The L1448 Molecular Jet

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (66) References (20) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The L1448 Molecular Jet Bally, John ; Lada, Elizabeth A. ; Lane, Adair P. Abstract We have obtained near-infrared images of the L1448 molecular outflow in the J, H, and K bands and through a 1% passband filter centered on the 2.122 microns V = 1-0 S(1) line of molecular hydrogen. We report the discovery of a highly collimated, clumpy, and bipolar molecular hydrogen jet associated with the L1448 molecular outflow. We estimate that the total H2 luminosity of the L1448 outflow is about 0.2 Lsun. Most of the line emission in the northern outflow lobe arises from a narrow, curving filament consisting of a chain of knots. Some H2 knots and the bow-shaped emission regions protruding several arcseconds to the west of the filament may be shocks associated with CO- and SiO-emitting "bullets" seen in millimeter-wave observations. We interpret the H2 emission in the context of a jet-driven model for molecular outflows. Bright H2 emission near the molecular "bullets" may be produced by shocks propagating into the moving medium, while the extended and curving filament may be driven by expanding bow shocks in the wakes of the "bullets." A conical 2.2 microns continuum nebula extends from the driving source of the L1448 outflow toward the blueshifted outflow lobe. Several knots of H2 emission to the northeast of the main L1448 H2 filament may be associated with a separate outflow emerging from L1448 IRS 3, which we estimate has a total H2 luminosity of about 0.01 Lsun. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1993 DOI: 10.1086/173393 Bibcode: 1993ApJ...418..322B Keywords: INFRARED: INTERSTELLAR: CONTINUUM; ISM: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: L1448; ISM: JETS AND OUTFLOWS; ISM: MOLECULES; STARS: FORMATION full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (19)