Fast Molecular Outflow Research Articles

ALMA discovery of a dual dense probably rotating outflow from a massive young stellar object G18.88MME

ABSTRACT We report the discovery of a very dense jet-like fast molecular outflow surrounded by a wide-angle wind in a massive young stellar object (MYSO) G18.88MME (stellar mass ∼8 M⊙) powering an extended green object G18.89−0.47. Four cores MM1–4 are identified in the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 1.3 mm continuum map (resolution ${\sim} 0.8\, \mathrm { arcsec}$) towards G18.88MME, and are seen at the centre of the emission structure (extent ∼0.3 pc × 0.2 pc) detected in the ALMA map. G18.88MME is embedded in the core MM1 (mass ∼13–18 M⊙), where no radio continuum emission is detected. The molecular outflow centred at MM1 is investigated in the SiO(5–4), HC3N(24–23) and 13CO(2–1) lines. The detection of HC3N in the outflow is rare in MYSOs and indicates its very high density. The position–velocity diagrams display a fast narrow outflow (extent ∼28 000 AU) and a slower wide-angle more extended outflow towards MM1, and both of these components show a transverse velocity gradient indicative of a possible rotation. All these observed features together make G18.88MME as a unique object for studying the unification of the jet-driven and wind-driven scenarios of molecular outflows in MYSOs.

Molecular gas inflows and outflows in ultraluminous infrared galaxies at z ∼ 0.2 and one QSO at z = 6.1

Aims. Our aim is to search for and characterize inflows and outflows of molecular gas in four ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs; LIR > 1012L⊙) at z ∼ 0.2−0.3 and one distant quasi-stellar object (QSO) at z = 6.13. Methods. We used Herschel/PACS and ALMA Band 7 observations of the hydroxyl molecule (OH) line at rest-frame wavelength 119 μm, which in absorption can provide unambiguous evidence of inflows or outflows of molecular gas in nuclear regions of galaxies. Our study contributes to doubling the number of OH 119 μm observations of luminous systems at z ∼ 0.2−0.3, and pushes the search for molecular outflows based on the OH 119 μm transition to z ∼ 6. Results. We detect OH 119 μm high-velocity absorption wings in three of the four ULIRGs. In two cases, IRAS F20036−1547 and IRAS F13352+6402, the blueshifted absorption profiles indicate the presence of powerful and fast (∼200−500 km s−1) molecular gas outflows. Consistent with an inside-out quenching scenario, these outflows are depleting the central reservoir of star-forming molecular gas at a rate similar to that of intense star formation activity. For the starburst-dominated system IRAS 10091+4704, we detect an inverted P Cygni profile that is unique among ULIRGs and indicates the presence of a fast (∼400 km s−1) inflow of molecular gas at a rate of ∼100 M⊙ yr−1 towards the central region. Finally, we tentatively detect (∼3σ) the OH 119 μm doublet in absorption in the z = 6.13 QSO ULAS J131911+095051. The OH 119 μm feature is blueshifted with a median velocity that suggests the presence of a molecular outflow, although characterized by a modest molecular mass loss rate of ∼200 M⊙ yr−1. This value is comparable to the small mass outflow rates found in the stacking of the [C II] spectra of other z ∼ 6 QSOs and suggests that ejective feedback in this phase of the evolution of ULAS J131911+095051 has subsided.

Fast molecular outflow from a dusty star-forming galaxy in the early Universe.

Galaxies grow inefficiently, with only a small percentage of the available gas converted into stars each free-fall time. Feedback processes, such as outflowing winds driven by radiation pressure, supernovae, or supermassive black hole accretion, can act to halt star formation if they heat or expel the gas supply. We report a molecular outflow launched from a dust-rich star-forming galaxy at redshift 5.3, 1 billion years after the Big Bang. The outflow reaches velocities up to 800 kilometers per second relative to the galaxy, is resolved into multiple clumps, and carries mass at a rate within a factor of 2 of the star formation rate. Our results show that molecular outflows can remove a large fraction of the gas available for star formation from galaxies at high redshift.

