On the massive young stellar object AFGL 4176 High-spatial-resolution multi-wavelength observations and modeling

Abstract

Deeply embedded and at distances of several kiloparsecs, massive young stellar objects (MYSOs) present numerous challenges for observation and study. In this work, we present spatially-resolved observations of one MYSO, AFGL 4176, together with survey and literature data, ranging from interferometric observations with VLTI/MIDI in the mid-infrared, to single-dish Herschel measurements in the far-infrared, and sub-millimeter data from APEX. We consider this spatially-resolved, multi-wavelength data set in terms of both radiative transfer and geometric models. We find that the observations are well described by one-dimensional models overall, but there are also substantial deviations from spherical symmetry at scales of tens to hundreds of astronomical units, which are revealed by the mid-infrared interferometric measurements. We use a multiple-component, geometric modeling approach to explain the mid-infrared emission on scales of tens to hundreds of astronomical units, and find the MIDI measurements are well described by a model consisting of a one-dimensional Gaussian halo and an inclined (θ = 60°) circumstellar disk extending out to several hundred astronomical units along a position angle of 160°. Finally, we compare our results both with previous models of this source, and with those of other MYSOs, and discuss the present situation with mid-infrared interferometric observations of massive stars. © 2012 ESO.