Extreme Active Molecular Jets in L1448C

Details Extreme Active Molecular Jets in L1448C Extreme Active Molecular Jets in L1448C

2010-05-05

arxiv.org/abs/1005.0703v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

45 pages, 13 figures, Accepted for the publication in the Astrophysical Journal

Scientific paper

The protostellar jet driven by L1448C was observed in the SiO J=8-7 and CO J=3-2 lines and 350 GHz dust continuum at ~1" resolution with the Submillimeter Array (SMA). A narrow jet from the northern source L1448C(N) was observed in the SiO and the high-velocity CO. The jet consists of a chain of emission knots with an inter-knot spacing of ~2" (500 AU) and a semi-periodic velocity variation. The innermost pair of knots, which are significant in the SiO map but barely seen in the CO, are located at ~1" (250 AU) from the central source, L1448C(N). Since the dynamical time scale for the innermost pair is only ~10 yr, SiO may have been formed in the protostellar wind through the gas-phase reaction, or been formed on the dust grain and directly released into the gas phase by means of shocks. It is found that the jet is extremely active with a mechanical luminosity of ~7 L_sun, which is comparable to the bolometric luminosity of the central source (7.5 L_sun). The mass accretion rate onto the protostar derived from the mass-loss rate is ~10^{-5} M_sun/yr. Such a high mass accretion rate suggests that the mass and the age of the central star are 0.03-0.09 M_sun and (4-12)x10^3 yr, respectively, implying that the central star is in the very early stage of protostellar evolution. The low-velocity CO emission delineates two V-shaped shells with a common apex at L1448C(N). The kinematics of these shells are reproduced by the model of a wide opening angle wind. The co-existence of the highly-collimated jets and the wide-opening angle shells can be explained by the unified X-wind model" in which highly-collimated jet components correspond to the on-axis density enhancement of the wide-opening angle wind. The CO $J$=3--2 map also revealed the second outflow driven by the southern source L1448C(S) located at ~8.3" (2000 AU) from L1448C(N).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Extreme Active Molecular Jets in L1448C does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Extreme Active Molecular Jets in L1448C, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Extreme Active Molecular Jets in L1448C will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-436701