COMPACT MOLECULAR OUTFLOW FROM NGC 2264 CMM3: A CANDIDATE FOR VERY YOUNG HIGH-MASS PROTOSTAR

Abstract

We have conducted a high-resolution observation of the molecular outflow with the CO (J = 2-1) and CH3OH (JK = 5 K -4 K , K = 0, 3) lines toward a high-mass protostar candidate, NGC 2264 CMM3, using the Submillimeter Array. A compact north-south bipolar outflow of 10'' in size associated with CMM3 is found in both CO and CH3OH emission. The outflow dynamical age is estimated to be as young as 140-2000 yr. Together with the non-detection of any 24 ?m source with the Spitzer Space Telescope, the result suggests that CMM3 likely harbors a young massive star at its very early evolutionary stage. The CH3OH outflow lobes are slightly offset outside those of the CO outflow, which indicates that the interaction between the outflow and the dense ambient gas causes a shock around the CO peak position, and the CH3OH molecule evaporated from the grain mantles is swept away from the shock front. The interaction is particularly strong in the southern (red) lobe, as indicated by the detection of the high excitation line of CH3OH (K = 3). The outflow seems to affect the chemical composition of CMM3 significantly.