Complex organic molecules tracing the comet-forming zones in protoplanetary disks. Issue Volume 15:Issue S350(2019) (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walsh, Catherine; Ilee, John D.
• Editors: Salama, Farid; Linnartz, Harold
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 15:Issue S350(2019)
• Page Start: 463
• Page End: 464
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: astrochemistry, -- planetary systems: protoplanetary disks; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921319006434
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: Resolved emission from gas-phase methanol can reveal the abundance and distribution of the comet-forming ice reservoir in protoplanetary disks. ALMA Cycle 4 observations of four transitions of gas-phase methanol in TW Hya allow the first model-independent determination of the rotational temperature of methanol in a prototoplanetary disk. The data confirm that the methanol is rotationally cold ( T rot < 50 K), and well constrain the column density to 2 × 10 12 cm −2 . Astrochemical models will constrain the chemical origin of methanol in TW Hya.