SF-05-0004

A Multi-Wavelength Perspective of the Massive Protostar AFGL 2136 IRS 1

Nick Indriolo, Tomoya Hirota, Luke Maud, David A. Neufeld, Andrew G. Barr, Adwin C. A. Boogert, Curtis N. DeWitt, Agata Karska, Edward J. Montiel, Matt J. Richter, Alexander G. G. M. Tielens

Observations across a broad range of wavelengths provide complementary information about astrophysical objects. The massive protostar AFGL 2136 IRS 1 has been observed at high angular resolution in the sub-mm by ALMA---revealing a compact rotating disk---and at high spectral resolution in the mid-IR by SOFIA/EXES---revealing a large column density of hot water (T~500 K). Together, these observations constrain the spatial distribution, kinematics, and excitation conditions in material in the immediate vicinity of the central protostar. While the IR observations alone cannot constrain the location of the water absorption, new ALMA observations covering H2O transitions with upper state energies in the range 468-2955 K show that hot water emission is confined to the circumstellar disk, and a maser component coincident with the disk. With no other structures containing hot water, the IR water absorption must be coming from these regions.