The origin of fast molecular outflows in quasars: molecule formation in AGN-driven galactic winds

We explore the origin of fast molecular outflows that have been observed in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Previous numerical studies have shown that it is difficult to create such an outflow by accelerating existing molecular clouds in the host galaxy, as the clouds will be destroyed before they can reach the high velocities that are observed. In this work, we consider an alternative scenario where molecules form in-situ within the AGN outflow. We present a series of hydro-chemical simulations of an isotropic AGN wind interacting with a uniform medium. We follow the time-dependent chemistry of 157 species, including 20 molecules, to determine whether molecules can form rapidly enough to produce the observed molecular outflows. We find H$_2$ outflow rates up to 140 M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$, which is sensitive to density, AGN luminosity, and metallicity. We compute emission and absorption lines of CO, OH and warm (a few hundred K) H$_2$ from the simulations in post-processing. The CO-derived outflow rates and OH absorption strengths at solar metallicity agree with observations, although the maximum line of sight velocities from the model CO spectra are a factor $\approx$2 lower than is observed. We derive a CO (1-0) to H$_2$ conversion factor of $\alpha_{\rm{CO} (1-0)}$ = 0.13 M$_\odot$ (K km s$^{-1}$ pc$^2$)$^{-1}$, 6 times lower than is commonly assumed in observations of such systems. We find strong emission from the mid-infrared lines of H$_2$. The mass of H$_2$ traced by this infrared emission is within a few per cent of the total H$_2$ mass. This H$_2$ emission may be observable by JWST.

Deep into the Water Fountains

(Abridged) The formation of large-scale (hundreds to few thousands of AU) bipolar structures in the circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of post-Asymptotic Giant Branch (post-AGB) stars is poorly understood. The shape of these structures, traced by emission from fast molecular outflows, suggests that the dynamics at the innermost regions of these CSEs does not depend only on the energy of the radiation field of the central star. Deep into the Water Fountains is an observational project based on the results of programs carried out with three telescope facilities: The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA), The Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), and the Very Large Telescope (SINFONI-VLT). Here we report the results of the observations towards the WF nebula IRAS 18043$-$2116: Detection of radio continuum emission in the frequency range 1.5GHz - 8.0GHz; H$_{2}$O maser spectral features and radio continuum emission detected at 22GHz, and H$_{2}$ ro-vibrational emission lines detected at the near infrared. The high-velocity H$_{2}$O maser spectral features, and the shock-excited H$_{2}$ emission detected could be produced in molecular layers which are swept up as a consequence of the propagation of a jet-driven wind. Using the derived H$_{2}$ column density, we estimated a molecular mass-loss rate of the order of $10^{-9}$M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$. On the other hand, if the radio continuum flux detected is generated as a consequence of the propagation of a thermal radio jet, the mass-loss rate associated to the outflowing ionized material is of the order of 10$^{-5}$M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$. The presence of a rotating disk could be a plausible explanation for the mass-loss rates estimated.

