Crystalline Silicate Emission in the Protostellar Binary Serpens--SVS20
Authors:
          David R. Ciardi, MSC/Caltech
          Charles M. Telesco, University of Florida
          Christopher Packham, University of Florida
          Cynthia Gomez Martin, University of Florida
          James T. Radomski, University of Florida
          James M. De Buizer, Gemini Observatory
          Chris J. Phillips, Australia Telescope National Facility

Abstract:
          We present spatially resolved mid-infrared spectroscopy of the class I/flat-spectrum protostellar binary system SVS20 in the Serpens cloud core. The spectra were obtained with the newly commissioned mid-infrared instrument T-ReCS on Gemini-South. SVS20-South, the brighter of the two sources, exhibits a mid-infrared spectrum consistent with crystalline silicate emission, indicating that SVS20-S has chemically processed the amorphous silicate dust.  In contrast, SVS20-North primarily exhibits a shallow amorphous silicate absorption feature.  However, there is evidence for small amounts of crystalline silicate associated with SVS20-N. The presence of crystalline silicate in such a young binary system indicates that the grain processing found in more evolved HAeBE and T Tauri pre-main sequence stars likely begins at a relatively young evolutionary stage.