Context. Understanding the formation mechanisms of protoplanetary disks and multiple systems and also their pristine properties are key questions for modern astrophysics. The properties of the youngest disks, embedded in rotating infalling protostellar envelopes, have largely remained unconstrained up to now. Aims. We aim to observe the youngest protostars with a spatial resolution that is high enough to resolve and characterize the progenitors of protoplanetary disks. This can only be achieved using submillimeter and millimeter interferometric facilities. In the framework of the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer survey CALYPSO, we have obtained subarcsecond observations of the dust continuum emission at 231 GHz and 94 GHz for a sample of 16 solar-type Class 0 protostars. Methods. In an attempt to identify disk-like structures embedded at small scales in the protostellar envelopes, we modeled the dust continuum emission visibility profiles using Plummer-like envelope models and envelope models that include additional Gaussian disk-like components.Results. Our analysis shows that in the CALYPSO sample, 11 of the 16 Class 0 protostars are better reproduced by models including a disk-like dust continuum component contributing to the flux at small scales, but less than 25% of these candidate protostellar disks are resolved at radii > 60 au. Including all available literature constraints on Class 0 disks at subarcsecond scales, we show that our results are representative: most (> 72% in a sample of 26 protostars) Class 0 protostellar disks are small and emerge only at radii < 60 au. We find a multiplicity fraction of the CALYPSO protostars < ∼ 57% ± 10% at the scales 100-5000 au, which generally agrees with the multiplicity properties of Class I protostars at similar scales. Conclusions. We compare our observational constraints on the disk size distribution in Class 0 protostars to the typical disk properties from protostellar formation models. If Class 0 protostars contain similar rotational energy as is currently estimated for prestellar cores, then hydrodynamical models of protostellar collapse systematically predict a high occurrence of large disks. Our observations suggest that these are rarely observed, however. Because they reduce the centrifugal radius and produce a disk size distribution that peaks at radii < 100 au during the main accretion phase, magnetized models of rotating protostellar collapse are favored by our observations.

Aims. We aim to better understand the imprints that the nuclear activity in galaxies leaves in the molecular gas. Methods. We used the IRAM 30 m telescope to observe the frequency range ∼[86−116] GHz towards the central regions of the starburst galaxies M 83, M 82, and NGC 253, the galaxies hosting an active galactic nucleus (AGN) M 51, NGC 1068, and NGC 7469, and the ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) Arp 220 and Mrk 231. Assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), we calculated the column densities of 27 molecules and 10 isotopologues (or their upper limits in case of non-detections).Results. Among others, we report the first tentative detections of CH 3 CHO, HNCO, and NS in M 82 and, for the first time in the extragalactic medium, HC 5 N in NGC 253. Hα recombination lines were only found in M 82 and NGC 253. Vibrationally excited lines of HC 3 N were only detected in Arp 220. CH 3 CCH emission is only seen in the starburst-dominated galaxies. By comparison of the fractional abundances among the galaxies, we looked for the molecules that are best suited to characterise the chemistry of each group of galaxies (starbursts, AGNs and ULIRGs), as well as the differences among galaxies within the same group. Conclusions. Suitable species for characterising and comparing starburst galaxies are CH 3 OH and HNCO as tracers of large-scale shocks, which dominate early to intermediate starburst stages, and CH 3 CCH, c-C 3 H 2 , and HCO as tracers of UV fields, which control the intermediate-to-old or post starburst phases. M 83 shows signs of a shock-dominated environment. NGC 253 is characterised by both strong shocks and some UV fields. M 82 stands out for its bright photo-dissociated region tracers, which indicate an UV fielddominated environment. Regarding AGNs, the abundances of HCN and CN (previously claimed as enhanced in AGNs) in M 51 are similar to those in starburst galaxies, while the HCN/HCO + ratio is high in M 51 and NGC 1068, but not in NGC 7469. We did not find a correlation between the HCN/CS ratio (recently claimed as a possible starburst/AGN discriminator) and the AGN activity. However, a high enough spatial resolution to separate their circumnuclear disks from the surrounding star-forming regions is needed to find molecular abundance trends in AGNs. High abundances of H 13 CN and HC 3 N, as well as a similarity between the column densities of 13 CO and C 18 O, are representative of the molecular interstellar medium in the ULIRGs. Furthermore, the chemistry of Arp 220 points towards a more starburst-dominated environment, while that of Mrk 231 more resembles the AGNs of our sample.

Context. Complex organic molecules (COMs) have been detected in a few Class 0 protostars but their origin is not well understood. While the usual picture of a hot corino explains their presence as resulting from the heating of the inner envelope by the nascent protostar, shocks in the outflow, a disk wind, the presence of a flared disk, or the interaction region between envelope and disk at the centrifugal barrier have also been claimed to enhance the abundance of COMs. Aims. Going beyond studies of individual objects, we want to investigate the origin of COMs in young protostars on a statistical basis. Methods. We use the CALYPSO survey performed with the Plateau de Bure Interferometer of the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM) to search for COMs at high angular resolution in a sample of 26 solar-type protostars, including 22 Class 0 and four Class I objects. We derive the column densities of the detected molecules under the local thermodynamic equilibrium approximation and search for correlations between their abundances and with various source properties. Results. Methanol is detected in 12 sources and tentatively in one source, which represents half of the sample. Eight sources (30%) have detections of at least three COMs. We find a strong chemical differentiation in multiple systems with five systems having one component with at least three COMs detected but the other component devoid of COM emission. All sources with a luminosity higher than 4 L ⊙ have at least one detected COM whereas no COM emission is detected in sources with internal luminosity lower than 2 L ⊙ , likely because of a lack of sensitivity. The internal luminosity is found to be the source parameter impacting the most the COM chemical composition of the sources, while there is no obvious correlation between the detection of COM emission and that of a disk-like structure. A canonical hot-corino origin may explain the COM emission in four sources, an accretion-shock origin in two or possibly three sources, and an outflow origin in three sources. The CALYPSO sources with COM detections can be classified into three groups on the basis of the abundances of oxygen-bearing molecules, cyanides, and CHO-bearing molecules. These chemical groups correlate neither with the COM origin scenarii, nor with the evolutionary status of the sources if we take the ratio of envelope mass to internal luminosity as an evolutionary tracer. We find strong correlations between molecules that are a priori not related chemically (for instance methanol and methyl cyanide), implying that the existence of a correlation does not imply a chemical link.Conclusions. The CALYPSO survey has revealed a chemical differentiation in multiple systems that is markedly different from the case of the prototypical binary IRAS16293-2422. This raises the question whether all low-mass protostars go through a phase showing COM emission. A larger sample of young protostars and a more accurate determination of their internal luminosity will be necessary to make further progress. ...

Context. Fast jets are thought to be a crucial ingredient of star formation because they might extract angular momentum from the disk and thus allow mass accretion onto the star. However, it is unclear whether jets are ubiquitous, and likewise, their contribution to mass and angular momentum extraction during protostar formation remains an open question. Aims. Our aim is to investigate the ejection process in the low-mass Class 0 protostar L1157. This source is associated with a spectacular bipolar outflow, and the recent detection of high-velocity SiO suggests the occurrence of a jet. Methods. Observations of CO 2−1 and SiO 5−4 at ∼0 . 8 resolution were obtained with the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) as part of the CALYPSO large program. The jet and outflow structure were fit with a precession model. We derived the column density of CO and SiO, as well as the jet mass-loss rate and mechanical luminosity. Results. High-velocity CO and SiO emission resolve for the first time the first 200 au of the outflow-driving molecular jet. The jet is strongly asymmetric, with the blue lobe ∼0.65 times slower than the red lobe. This suggests that the large-scale asymmetry of the outflow is directly linked to the jet velocity and that the asymmetry in the launching mechanism has been at work for the past 1800 yr. Velocity asymmetries are common in T Tauri stars, which suggests that the jet formation mechanism from Class 0 to Class II stages might be similar. Our model simultaneously fits the properties of the inner jet and of the clumpy 0.2 pc scale outflow by assuming that the jet precesses counter-clockwise on a cone inclined by 73• to the line of sight with an opening angle of 8• on a period of ∼1640 yr. The estimated jet mass flux and mechanical luminosity areṀ jet ∼ 7.7 × 10 −7 M yr −1 and L jet ∼ 0.9 L , indicating that the jet could extract at least 25% of the gravitational energy released by the forming star.

Context. The Galactic Cold Cores project has carried out Herschel photometric observations of 116 fields where the Planck survey has found signs of cold dust emission. The fields contain sources in different environments and different phases of star formation. Previous studies have revealed variations in their dust submillimetre opacity. Aims. The aim is to measure the value of dust opacity spectral index and to understand its variations spatially and with respect to other parameters, such as temperature, column density, and Galactic location. Methods. The dust opacity spectral index β and the dust colour temperature T are derived using Herschel and Planck data. The relation between β and T is examined for the whole sample and inside individual fields. Results. Based on IRAS and Planck data, the fields are characterised by a median colour temperature of 16.1 K and a median opacity spectral index of β = 1.84. The values are not correlated with Galactic longitude. We observe a clear T -β anti-correlation. In Herschel observations, constrained at lower resolution by Planck data, the variations follow the column density structure and β FIR can rise to ∼2.2 in individual clumps. The highest values are found in starless clumps. The Planck 217 GHz band shows a systematic excess that is not restricted to cold clumps and is thus consistent with a general flattening of the dust emission spectrum at millimetre wavelengths. When fitted separately below and above 700 µm, the median spectral index values are β FIR ∼ 1.91 and β(mm) ∼ 1.66. Conclusions. The spectral index changes as a function of column density and wavelength. The comparison of different data sets and the examination of possible error sources show that our results are robust. However, β variations are partly masked by temperature gradients and the changes in the intrinsic grain properties may be even greater.