THE SHAPING OF THE MULTIPOLAR PRE-PLANETARY NEBULA CRL 618 BY MULTIDIRECTIONAL BULLETS

ABSTRACT In order to understand the formation of the multipolar structures of the pre-planetary nebula CRL 618, we perform 3D simulations using a multidirectional bullet model. The optical lobes of CRL 618 and fast molecular outflows at the tips of the lobes have been found to have similar expansion ages of ∼100 yr. Additional fast molecular outflows were found near the source along the outflow axes with ages of ∼45 yr, suggesting a second episode of bullet ejections. Thus, in our simulations, two episodes of bullet ejections are assumed. The shaping process is simulated using the ZEUS-3D hydrodynamics code that includes molecular and atomic cooling. In addition, molecular chemistry is also included to calculate the CO intensity maps. Our results show the following: (1) Multiepoch bullets interacting with the toroidal dense core can produce the collimated multiple lobes as seen in CRL 618. The total mass of the bullets is ∼0.034 M ⊙, consistent with the observed high-velocity (HV) CO emission in fast molecular outflows. (2) The simulated CO J = 3–2 intensity maps show that the low-velocity cavity wall and the HV outflows along the lobes are reasonably consistent with the observations. The position–velocity diagram of the outflows along the outflow axes shows a linear increase of velocity with distance, similar to the observations. The ejections of these bullets could be due to magnetorotational explosions or nova-like explosions around a binary companion.

Powerful Outflows and Feedback from Active Galactic Nuclei

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) represent the growth phases of the supermassive black holes in the center of almost every galaxy. Powerful, highly ionized winds, with velocities ∼0.1–0.2c, are a common feature in X-ray spectra of luminous AGNs, offering a plausible physical origin for the well-known connections between the hole and properties of its host. Observability constraints suggest that the winds must be episodic and detectable only for a few percent of their lifetimes. The most powerful wind feedback, establishing the M−σ relation, is probably not directly observable at all. The M−σ relation signals a global change in the nature of AGN feedback. At black hole masses below M−σ, feedback is confined to the immediate vicinity of the hole. At the M−σ mass, it becomes much more energetic and widespread and can drive away much of the bulge gas as a fast molecular outflow.

The fast molecular outflow in the Seyfert galaxy IC 5063 as seen by ALMA

We use high-resolution (0.5 arcsec) CO(2-1) observations performed with ALMA to trace the kinematics of the molecular gas in the Seyfert 2 galaxy IC5063. A fast outflow of molecular gas extends along the entire radio jet, with the highest outflow velocities about 0.5kpc from the nucleus, at the location of the brighter hot-spot in the W lobe. The data show that a massive, fast outflow with velocities up to 650 km/s of cold molecular gas is present, in addition to one detected earlier in warm H2, HI and ionised gas. Both the central AGN and the radio jet could energetically drive the outflow. However, the characteristics of the outflowing gas point to the radio jet being the main driver. This is important, because IC5063, although one of the most powerful Seyfert galaxies, is a relatively weak radio source (P = 3x10^23 W/Hz). All the observed characteristics can be described by a scenario of a radio plasma jet expanding into a clumpy medium, interacting directly with the clouds and inflating a cocoon that drives a lateral outflow into the interstellar medium. This model is consistent with results obtained by recent simulations such as those of Wagner et al.. A stronger, direct interaction between the jet and a gas cloud is present at the location of the brighter W lobe. Even assuming the most conservative values for the conversion factor CO-to-H2, the mass of the outflowing gas is between 1.9 and 4.8x10^7 Msun. These amounts are much larger than those of the outflow of warm gas (molecular and ionized) and somewhat larger than of the HI outflow. This suggests that most of the observed cold molecular outflow is due to fast cooling after being shocked. This gas is the end product of the cooling process. Our CO observations demonstrate that fast outflows of molecular gas can be driven by relativistic jets.

Jet acceleration of the fast molecular outflows in the Seyfert galaxy IC5063.

Massive outflows driven by active galactic nuclei are widely recognized to have a key role in the evolution of galaxies, by heating the ambient gas, expelling it from the nuclear regions, and thereby affecting the star-formation histories of the galaxy bulges. It has been proposed that the powerful jets of relativistic particles (such as electrons) launched by some active nuclei can both accelerate and heat the molecular gas, which often dominates the mass budgets of the outflows. Clear evidence for this mechanism, in the form of detailed associations between the molecular gas kinematics and features in the radio-emitting jets, has however been lacking. Here we report that the warm molecular hydrogen gas in the western radio lobe of the Seyfert galaxy IC5063 is moving at high velocities-up to about 600kilometres per second-relative to the galaxy disk. This suggests that the molecules have been accelerated by fast shocks driven into the interstellar medium by the expanding radio jets. These results demonstrate the general feasibility of accelerating molecular outflows in fast shocks driven by active nuclei.

