The Direct Detection of a (Proto)Binary/Disk System in IRAS 20126+4104

We report the direct detection of a binary/disk system towards the high-mass(proto)stellar object IRAS20126+4104 at infrared wavengths. The presence of amultiple system had been indicated by the precession of the outflow and thedouble jet system detected earlier at cm-wavelengths. Our new K, L' & M' bandinfrared images obtained with the UKIRT under exceptional seeing conditions onMauna Kea are able to resolve the central source for the first time, and weidentify two objects separated by ~ 0.5'' (850 AU). The K and L' images alsouncover features characteristic of a nearly edge-on disk, similar to many lowmass protostars with disks: two emission regions oriented along an outflow axisand separated by a dark lane. The peaks of the L' & M' band and mm-wavelengthemission are on the dark lane, presumably locating the primary young star. Thethickness of the disk is measured to be ~ 850 AU for radii < 1000 AU.Approximate limits on the NIR magnitudes of the two young stars indicate ahigh-mass system, although with much uncertainty. These results are ademonstration of the high-mass nature of the system, and the similarities ofthe star-formation process in the low-mass and high-mass regimes viz. thepresence of a disk-accretion stage. The companion is located along the darklane, consistent with it being in the equatorial/disk plane, indicating adisk-accretion setting for massive, multiple, star-formation.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures (1 pseudo colour), 1 table; colour figure replaced with jpg file; to be published in ApJL; (back after temoprary withdrawal due to non-scientific reasons.