ALMASOP. A Rotating Feature Rich in Complex Organic Molecules in a Protostellar Core

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 989; no. 1; pp. 56 - 70
• Main Authors: Hsu, Shih-Ying, Lee, Chin-Fei, Johnstone, Doug, Liu, Sheng-Yuan, Liu, Tie, Bronfman, Leonardo, Chen, Huei-Ru Vivien, Dutta, Somnath, Eden, David J., Hirano, Naomi, Juvela, Mika, Kim, Kee-Tae, Kuan, Yi-Jehng, Kwon, Woojin, Lee, Chang Won, Lee, Jeong-Eun, Li, Shanghuo, Lin, Sheng-Jun, Liu, Chun-Fan, Liu, Xunchuan, López-Vázquez, J. A., Luo, Qiuyi, Rawlings, Mark G., Sahu, Dipen, Sanhueza, Patricio, Shang, Hsien, Tatematsu, Ken'ichi, Yang, Yao-Lun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The American Astronomical Society 10.08.2025; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Astrochemistry; Circumstellar disks; Complex organic molecules; Interstellar medium; Pre-biotic astrochemistry; Protostars; Star formation
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ade7fc

Interstellar complex organic molecules (COMs) in solar-like young stellar objects (YSOs), particularly within protostellar disks, are of significant interest owing to their potential connection to prebiotic chemistry in emerging planetary systems. We report the discovery of a rotating feature enriched in COMs, including CH 3 OH, CH 3 CHO, and NH 2 CHO, in the protostellar core G192.12-11.10. By constructing a YSO model, we find that the COM-rich feature is likely located within or near the boundary of the Keplerian disk. The image synthesis results suggest that additional heating mechanisms leading to a warm ring or a warm inner disk are required to reproduce the observed emission. We discuss possible origins of the COM-rich feature, particularly accretion shocks as a plausible cause for a warm ring. Additionally, molecules such as C 18 O, H 2 CO, DCS, H 2 S, and OCS exhibit distinct behavior compared to CH 3 OH, indicating a range of physical and chemical conditions within the region. The observed kinematics of H 2 S and OCS suggest that OCS resides in regions closer to the central protostar than H 2 S, consistent with previous experimental studies.