MULTIPLE FAST MOLECULAR OUTFLOWS IN THE PRE-PLANETARY NEBULA CRL 618

CRL 618 is a well-studied pre-planetary nebula. It has multiple highly collimated optical lobes, fast molecular outflows along the optical lobes, and an extended molecular envelope that consists of a dense torus in the equator and a tenuous round halo. Here we present our observations of this source in CO J=3-2 and HCN J=4-3 obtained with the Submillimeter Array at up to ~ 0.3" resolutions. We spatially resolve the fast molecular-outflow region previously detected in CO near the central star and find it to be composed of multiple outflows that have similar dynamical ages, and are oriented along the different optical lobes. We also detect fast molecular outflows further away from the central star near the tips of the extended optical lobes and a pair of equatorial outflows inside the dense torus. We find that two episodes of bullet ejections in different directions are needed, one producing the fast molecular outflows near the central star, and one producing the fast molecular outflows near the tips of the extended optical lobes. One possibility to launch these bullets is the magneto-rotational explosion of the stellar envelope.

CO observations of water-maser post-asymptotic giant branch stars and detection of a high-velocity outflow in IRAS 15452–5459

Many aspects of the evolutionary phase in which Asymptotic Giant Branch stars (AGB stars) are in transition to become Planetary Nebulae (PNe) are still poorly understood. An important question is how the circumstellar envelopes of AGB stars switch from spherical symmetry to the axially symmetric structures frequently observed in PNe. In many cases there is clear evidence that the shaping of the circumstellar envelopes of PNe is linked to the formation of jets/collimated winds and their interaction with the remnant AGB envelope. Because of the short evolutionary time, objects in this phase are rare, but their identification provides valuable probes for testing evolutionary models. We have observed (sub)millimeter CO rotational transitions with the APEX telescope in a small sample of stars hosting high-velocity OH and water masers. These targets are supposed to have recently left the AGB, as indicated by the presence of winds traced by masers, with velocities larger than observed during that phase. We have carried out observations of several CO lines, ranging from J=2-1 up to J=7-6. In IRAS 15452-5459 we detect a fast molecular outflow in the central region of the nebula and estimate a mass-loss rate between 1.2x10^{-4} Msun yr^{-1} (assuming optically thin emission) and 4.9x10^{-4} Msun yr^{-1} (optically thick emission). We model the SED of this target taking advantage of our continuum measurement at 345 GHz to constrain the emission at long wavelengths. For a distance of 2.5 kpc, we estimate a luminosity of 8000 Lsun and a dust mass of 0.01 Msun. Through the flux in the [CII] line (158 um), we calculate a total mass of about 12 Msun for the circumstellar envelope, but the line is likely affected by interstellar contamination.

Massive Expanding Torus and Fast Outflow in Planetary Nebula NGC 6302

We present interferometric observations of 12CO and 13CO J = 2–1 emission from the butterfly-shaped, young planetary nebula NGC 6302. The high angular resolution and high sensitivity achieved in our observations allow us to resolve the nebula into two distinct kinematic components: (1) a massive expanding torus seen almost edge-on and oriented in the north-south direction (roughly perpendicular to the optical nebula axis), which exhibits very complex and fragmented structure; and (2) high-velocity molecular knots moving at more than 20 km s−1 and located in the optical bipolar lobes. These knots show a linear position-velocity gradient (Hubble-like flow), which is characteristic of fast molecular outflow in young planetary nebulae. From the low but variable 12CO/13CO J = 2–1 line intensity ratio, we conclude that the 12CO J = 2–1 emission is optically thick over much of the nebula. Using the optically thinner line 13CO J = 2–1, we estimate a total molecular gas mass of ~0.1 M☉, comparable to the ionized gas mass; the total gas mass of the NGC 6302 nebula, including the massive ionized gas from the photon dominated region, is found to be ~0.5 M☉. From radiative transfer modeling, we infer that the torus is seen at an inclination angle of 75° with respect to the plane of the sky, and is expanding at a velocity of 15 km s−1. Comparison with recent observations of molecular gas in NGC 6302 is also discussed.

