Deep search for hydrogen peroxide toward pre- and protostellar objects -- Testing the pathway of grain surface water formation

Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS)

Abstract

Context: In the laboratory, hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) was proven to be an intermediate product in the solid-state reaction scheme that leads to the formation of water on icy dust grains. When HOOH desorbs from the icy grains, it can be detected in the gas phase. In combination with water detections, it may provide additional information on the water reaction network. Hydrogen peroxide has previously been found toward $ρ$ Oph A. However, further searches for this molecule in other sources failed. Hydrogen peroxide plays a fundamental role in the understanding of solid-state water formation and the overall water reservoir in young stellar objects (YSOs). Without further HOOH detections, it is difficult to assess and develop suitable chemical models that properly take into account the formation of water on icy surfaces. Aims: The objective of this work is to identify HOOH in YSOs and thereby constrain the grain surface water formation hypothesis. Methods: Using an astrochemical model based on previous work in combination with a physical model of YSOs, the sources R CrA-IRS\,5A, NGCC1333-IRAS\,2A, L1551-IRS\,5, and L1544 were identified as suitable candidates for an HOOH detection. Long integration times on the APEX 12m and IRAM 30m telescopes were applied to search for HOOH signatures in these sources. Results: None of the four sources under investigation showed convincing spectral signatures of HOOH. The upper limit for HOOH abundance based on the noise level at the frequency positions of this molecule for the source R CrA-IRS\,5A was close to the predicted value. For NGC1333-IRAS 2A, L1544, and L1551-IRS\,5, the model overestimated the hydrogen peroxide abundances.

Authors 9

1. Guido Fuchs

   University of Kassel

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Kassel

2. Daniel Witsch

   University of Kassel

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics, University Kassel, Heinrich-Plett Str. 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany

3. Doris Herberth

   University of Kassel

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics, University Kassel, Heinrich-Plett Str. 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany

4. Marie Kempkes

   University of Kassel

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics, University Kassel, Heinrich-Plett Str. 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany

5. B. Stanclik

   University of Kassel

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics, University Kassel, Heinrich-Plett Str. 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany

6. J. Chantzos

   Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

   Affiliation as printed

   Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE), Giessenbachstraße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany

7. H. Linnartz Aachen Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory

   Leiden University · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands

8. Karl M. Menten

   Max Planck Society · Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

   Affiliation as printed

   Infrared and Submillimeter Astronomy, MPI for Extraterrestrial Physics, Max Planck Society

9. Thomas F. Giesen

   University of Kassel

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics, University Kassel, Heinrich-Plett Str. 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany