We present the first results from the science demonstration phase for the Hi-GAL survey, the Herschel key program that will map the inner Galactic plane of the Milky Way in 5 bands. We outline our data reduction strategy and present some science highlights on the two observed 2 • × 2 • tiles approximately centered at l = 30 • and l = 59 • . The two regions are extremely rich in intense and highly structured extended emission which shows a widespread organization in filaments. Source SEDs can be built for hundreds of objects in the two fields, and physical parameters can be extracted, for a good fraction of them where the distance could be estimated. The compact sources (which we will call cores' in the following) are found for the most part to be associated with the filaments, and the relationship to the local beam-averaged column density of the filament itself shows that a core seems to appear when a threshold around A V ∼ 1 is exceeded for the regions in the l = 59 • field; a A V value between 5 and 10 is found for the l = 30 • field, likely due to the relatively higher distances of the sources. This outlines an exciting scenario where diffuse clouds first collapse into filaments, which later fragment to cores where the column density has reached a critical level. In spite of core L/M ratios being well in excess of a few for many sources, we find core surface densities between 0.03 and 0.5 g cm −2 . Our results are in good agreement with recent MHD numerical simulations of filaments forming from large-scale converging flows.

We examine the conditions of the plasma along a sample of "classical" Herbig-Haro (HH) jets located in the Orion and Vela star forming regions, through combined optical-infrared spectral diagnostics. Our sample includes HH 111, HH 34, HH 83, HH 73, HH 24 C/E, HH 24 J, observed quasi-simultaneously and in the same manner at moderate spatial/spectral resolution. Once intercalibrated, the obtained spectra cover a wide wavelength range from 0.6−2.5 µm, including many transitions from regions of different excitation conditions. This allows us to probe the density and temperature stratification which characterises the cooling zones behind the shock fronts along the jet. From the line ratios we derive the variation of the visual extinction along the flow, the electron density and temperature (n e and T e ), the hydrogen ionisation fraction x e , and the total density n H in the emission region of different lines. The knowledge of such parameters is essential for testing existing jet models and for planning follow-up high-angular resolution observations. From the diagnostics of optical forbidden lines we find, on average, that in the examined jets, in the region of optical emission, n e varies between 50 cm −3 and 3 × 10 3 cm −3 , x e ranges between 0.03 and 0.6, and the electron temperature T e is ∼1.3 × 10 4 K in the HH 111 and HH 34 jets, while it appears to be higher (1.8 × 10 4 K on average) in the other examined jets. The electron density and temperature derived from [Fe ii] lines, turn out to be, respectively, higher and lower in comparison to those determined from optical lines, in agreement with the fact that the [Fe ii] lines arise in the more compressed gas located further from the shock front. An even denser component in the jets, with values of n e up to 10 6 cm −3 is detected using the ratio of calcium lines. The derived physical parameters are used to estimate the depletion onto dust grains of calcium and iron with respect to solar abundances. This turns out to be quite substantial, being between 70% and 0% for Ca and ∼90% for Fe. This leads us to suggest that the weak shocks present in the beams are not capable of completely destroying the ambient dust grains, confirming previous theoretical studies. We then derive the mass flux rates,Ṁ jet , in the flows using two independent methods. Taking into account the filling factor of the emitting gas,Ṁ jet is on average 5 × 10 −8 M yr −1 . The associated linear momentum fluxes (Ṗ jet = v jetṀjet ) are higher than, or of the same order as, those measured in the coaxial molecular flows, where present, suggesting that the flows are jet driven. Finally, we discuss differences between jets in our sample. In general, we find that higher ionisation and electron temperatures are associated with less dense jets. The comparison suggests that the shock mechanism exciting the knots along the flows has the same efficiency in all the examined objects, and the observed differences are consistent with the different densities, and hence cooling rates, found in the vario...

