The Evolution of Outflow-Envelope Interactions in Low-Mass Protostars

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

36 pages of text and tables, 8 jpg figures

Scientific paper

10.1086/505104

We present multi-line and continuum observations of the circumstellar environment within 10^4 AU of a sample of protostars to investigate how the effects of outflows on their immediate environment changes over time. 12CO(1-0) emission probes the high-velocity molecular outflows near the protostars and demonstrate that the outflow opening angle widens as the nascent star evolves. Maps of the 13CO(1-0) and HCO+(1-0) outflow emission show that protostellar winds erode the circumstellar envelope through the entrainment of the outer envelope gas. The spatial and velocity distribution of the dense circumstellar envelope, as well as its mass, is traced by the C18O(1-0) emission and also displays evolutionary changes. We show that outflows are largely responsible for these changes, and propose an empirical model for the evolution of outflow-envelope interactions. In addition, some of the outflows in our sample appear to affect the chemical composition of the surrounding environment, enhancing the HCO+ abundance. Overall, our results confirm that outflows play a major role in the star formation process through their strong physical and chemical impacts on the environments of the young protostars.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

The Evolution of Outflow-Envelope Interactions in Low-Mass Protostars 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 The Evolution of Outflow-Envelope Interactions in Low-Mass Protostars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Evolution of Outflow-Envelope Interactions in Low-Mass Protostars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-608113

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.