Mass, linear momentum and kinetic energy of bipolar flows in protoplanetary nebulae

We have studied the CO emission from protoplanetary nebulae (PPNe). Our sample is composed of 37 objects and includes, we think, all well identied PPNe detected in CO, together with the two yellow hypergiants emitting in CO and one young PN. We present a summary of the existing CO data, including accurate new observations of the 12 CO and 13 CO J = 1{0 and J = 2{1 lines in 16 objects. We identify in the nebulae a slowly expanding shell (represented in the spectra by a central core) and a fast outflow (corresponding to the line wings), that in the well studied PPNe is known to be bipolar. Excluding poor data, we end up with a sample of 32 sources (including the 16 observed by us); fast flows are detected in 28 of these nebulae, being absent in only 4. We present a method to estimate from these data the mass, \scalar momentum and kinetic energy of the dierent components of the molecular outflows. We argue that the uncertainties of our method can hardly lead to signicant overestimates of these parameters, although underestimates may be present in not well studied objects. The total nebular mass is often as high as 1 M, and the mass-loss rate, that (presumably during the last stages of the AGB phase) originated the nebula, had typical values 10 4 M yr 1 . The momentum corresponding to this mass ejection process in most studied nebulae is accurately coincident with the maximum momentum that radiation pressure, acting through absorption by dust grains, is able to supply (under expected conditions). We estimate that this high-eciency process lasts about 1000{10 000 yr, after which the star has ejected a good fraction of its mass and the AGB phase ends. On the other hand, the fast molecular outflows, that have probably been accelerated by shock interaction with axial post-AGB jets, carry a signicant fraction of the nebular mass, with a very high momentum (in most cases between 10 37 and 10 40 gc m s 1 ) and very high kinetic energy (usually between 10 44 and 10 47 erg). In general, yellow hypergiants and post-AGB objects with low initial mass show nebular masses and momenta that are, respectively, higher and lower than these values. We compare the momenta of the fast outflows with those that can be supplied by radiation pressure, taking into account the expected short acceleration times and some eects that can increase the momentum transfer. We nd that in about 80% of PPNe, the fast molecular flows have too high momenta to be powered by radiation pressure. In some cases the momentum of the outflow is1000 larger than that carried by radiation pressure; such high factors are dicult to explain even under exceptional conditions. Wind interaction is the basic phenomenon in the PN shaping from the former AGB envelopes; we conclude that this interaction systematically takes place along a dominant direction and that this process is not powered by radiation pressure. Due to the lack of theoretical studies, the possible momentum source remains a matter of speculation.

