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arXiv · 2610.08491

Mapping of interstellar ices with JWST in protostellar envelopes: Spatial variations of $^{13}$CO$_2$, $^{12}$CO$_2$, CO, OCN$^-$ and H$_2$O ice

N. G. C. Brunken·E. F. van Dishoeck·A. C. A. Boogert·P. Nazari·Y. Chen·J. Santos·H. Beuther·A. Caratti o Garatti·T. Megeath·K. Slavicinska·C. Gieser·H. Tyagi·L. Tychoniec·M. McClure·V. J. M. le Gouellec·Y. Yang·L. W. Looney·N. J. Evans·M. Narang
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Abstract

The composition of planets and their atmospheres is largely determined by the formation environment of the planet. This environment is pre-determined during early stages when the protostar is still forming. Charting the structure of protostellar envelopes is therefore crucial for understanding how the chemistry is linked to the physical processes occurring in stellar nurseries. We use JWST NIRSpec IFU observations to extract spectra at every pixel in the IFU and map the distribution of $^{13}$CO$_2$,$^{12}$CO$_2$, CO, OCN$^-$ and H$_2$O ice. The 13CO2 ice feature, a known thermal tracer, is also used to identify high-temperature regions where the ices are thermally processed. The findings show that the distribution of ices in both L1527 and IRAS 20126+4104 is not uniform, with both envelopes showing localized temperature zones and substructures. In L1527, CO$_2$ ice segregation and OCN$^-$ enhancement with respect to CO$_2$ are observed in the warm central disk region close to the protostar. In IRAS 20126+4104, the warm temperature zones are observed mostly towards the shocked region in the NW outflow where dense material is interacting with the precessing jet as well as close to the central source. The CO$_2$ ice is segregated at these locations and we observe sublimation of CO ice. In addition, crystalline H$_2$O ice is detected at a few locations in the envelope. In both low mass and high mass protostar the findings indicate that the distribution of ices and their structure are linked to the temperature structure of the envelopes. The envelope of IRAS 20126 shows a more complex structure, where interacting material results in localized regions of high temperatures and denser regions that harbor cooler ices. L1527 in contrast appears to be a more structured system with heated warm ices observed mostly towards the central disk regions.

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N. G. C. Brunken, E. F. van Dishoeck, A. C. A. Boogert, P. Nazari, Y. Chen, J. Santos, H. Beuther, A. Caratti o Garatti, T. Megeath, K. Slavicinska, C. Gieser, H. Tyagi, L. Tychoniec, M. McClure, V. J. M. le Gouellec, Y. Yang, L. W. Looney, N. J. Evans, M. Narang. 2026-10-06. Mapping of interstellar ices with JWST in protostellar envelopes: Spatial variations of $^{13}$CO$_2$, $^{12}$CO$_2$, CO, OCN$^-$ and H$_2$O ice. https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.08491

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