ABSTRACT. Hi-GAL, the Herschel infrared Galactic Plane Survey, is an Open Time Key Project of the Herschel Space Observatory. It will make an unbiased photometric survey of the inner Galactic plane by mapping a 2°wide strip in the longitude range |l| < 60°in five wavebands between 70 μm and 500 μm. The aim of Hi-GAL is to detect the earliest phases of the formation of molecular clouds and high-mass stars and to use the optimum combination of Herschel wavelength coverage, sensitivity, mapping strategy, and speed to deliver a homogeneous census of starforming regions and cold structures in the interstellar medium. The resulting representative samples will yield the variation of source temperature, luminosity, mass and age in a wide range of Galactic environments at all scales from massive YSOs in protoclusters to entire spiral arms, providing an evolutionary sequence for the formation of intermediate and high-mass stars. This information is essential to the formulation of a predictive global model of the role of environment and feedback in regulating the star-formation process. Such a model is vital to understanding star formation on galactic scales and in the early universe. Hi-GAL will also provide a science legacy for decades to come with incalculable potential for systematic and serendipitous science in a wide range of astronomical fields, enabling the optimum use of future major facilities such as JWST and ALMA.

Abstract. Complete flux-calibrated spectra covering the spectral range from 6000 Å to 2.5 µm have been obtained along the HH1 jet and analysed in order to explore the potential of a combined optical/near-IR diagnostic applied to jets from young stellar objects. The main physical parameters (visual extinction, electron temperature and density, ionization fraction and total density) have been derived along the jet using various diagnostic line ratios. This multi-line analysis shows, in each spatially unresolved knot, the presence of zones at different excitation conditions, as expected from the cooling layers behind a shock front. In particular, a density stratification in the jet is evident from ratios of various lines of different critical density. We measure electron densities in the range 6 × 10 2 -3 × 10 3 cm Finally, we find that the gas-phase abundance of refractory species, such as Fe, C, Ca, and Ni, is lower than the solar value, with the lowest values (between 10 and 30% of solar) derived in the inner and densest regions. This suggests a significant fraction of dust grains may still be present in the jet beam, imposing constraints on the efficiency of grain destruction by multiple low-velocity shock events.

Abstract. Young massive stars or clusters are often observed at the peripheries of H  regions. What triggers star formation at such locations? Among the scenarios that have been proposed, the "collect and collapse" process is particularly attractive because it permits the formation of massive objects via the fragmentation of the dense shocked layer of neutral gas surrounding the expanding ionized zone. However, until our recent article on Sh 104, it had not been convincingly demonstrated that this process actually takes place. In the present paper we present our selection of seventeen candidate regions for this process; all show high-luminosity near-IR clusters and/or mid-IR point sources at their peripheries. The reality of a "collect and collapse" origin of these presumably second-generation stars and clusters will be discussed in forthcoming papers, using new near-IR and millimetre observations.

Aims. We present one-dimensional aperture synthesis imaging of the red supergiant Betelgeuse (α Ori) with VLTI/AMBER. We reconstructed for the first time one-dimensional images in the individual CO first overtone lines. Our aim is to probe the dynamics of the inhomogeneous atmosphere and its time variation. Methods. Betelgeuse was observed between 2.28 and 2.31 μm with VLTI/AMBER using the 16-32-48 m telescope configuration with a spectral resolution up to 12 000 and an angular resolution of 9.8 mas. The good nearly one-dimensional uv coverage allows us to reconstruct one-dimensional projection images (i.e., one-dimensional projections of the object's two-dimensional intensity distributions).Results. The reconstructed one-dimensional projection images reveal that the star appears differently in the blue wing, line center, and red wing of the individual CO lines. The one-dimensional projection images in the blue wing and line center show a pronounced, asymmetrically extended component up to ∼1.3 R , while those in the red wing do not show such a component. The observed onedimensional projection images in the lines can be reasonably explained by a model in which the CO gas within a region more than half as large as the stellar size is moving slightly outward with 0-5 km s −1 , while the gas in the remaining region is infalling fast with 20-30 km s −1 . A comparison between the CO line AMBER data taken in 2008 and 2009 shows a significant time variation in the dynamics of the CO line-forming region in the photosphere and the outer atmosphere. In contrast to the line data, the reconstructed one-dimensional projection images in the continuum show only a slight deviation from a uniform disk or limb-darkened disk. We derive a uniform-disk diameter of 42.05 ± 0.05 mas and a power-law-type limb-darkened disk diameter of 42.49 ± 0.06 mas and a limb-darkening parameter of (9.7 ± 0.5) × 10 −2 . This latter angular diameter leads to an effective temperature of 3690 ± 54 K for the continuum-forming layer. These diameters confirm that the near-IR size of Betelgeuse was nearly constant over the last 18 years, in marked contrast to the recently reported noticeable decrease in the mid-IR size. The continuum data taken in 2008 and 2009 reveal no or only marginal time variations, much smaller than the maximum variation predicted by the current three-dimensional convection simulations. Conclusions. Our two-epoch AMBER observations show that the outer atmosphere extending to ∼1.3-1.4 R is asymmetric and its dynamics is dominated by vigorous, inhomogeneous large-scale motions, whose overall nature changes drastically within one year. This is likely linked to the wind-driving mechanism in red supergiants.

