Sub-Arcsecond Sub-mm Continuum Observations of Orion-KL

Technical Report · Fri Jun 25 00:00:00 EDT 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/827013· OSTI ID:827013

Beuther, H ^[1]

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1. SLAC

We present the first 865 {micro}m continuum image with sub-arcsecond resolution obtained with the Submillimeter Array. These data resolve the Orion-KL region into the hot core, the nearby radio source I, the sub-mm counterpart to the infrared source n (radio source L), and new sub-mm continuum sources. The radio to submillimeter emission from source I may be modeled as either the result of proton-electron free-free emission that is optically thick to {approx} 100 GHz plus dust emission that accounts for the majority of the submillimeter flux, or H{sup -} free-free emission that gives rise to a power-law spectrum with power-law index of {approx} 1.6. The latter model would indicate similar physical conditions as found in the inner circumstellar environment of Mira variable stars. Future sub-arcsecond observations at shorter sub-mm wavelengths should easily discriminate between these two possibilities. The sub-mm continuum emission toward source n can be interpreted in the framework of emission from an accretion disk.

• Research Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Menlo Park, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 827013
• Report Number(s): SLAC-PUB-10521
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
DUSTS
RESOLUTION
VARIABLE STARS
WAVELENGTHS