Nascent chemical complexity in the prestellar core IRAS 16293E: Complex organics and deuterated methanol
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Context . Prestellar cores represent early sites of low-mass ( M ≤ few M ⊙ ) star and planet formation and provide insight into the initial chemical conditions of complex organic molecules (COMs). Deuterated COMs trace the degree of molecular inheritance and/or reprocessing, as high deuteration in protostellar systems suggests COMs forming during the prestellar stage when deuteration was enhanced. Aims . Within the L1689N molecular cloud, the prestellar core IRAS 16293E sits 90" eastward of the chemically rich IRAS 162932422 A and B protostellar system. A unique view of star formation inside a common natal cloud, IRAS 16293A, B, and E all show some of the highest levels of deuteration in the interstellar medium, with a number of D/H ratios 10 5 times higher than solar. We investigated the deuteration levels of the simplest COM, methanol (CH 3 OH), in IRAS 16293E for the first time. Methods . Using the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) 12 m telescope, we targeted favorable transitions of CH 2 DOH, CHD 2 OH, 13 CH 3 OH, and several higher-complexity COMs (including acetaldehyde, CH 3 CHO, methyl formate, HCOOCH 3 , and dimethyl ether, CH 3 OCH 3 ) in the 3 mm band. Follow-up observations with the Yebes 40 m telescope provided additional transitions in the 7 mm (Q band). Results . We report the first detections of these COMs and deuterated methanol in the prestellar core IRAS 16293E and used our observations to calculate excitation temperatures, column densities, and relative abundance ratios. Striking similarities were found between relative molecular ratios and D/H values when we compared IRAS 16293E to the A and B protostars, in addition to to a heterogeneous sample of other prestellar cores, protostars, and comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Conclusions . Our results support the idea that there is a limited amount of chemical reprocessing of COMs when prestellar cores collapse and heat up during the protostellar phase.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,865
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, European Commission, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Holcim Stiftung zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Fortbildung, RIKEN, Office of International Science and Engineering, Army Research Office
Awards: G1535609731, MRI: Development of a State-of-the-Art Multiband Receiver for Arizona Radio Observatory's New ALMA Antenna, G1835519945, CAREER: Mapping the Fuel for Star Formation Across Cosmic History, The Event Horizon Telescope Experiment, Opticon RadioNet Pilot, PIRE: Black Hole Astrophysics in the Era of Distributed Resources and Expertise, An Undergraduate Group Research Project: Large Scale Mapping of the Structure and Kinematics of Filaments and Cores in Nearby Molecular Clouds, G6671297155, Investigating the Prestellar Ice Record with Methanol Deuteration
OpenAlex ID: W4414007765