Energetic molecular outflow near AFGL 961: millimeter-wave and infrared observations

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/160327· OSTI ID:6512011

Lada, C J; Gautier, III, T N

We report detailed millimeter-wave and near-infrared spectroscopy of the dynamically active region around the infrared source AFGL 961, near the Rosette nebula. Millimeter-wave /sup 12/CO observations are used to study the high-velocity molecular flow around AFGL 961. These observations show that the high-velocity flow has a maximum extent of at least 6' or 2.9 pc at the distance of AFGL 961. The flow is found to be anisotropic, with redshifted high-velocity emission considerably more extended than blueshifted high-velocity emission. However, the flow does not appear to be as highly collimated as some other sources of high-velocity bipolar outflow. We also find the emission profiles to be asymmetric in velocity such that the integrated intensity of the redshifted high-velocity emission is on average 2.5 times greater than that of the blueshifted emission. The mass of the gas involved in the flow is determined to be approximately 19 M/sub sun/, and the kinetic energy of this gas is estimated to be about 8 x 10/sup 46/ ergs. These observations are interpreted as evidence that an energetic bipolar outflow of molecular gas is occurring near AFGL 961. The momentum of the outflowing molecular gas is large, and it is shown that this places strong constraints on possible physical mechanisms which may be driving the outflow. The near-infrared spectrum of AFGL 961 from 1.4-2.4 ..mu..m was obtained in order to study the conditions immediately around the infrared source which may be driving the molecular outflow.

• Research Organization: Steward Observatory, University of Arizona
• OSTI ID: 6512011
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 261:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COSMIC GASES
DATA ANALYSIS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROGEN
INFRARED RADIATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
MOLECULES
NEAR INFRARED RADIATION
NEBULAE
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
RECOMBINATION
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
STELLAR WINDS