Multiple outflows in the bipolar planetary nebula M1-16: A molecular line study

Extensive observations of the molecular gas in the young, compact planetary nebula M1-16 have been made, using the Swedish-ESO-Submillimeter Telescope. A map of the CO J = 2-1 emission shows that the molecular envelope contains both a slow and a fast outflow with expansion velocities of 19 km/s and greater than 34 km/s, respectively. The slow outflow is mildly elliptical, while the fast molecular outflow is bipolar. This fast outflow is roughly aligned with the very fast outflows recently found in the optical, while the long axis of the slow elliptical outflow is roughly orthogonal to the optical outflow axis. The kinematic timescales for the CO fast outflow and the optical very fast outflow agree closely, supporting the view that the former represents material in the slow outflow accelerated by the very fast outflow. The kinematic signature of a disk expanding with about 15.5 km/s can also be seen in the CO J = 2-1 data. The mass-loss rate (a) for the slow outflow is greater than or equal to 2.8 x 10<SUP>-5</SUP> solar mass/yr and possibly as large as 9 x 10<SUP>-5</SUP> solar mass/yr, (b) for the fast outflow is greater than or equal to 5 x 10<SUP>-6</SUP> solar mass/yr, and (c) for the very fast optically visible outflow is approximately equal 5 x 10<SUP>-7</SUP> solar mass/yr. The disk mass is approximately equal 6 x 10<SUP>-3</SUP> solar mass. Grain photoelectric heating results in temperatures of 20-70 K in molecular gas of the slow outflow. The (13)C/(12)C abundance ratio in M1-16 is found to be 0.33, quite possibly the highest found for any evolved object. Upper limits for the (18)O/(16)O and (17)O/(16)O ratios were found to be consistent with the values found in AGB stars. A search for other molecular species in M1-16 resulted in the detection of the high-excitation species HCN, CN, (13)CN, HCO(+), and H(13)CO(+) and possibly N2H(+). Both the HCO(+)/HCN and CN/HCN line-intensity ratios are enhanced, the former by a very large factor, over the values found in the envelopes of AGB stars, probably as a result of enhancement of the CN and HCO(+) abundances due to photochemistry induced by the stellar UV. The CS J = 2-1, SiO J = 2-1 (v = 0), and SiS J = 6-5 lines were not detected to low levels. For the high-excitation molecules, adequate collisional excitation of rotational levels and survival against photodissociation by the UV radiation requires significant clumping of the molecular gas into clumps with H2 densities approximately 10<SUP>5</SUP>/cu cm. The IRAS fluxes of M1-16, assuming negligible contribution from line emission, imply the presence of about (1.7-0.4) x 10<SUP>-3</SUP> solar mass of cool dust (temperature around 50 K) and a smaller quantity, (2.7-3.1) x 10<SUP>-6</SUP> solar mass, of warmer dust (temperature around 125 K) for a power-law emissivity index p = 1-2. The evolutionary nature of M1-16 cannot be explained by existing single-star models of post-AGB evolution. The very high (13)C/(12)C abundance ratio in M1-16 suggests a possible evolutionary connection between M1-16 and the rare class of J-type silicate-carbon stars which also have high (13)C/(12)C ratios and are thought to be binary systems with accretion disks.

Large scale interaction of the outflow and quiescent gas in Orion

The IRAM 30-m radiotelescope have been used to obtain, with high angular resolution, the spatial distribution and the physical conditions of the quiescent gas in Orion A, and to search for high velocity molecular gas far away from the well known molecular outflow around IRc2. To study the quiescent gas we mapped a region of 200″×300″ around IRc2 in the J=12-11 and J=16-15 lines of HC3N with angular resolutions of 22″ and 17″ respectively. The left panel of Fig. 1 shows the spatial distribution of the high density quiescent gas around IRc2 for different radial velocities. Beside the already known molecular ridge north of IRc2 (see e. g. Bartla et al. 1983), we find four very thin (nearly unresolved) and long filaments, like “fingers”, stretching from IRc2 to the north and west. The deconvolved size of the longest fingers is ≈180″×15″. From a multi-transition analysis of the HC3N emission we derive H2 densities of 1−8 105 cm−3, kinetic temperatures larger than 40 K and masses of ≈10 Mo. Our high sensitivity observations of the J=2-1 line of CO at selected positions (see right panel ib Fig. 1) show widespread molecular gas with high velocities wings over the region where the molecular fingers and the HH objects are observed (see Fig.1). The high velocity emission occurs over a range of ±40 kms−1. This high velocity gas is more extended (up to 150″ from IRc2) than the very compact (40″) and well studied molecular outflow around IRc2 (see e.g. Wilson et al. 1986). The terminal velocities of the CO wings decrease from 100 km s−1 (corresponding to the very fast molecular flow) to the typical terminal velocities of the extended high velocity gas when the distance to IRc2 changes from 40″ to 60″. The origin of the large scale high velocity gas is unknown, but it is very likely the link between the very compact (40″) and fast (±100 km s−1) molecular outflow around IRc2 and the ionized high velocity gas and the HH objects (Martín-Pintado et al. 1990). The mass, momentum and energy of the extended high velocity gas are crudely estimated to be ≈1 Mo, ≈20 Mo km s−1 and ≈2 1045 erg respectively (i.e. a factor of ≈10 smaller than those of the fast molecular outflow). The location, at the edges of the molecular fingers, and the proper motions of the HH objects (see Fig. 1) suggest the stellar wind is interacting with the molecular fingers. If this interpretation is correct, the influence of the molecular outflow in Orion on the surrounding molecular clouds must be revised.

