Hot corinos in NGC 1333-IRAS4B and IRAS2A

Abstract

Context.Complex organic molecules have been detected in massive hot cores for over two decades, and only recently in three hot corinos (the inner regions surrounding Sun-like protostars, where the dust temperature exceeds 100 K). Since hot corinos have sizes of ~100 AU (i.e., of the order of the extent of the Solar System), it is particularly relevant to understand whether they are common and to identify the formation route(s) of complex organic molecules. Much has yet to be learned on this topic, since even recent models predicted it was not possible to form these molecules in low-mass protostars.