Protostellar Envelopes Resolved Inside and Out: A Close Look in the Far-IR

We propose to use Herschel PACS and SPIRE observations to develop a detailedcharacterization of the envelope temperature and density structure in four nearby (d virgul 200300 pc) protostars. This will enable us to understand howthe nonaxisymmetric structure in the surrounding dusty envelopes affectsthe infall process and the structure of the inner envelope. The goal of thisproposal is to take advantage of the superb spatial resolution in the farIRand submillimeter to constrain envelope densities and temperatures over thewide range of spatial scales involved in protostar formation. The proposed observations will resolve the warm inner envelope around these protostars with PACS and map the cold outer envelope with PACS and SPIRE with unparalleledsensitivity and resolution. The multiband Herschel data enable us to construct dust temperature and density maps which we will combine with our existing Spitzer/nearIR dust extinction maps and measurements of envelope mass and morphology. We will interpret our observations using radiative transfer models to provide the most comprehensive characterizations of protostellar envelope density and temperature structures with which to confront theory. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]