Large scale interaction of the outflow and quiescent gas in Orion

The IRAM 30-m radiotelescope have been used to obtain, with high angular resolution, the spatial distribution and the physical conditions of the quiescent gas in Orion A, and to search for high velocity molecular gas far away from the well known molecular outflow around IRc2. To study the quiescent gas we mapped a region of 200″×300″ around IRc2 in the J=12-11 and J=16-15 lines of HC3N with angular resolutions of 22″ and 17″ respectively. The left panel of Fig. 1 shows the spatial distribution of the high density quiescent gas around IRc2 for different radial velocities. Beside the already known molecular ridge north of IRc2 (see e. g. Bartla et al. 1983), we find four very thin (nearly unresolved) and long filaments, like “fingers”, stretching from IRc2 to the north and west. The deconvolved size of the longest fingers is ≈180″×15″. From a multi-transition analysis of the HC3N emission we derive H2 densities of 1−8 105 cm−3, kinetic temperatures larger than 40 K and masses of ≈10 Mo. Our high sensitivity observations of the J=2-1 line of CO at selected positions (see right panel ib Fig. 1) show widespread molecular gas with high velocities wings over the region where the molecular fingers and the HH objects are observed (see Fig.1). The high velocity emission occurs over a range of ±40 kms−1. This high velocity gas is more extended (up to 150″ from IRc2) than the very compact (40″) and well studied molecular outflow around IRc2 (see e.g. Wilson et al. 1986). The terminal velocities of the CO wings decrease from 100 km s−1 (corresponding to the very fast molecular flow) to the typical terminal velocities of the extended high velocity gas when the distance to IRc2 changes from 40″ to 60″. The origin of the large scale high velocity gas is unknown, but it is very likely the link between the very compact (40″) and fast (±100 km s−1) molecular outflow around IRc2 and the ionized high velocity gas and the HH objects (Martín-Pintado et al. 1990). The mass, momentum and energy of the extended high velocity gas are crudely estimated to be ≈1 Mo, ≈20 Mo km s−1 and ≈2 1045 erg respectively (i.e. a factor of ≈10 smaller than those of the fast molecular outflow). The location, at the edges of the molecular fingers, and the proper motions of the HH objects (see Fig. 1) suggest the stellar wind is interacting with the molecular fingers. If this interpretation is correct, the influence of the molecular outflow in Orion on the surrounding molecular clouds must be revised.

A very fast molecular outflow from the proto-planetary nebula CRL 618

Observations of the CO(2-1) at 230.5 GHz and CO(3-2) were made using the 10.4 m telescope of the Hawaiian Caltech Submillimeter Observatory in 1988 and 1989. Measurement of sensitive line profiles from the highly evolved carbon star/proto-planetary nebula CRL 618 showed a very high velocity molecular outflow with V(0) greater than 190 km/sec. CRL 618 appears to be at the stage of beginning to ionize both the fast and slow molecular winds, as shown by the shapes of the millimeter-wavelength recombination lines by Martin-Pintado et al. (1988) and the width of the H-alpha line by Carsenty and Solf (1982). 25 refs.