Anglada, G.
Fuller, G. A.
Goddi, C.
Vlemmings, W. H. T.
Rodriguez-Kamenetzky, A. R.
van Langevelde, H. J.
Kim, J. -S.
Kim, S. W.
Canto, J.
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Studying young, high-mass stellar objects is challenging for testing models of massive star formation due to their great distances, often kiloparsecs away. This requires extremely high-angular resolution to resolve features like accretion discs around massive protostars. Consequently, while powerful, collimated outflows are evident in massive protostars, the compact accretion discs anticipated at their centres are still proving difficult to pinpoint. This study presents ALMA continuum and molecular line observations at 1.3 mm of the massive protostar W75N(B)-VLA3. The observations achieve an angular resolution of $\sim$0.12$^{\prime\prime}$ ($\sim$156 au). Dense gas tracers reveal a circumstellar disc of $\sim$450 au in radius surrounding VLA3, with an orientation perpendicular to its associated thermal radio jet. From the millimetre continuum, a total mass of $\approx$0.43-1.74 $M_\odot$ is estimated for the disc. The disc's velocity profile is consistent with Keplerian rotation around a protostar of $\approx$16 $M_\odot$. This adds VLA3 to the small number of massive disc-protostar-jet systems documented in the literature with a centrifugally supported disc with a radius less than 500 au. Additionally, we detected H30$α$ recombination line emission towards the radio jet powered by VLA3. Despite limitations in the spatial and spectral resolution, our data reveal a very broad line, indicative of high-velocity motions, as well as a tentative velocity gradient in the jet's direction, thus favouring the H30$α$ emission to originate from the radio jet. Should this interpretation be confirmed with new observations, W75N(B)-VLA3 could represent the first protostellar radio jet for which a thermal radio recombination line has been detected.
title A compact Keplerian-like disc and H30$α$ emission towards the radio jet in the massive protostar W75N(B)-VLA3
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.21747