Tying the Geometrical Traits of Massive Young Stellar Objects and Their Disks to a Potential Evolutionary Sequence Using Infrared Observations

Young massive stars influence their surroundings from local to galactic scales, but the observational challenges associated with their distance and embedded nature has, until the recent decade, made high-resolution studies of these objects difficult. In particular, comparative analyses of massive young stellar object (MYSO) disks are currently lacking and our understanding of their evolution is limited. Here, we combine the results of two studies with the aim to attribute geometrical features to an evolutionary sequence for a sample of seven MYSOs. The time evolution is based on near-infrared spectral features, while the geometry is determined from a multi-size-scale study of MYSOs. We find that MYSO disks with determined geometrical substructure turn out to be also spectroscopically more evolved. This implies that disk evolution and dispersal occur within MYSOs similarly to low-mass young stellar object (YSO) disk evolution, despite their faster formation timescales.

Automated summary

Young massive stars have significant influence on their surroundings, but high-resolution studies of these objects have been difficult due to observational challenges related to distance and embedded nature. The lack of comparative analyses of massive young stellar object disks hinders our understanding of their evolution. Research shows that MYSO disks with determined geometrical substructure are also spectroscopically more evolved.