The puzzling distribution of the high-density molecular gas in HH 1-2: A contracting interstellar toroid?

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (22) References (61) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Puzzling Distribution of the High-Density Molecular Gas in HH 1--2: A Contracting Interstellar Toroid? Torrelles, Jose M. ; Gomez, Jose F. ; Ho, Paul T. P. ; Rodriguez, Luis F. ; Anglada, Guillem ; Canto, Jorge Abstract We have performed a mosaic analysis of the region containing the Herbig-Haro (HH) 1-2 system. We combined five fields of NH3(1,1) and (2,2) spectral line observations using the Very Large Array (VLA) in its D configuration. This mosaic analysis allowed us to recover approximately 80% of the total NH3(1,1) flux obtained with single-dish observations. The total mass of the molecular gas in the region is estimated to be approximately 52(XNH3/10-8)-1 Solar mass. We find two remarkable elongated structures of approximately 0.4 pc (approximately 3 min) in size, approximately parallel to each other, while oriented almost perpendicular to the HH 1-2 outflow and the magnetic field in the region. The major axes of these elongated structures are displaced approximately 20 sec northwest and approximately 10 sec southeast of VLA 1, respectively. There is a velocity difference of approximately 2 km/s between the two structures, but there is no significant velocity gradient along the major axis of either structure. Molecular gas at intermediate velocities between the velocities of the two elongated structures is found at their northeastern and southwestern ends. The exciting source of the HH 1-2 outflow may be physically closer to the elongated molecular structure displaced to the southeast of VLA 1, since the gas temperature is higher there, TK approximately = 18K. The kinematical and spatial distribution of the elongated structures with respect to the (S II) emission of the HH 1-2 system, the blueshifted motions of HH 1 with respect to HH 2, the ambient velocities observed at the ends of the elongated structures, and finally the velocity gradient observed along the minor axis of the southeastern elongated structure, are consistent with a scenario where these two elongated structures represent the two halves of a contracting self-gravitating interstellar toroid seen almost edge-on, with the southeastern side in the foreground and redshifted with respect to the northwestern side. We favor a scenario where the star formation processes in the HH 1-2 region have produced at least two concentric flattened structures surrounding VLA 1, one with an interstellar size of approximately 0.4 pc and the other one two orders of magnitude smaller (less than or = 103 AU). This smaller structure, not evident in our data, is required to collimate the jet from VLA 1. Within this scenario, the HH 1-2 system would represent a case where the idea that inflow and outflow are taking place simultaneously in young stellar objects is supported. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1994 DOI: 10.1086/174814 Bibcode: 1994ApJ...435..290T Keywords: Ammonia; Gas Dynamics; Gas Jets; Herbig-Haro Objects; Interstellar Gas; Molecular Gases; Molecular Spectra; Stellar Mass Ejection; Astronomical Spectroscopy; Kinematics; Molecular Spectroscopy; Mosaics; Pre-Main Sequence Stars; Radio Astronomy; Star Formation; Very Large Array (Vla); Astronomy; ISM: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: HH 1-2; ISM: JETS AND OUTFLOWS; ISM: KINEMATICS AND DYNAMICS; ISM: MOLECULES; STARS: PRE--MAIN-SEQUENCE full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (9)