Context. Studying the physical conditions in circumstellar disks is a crucial step toward understanding planet formation and disk evolution. Of particular interest is the case of HD 100546, a Herbig Be star that presents a gap within the first 13 AU of its protoplanetary disk, a gap that may originate in the dynamical interactions of a forming planet with its hosting disk. Aims. We seek a more detailed understanding of the structure of the circumstellar environment of HD 100546 and refine our previous disk model that is composed of a tenuous inner disk, a gap and a massive outer disk (see Benisty et al. 2010, A&A, 511, A75). We also investigate whether planetary formation processes can explain the complex density structure observed in the disk. Methods. We gathered a large amount of new interferometric data using the AMBER/VLTI instrument in the H-and K-bands to spatially resolve the warm inner disk and constrain its structure. Then, combining these measurements with photometric observations, we analyze the circumstellar environment of HD 100546 in the light of a passive disk model based on 3D Monte-Carlo radiative transfer. Finally, we use hydrodynamical simulations of gap formation by planets to predict the radial surface density profile of the disk and test the hypothesis of ongoing planet formation. Results. The SED (spectral energy distribution) from the UV to the millimeter range, and the NIR (near-infrared) interferometric data are adequately reproduced by our model. We show that the H-and K-band emissions are coming mostly from the inner edge of the internal dust disk, located near 0.24 AU from the star, i.e., at the dust sublimation radius in our model. At such a short distance, the survival of hot (silicate) dust requires the presence of micron-sized grains, heated at ∼1750 K. We directly measure an inclination of 33 • ± 11 • and a position angle of 140 • ± 16 • for the inner disk. This is similar to the values found for the outer disk (i 42 • , PA 145 • ), suggesting that both disks may be coplanar. We finally show that 1 to 8 Jupiter mass planets located at ∼8 AU from the star would have enough time to create the gap and the required surface density jump of three orders of magnitude between the inner and outer disk. However, no information on the amount of matter left in the gap is available, which precludes us from setting precise limits on the planet mass, for now.

Context. IC 1396N is a bright-rimmed cloud associated with an intermediate-mass star-forming region, where a number of HerbigHaro objects, H 2 jet-like features, CO molecular outflows, and millimeter compact sources have been observed. Aims. We study the complex structure of the IC 1396N core and the molecular outflows detected in the region in detail and reveal the presence of additional YSOs inside this globule. Methods. We carried out a deep survey of the IC 1396N region in the J, H, K broadband filters and deep high-angular resolution observations in the H 2 narrowband filter with NICS at the TNG telescope. The completeness limits in the 2MASS standard are K s ∼ 17.5, H ∼ 18.5, and J ∼ 19.5. Results. A total of 736 sources have been detected in all three bands within the area where the JHK images overlap. There are 128 sources detected only in HK , 67 detected only in K , and 79 detected only in JH. We found only a few objects exhibiting a near-infrared excess and no clear signs of clustering of sources towards the southern rim. In the case of triggered star formation in the southern rim of the globule, this could be very recent, because it is not shown through Near-Infrared imaging alone. The H 2 emission is complex and knotty and shows a large number of molecular hydrogen features spread over the region, testifying to recent starformation activity throughout the whole globule. This emission is resolved into several chains or groups of knots that sometimes show a jet-like morphology. The shocked cloudlet model scenario previously proposed to explain the V-shaped morphology of the CO molecular outflow powered by the intermediate-mass YSO BIMA 2 seems to be confirmed by the presence of H 2 emission at the position of the deflecting western clump. New possible flows have been discovered in the globule, and some of them could be very long. In particular, the YSO BIMA 3 could be powering an old and poorly collimated outflow.