Disks and Outflows during Formation of Massive Stars

New observations of several massive young stellar objects lends further support for an explanation of massive star formation occurring via mass accretion through disks. Because of their high luminosity, massive stars potentially risk blowing themselves apart through radiation pressure, preventing their formation. The presence of a disk can shield the material against the destructive pressure, allowing accretion (and stellar growth) to proceed. Koji Murakawa (University of Leeds, UK) and collaborators used NIFS and Altair for adaptive optics with laser guide stars on Gemini North to resolve some of the disks. CO traces the neutral disk material, which is measured in Keplerian rotation in several cases. The team also used the Brγ emission to trace the ionized component of the disk or outflow in some examples. Complete results will be published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; a preprint is available.