Infrared variability, maser activity, and accretion of massive young stellar objects

Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Stecklum, Bringfried
•
•
Hodapp, Klaus
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Linz, Hendrik
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•
DOI
10.1017/S1743921317010511
Abstract
Methanol and water masers indicate young stellar objects. They often exhibit flares, and a fraction shows periodic activity. Several mechanisms might explain this behavior but the lack of concurrent infrared (IR) data complicates the identification of its cause. Recently, 6.7 GHz methanol maser flares were observed, triggered by accretion bursts of high-mass YSOs which confirmed the IR-pumping of these masers. This suggests that regular IR changes might lead to maser periodicity. Hence, we scrutinized space-based IR imaging of YSOs associated with periodic methanol masers. We succeeded to extract the IR light curve from NEOWISE data for the intermediate mass YSO G107.298+5.639. Thus, for the first time a relationship between the maser and IR variability could be established. While the IR light curve shows the same period of ~34.6 days as the masers, its shape is distinct from that of the maser flares. Possible reasons for the IR periodicity are discussed.
Coverage
Astrophysical Masers: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe
All editors
Tarchi, Andrea; Reid, Mark ; Castangia, Paola
Series
Volume
vol. 13, S336
Start page
37
Conferenece
Astrophysical Masers: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe
Conferenece place
Cagliari, Italy
Conferenece date
4-8 September, 2017
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