Star Pair Grows Dust in Early Youth

Top: T-ReCS mid-infrared spectra of SVS20-S and SVS20-N after removal of the envelope line-of-sight extinction model. The slanted dashed lines represent the continuum level for the overall emission. Bottom: the 10.5 to 12.1 micron spectra for the two protostars after subtraction of the local continuum. The spectra are dominated by amorphous olivine. Both sources show peaks near 11.3 and 10.9 microns. The central peak near 11.3 microns is tentatively associated with fosterite. The narrower peak at 10.9 microns is tentatively associated with enstatite. Enstatite and fosterite are two forms of crystalline silicates.