Context. Using observations to deduce dust properties, grain-size distribution, and physical conditions in molecular clouds is a highly degenerate problem. Aims. The coreshine phenomenon, a scattering process at 3.6 and 4.5 µm that dominates absorption, has revealed its ability to explore the densest parts of clouds. We use this effect to constrain the dust parameters. The goal is to investigate to what extent grain growth (at constant dust mass) inside molecular clouds is able to explain the coreshine observations. We aim to find dust models that can explain a sample of Spitzer coreshine data. We also examine the consistency with near-infrared data we obtained for a few clouds. Methods. We selected four regions with a very high occurrence of coreshine cases: Taurus-Perseus, Cepheus, Chameleon, and L183/L134. We built a grid of dust models and investigated the key parameters to reproduce the general trend of surface brightnesses and intensity ratios of both coreshine and near-infrared observations with the help of a 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code. The grid parameters allowed us to investigate the effect of coagulation upon spherical grains up to 5 µm in size derived from the DustEm diffuse interstellar medium grains. Fluffiness (porosity or fractal degree), ices, and a handful of classical grain-size distributions were also tested. We used the near-and mostly mid-infrared intensity ratios as strong discriminants between dust models. Results. The determination of the background-field intensity at each wavelength is a key issue. In particular, an especially strong background field explains why we do not see coreshine in the Galactic plane at 3.6 and 4.5 µm. For starless cores, where detected, the observed 4.5 µm/3.6 µm coreshine intensity ratio is always lower than ∼0.5, which is also what we find in the models for the Taurus-Perseus and L183 directions. Embedded sources can lead to higher fluxes (up to four times higher than the strongest starless core fluxes) and higher coreshine ratios (from 0.5 to 1.1 in our selected sample). Normal interstellar radiation-field conditions are sufficient to find suitable grain models at all wavelengths for starless cores. The standard interstellar grains are not able to reproduce observations and, because of the multiwavelength approach, only a few grain types meet the criteria set by the data. Porosity does not affect the flux ratios, while the fractal dimension helps to explain coreshine ratios, but does not seem able to reproduce near-infrared observations without a mix of other grain types. Conclusions. Combined near-and mid-infrared wavelengths confirm the potential of revealing the nature and size distribution of dust grains. Careful assessment of the environmental parameters (interstellar and background fields, embedded or nearby reddened sources) is required to validate this new diagnostic.

Context. The project Galactic Cold Cores has carried out Herschel photometric observations of interstellar clouds where the Planck satellite survey has located cold and compact clumps. The sources represent different stages of cloud evolution from starless clumps to protostellar cores and are located in different Galactic environments. Aims. We examine this sample of 116 Herschel fields to estimate the submillimetre dust opacity and to search for variations that might be attributed to the evolutionary stage of the sources or to environmental factors, including the location within the Galaxy. Methods. The submillimetre dust opacity was derived from Herschel data, and near-infrared observations of the reddening of background stars are converted into near-infrared optical depth. We investigated the systematic errors affecting these parameters and used modelling to correct for the expected biases. The ratio of 250 μm and J band opacities is correlated with the Galactic location and the star formation activity. We searched for local variations in the ratio τ(250 μm)/τ(J) using the correlation plots and opacity ratio maps. Results. We find a median ratio of τ(250 μm)/τ(J) = (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10 −3 , which is more than three times the mean value reported for the diffuse medium. Assuming an opacity spectral index β = 1.8 instead of β = 2.0, the value would be lower by ∼30%. No significant systematic variation is detected with Galactocentric distance or with Galactic height. Examination of the τ(250 μm)/τ(J) maps reveals six fields with clear indications of a local increase of submillimetre opacity of up to τ(250 μm)/τ(J) ∼ 4 × 10 −3 towards the densest clumps. These are all nearby fields with spatially resolved clumps of high column density. Conclusions. We interpret the increase in the far-infrared opacity as a sign of grain growth in the densest and coldest regions of interstellar clouds.

Aims. We aim to clarify the origin of the multiple jet features emanating from the binary protostar SVS 13A (=VLA4A/VLA4B). Methods. We used the Plateau de Bure Interferometer to map at 0.3-0.8 (∼70-190 au) dust emission at 1.4 mm, CO(2-1), SiO(5-4), SO(6 5 -5 4 ). Revised proper motions for VLA4A/4B and jet wiggling models are computed to clarify their respective contribution. Results. VLA4A shows compact dust emission suggestive of a disk <50 au, and is the hot corino source, while CO/SiO/SO counterparts to the small-scale H 2 jet originate from VLA4B and reveal the jet variable velocity structure. This jet exhibits 3 wiggling consistent with orbital motion around a yet undetected 20-30 au companion to VLA4B, or jet precession. Jet wiggling combined with velocity variability can explain the large apparent angular momentum in CO bullets. We also uncover a synchronicity between CO jet bullets and knots in the HH7-11 chain demonstrating that they trace two distinct jets. Their 300 yr twin outburst period may be triggered by close perihelion approach of VLA4A in an eccentric orbit around VLA4B. A third jet is tentatively seen at PA 0• . Conclusions. SVS13 A harbors at least 2 and possibly 3 distinct jet sources. The CO and HH7-11 jets are launched from quasicoplanar disks, separated by 20-70 au. Their synchronous major events every 300 yr favor external triggering by close binary interactions, a scenario also invoked for FU Or outbursts.