Bergner, JB, Öberg, KI, Guzmán, VV et al. (23 more authors) (2021) Molecules with ALMA at Planet-forming Scales (MAPS). XI. CN and HCN as Tracers of Photochemistry in Disks. The Astrophysical Journal Supplement, 257 (1). 11. ISSN 0067-0049
Abstract
UV photochemistry in the surface layers of protoplanetary disks dramatically alters their composition relative to previous stages of star formation. The abundance ratio CN/HCN has long been proposed to trace the UV field in various astrophysical objects; however, to date the relationship between CN, HCN, and the UV field in disks remains ambiguous. As part of the ALMA Large Program MAPS (Molecules with ALMA at Planet-forming Scales), we present observations of CN N = 1–0 transitions at 0farcs3 resolution toward five disk systems. All disks show bright CN emission within ∼50–150 au, along with a diffuse emission shelf extending up to 600 au. In all sources we find that the CN/HCN column density ratio increases with disk radius from about unity to 100, likely tracing increased UV penetration that enhances selective HCN photodissociation in the outer disk. Additionally, multiple millimeter dust gaps and rings coincide with peaks and troughs, respectively, in the CN/HCN ratio, implying that some millimeter substructures are accompanied by changes to the UV penetration in more elevated disk layers. That the CN/HCN ratio is generally high (>1) points to a robust photochemistry shaping disk chemical compositions and also means that CN is the dominant carrier of the prebiotically interesting nitrile group at most disk radii. We also find that the local column densities of CN and HCN are positively correlated despite emitting from vertically stratified disk regions, indicating that different disk layers are chemically linked. This paper is part of the MAPS special issue of the Astrophysical Journal Supplement.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article published in Astrophysical Journal Supplement. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/ac143a |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) > Astrophysics (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) ST/R000549/1 STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) ST/T000287/1 MRC (Medical Research Council) MR/T040726/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 11 Nov 2021 15:08 |
Last Modified: | 01 Nov 2022 01:14 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | IOP Publishing |
Identification Number: | 10.3847/1538-4365/ac143a |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:180192 |