Mass outflow in star formation regions - Cepheus A

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (67) References (42) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Mass outflow in star formation regions : Cepheus A. Ho, P. T. P. ; Moran, J. M. ; Rodriguez, L. F. Abstract The velocity extents, the spatial distributions, and the masses, deduced from CO observations, are very different for the red and blue outflows in Cepheus A. These properties can be modeled by placing the source of outflow amidst an anisotropic density distribution. The red outflow expands in the direction of lower density while the blue outflow encounters greater resistance as it expands toward the density peak in the cloud, as delineated by the NH3 emission. The ratio of the masses and the total mass swept up by the outflow can be estimated by a simple model. The observed self-absorption in the line profile is probably due to absorption by the ambient cloud against a hot and optically thick component in the red outflow. We conclude that the appearance of an outflow is strongly affected by the environment in which it is embedded. In particular, the outflow in Cepheus A may not be very well collimated. The general attributes of the model are shown to be applicable to other regions of outflow. The apparently bipolar nature of outflows in star formation regions is discussed. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1982 DOI: 10.1086/160454 Bibcode: 1982ApJ...262..619H Keywords: Mass Transfer; Molecular Spectra; Planetary Nebulae; Radio Sources (Astronomy); Star Formation; Absorption Spectra; Ammonia; Astronomical Maps; Carbon Monoxide; Line Spectra; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (10)