X Marks the Spot: Nexus of Filaments, Cores, and Outflows in a Young Star-forming Region

Author(s): Nia Imara, Charles J. Lada, John Lewis, John H. Bieging, Shuo Kong, Marco Lombardi, Joao Alves
Abstract: We present a multiwavelength investigation of a region of a nearby giantmolecular cloud that is distinguished by a minimal level of starformation activity. With our new 12CO(J = 2-1) and 13CO(J = 2-1) observations of a remote regionwithin the middle of the California molecular cloud, we aim toinvestigate the relationship between filaments, cores, and a molecularoutflow in a relatively pristine environment. An extinction map of theregion from Herschel Space Observatory observations reveals the presenceof two 2 pc long filaments radiating from a high-extinction clump. Usingthe 13CO observations, we show that the filaments havecoherent velocity gradients and that their mass-per-unit-lengths mayexceed the critical value above which filaments are gravitationallyunstable. The region exhibits structure with eight cores, at least oneof which is a starless, prestellar core. We identify a low-velocity,low-mass molecular outflow that may be driven by a flat spectrumprotostar. The outflow does not appear to be responsible for driving theturbulence in the core with which it is associated, nor does it providesignificant support against gravitational collapse.
Organisation(s): Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s): Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, University of Arizona, Yale University, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
Journal: The Astrophysical Journal
Volume: 840
No. of pages: 15
ISSN: 0004-637X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aa6d74
Publication date: 05-2017
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/4de6f2a9-b427-4827-84d6-cc7c373e31b3

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