The near-infrared excitation of the HH211 protostellar outflow

Details The near-infrared excitation of the HH211 protostellar outflow The near-infrared excitation of the HH211 protostellar outflow

2005-02-04

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0502107v1

Astron.Astrophys. 419 (2004) 975-990

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

12 pages, 9 figures

Scientific paper

10.1051/0004-6361:20041821

The protostellar outflow HH211 is of considerable interest since it is extremely young and highly collimated. Here, we explore the outflow through imaging and spectroscopy in the near-infrared to determine if there are further diagnostic signatures of youth. We confirm the detection of a near-infrared continuum of unknown origin. We propose that it is emitted by the driving millimeter source, escapes the core through tunnels, and illuminates features aligning the outflow. Narrow-band flux measurements of these features contain an unusually large amount of continuum emission. [Fe II] emission has been detected and is restricted to isolated condensations. However, the characteristics of vibrational excitation of molecular hydrogen resemble those of older molecular outflows. We attempt to model the ordered structure of the western outflow as a series of shocks, finding that bow shocks with J-type dissociative apices and C-type flanks are consistent. Moreover, essentially the same conditions are predicted for all three bows except for a systematic reduction in speed and density with distance from the driving source. We find increased K-band extinctions in the bright regions as high as 2.9 magnitudes and suggest that the bow shocks become visible where the outflow impacts on dense clumps of cloud material. We propose that the outflow is carved out by episodes of pulsating jets. The jets, driven by central explosive events, are responsible for excavating a central tunnel through which radiation temporarily penetrates.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The near-infrared excitation of the HH211 protostellar outflow 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 near-infrared excitation of the HH211 protostellar outflow, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The near-infrared excitation of the HH211 protostellar outflow will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-436632