Protostar L1455 IRS1 Strange Disk

Protostar L1455 IRS1: Rotating Disk Connecting to Filamentary Network

Authors:

Chou et al

Abstract:

We conducted IRAM-30m C18O (2-1) and SMA 1.3mm continuum, 12CO (2-1), and C18O (2-1) observations toward the Class 0/I protostar L1455 IRS1 in Perseus. The IRAM results show L1455 IRS1 located in a dense core of 0.05 pc in size with a mass of 0.35M_sun. Besides, we identify a filamentary structure connecting to the core, exhibiting a velocity gradient of ~8.1 km s-1 pc-1 along its longitudinal axis, leading to a mass flow rate of ~1.8M_sun Myr-1. The C18O component detected in SMA shows a clear velocity gradient of ~150 km s-1 pc-1 perpendicular to the bipolar outflow seen in 12CO, and likely traces the rotational motion. Its measured rotational velocity profile is proportional to r^-0.75, and the specific angular momentum on a 500AU scale is estimated to be ~1.0x10^-3 km s-1 pc. The rotational profile becomes shallower at a turning radius of ~200 AU which is approximately the radius of the 1.3mm continuum component. These results hint the presence of a Keplerian disk with a radius less than 200au around L1455 IRS1 with a protostellar mass of about 0.28M_sun. Previous polarimetric observations show a magnetic field aligned with the outflow axis and perpendicular to the associated filament on a 0.1pc scale, while on the inner 1000 AU scale, the field becomes perpendicular to the outflow axis. The faster envelope rotation seen in L1455 IRS1 could be related to the feeding from the associated filament. The change in the magnetic field orientations is consistent with the estimated increasing rotational energy from large to small scales that overcomes the magnetic field energy, wrapping the field lines and aligning them with the disk velocity gradient. These results are discussed in the context of the interplay between filament, magnetic field, and gas kinematics from large to small scale. Possible emerging trends are explored when further comparing to a larger sample of 8 Class 0/I protostars.