POSSIBLE INFALL IN THE GAS DISK AROUND L1551-IRS-5

Citation
N. Ohashi et al., POSSIBLE INFALL IN THE GAS DISK AROUND L1551-IRS-5, The Astrophysical journal, 466(2), 1996, pp. 957
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal title
ISSN journal
0004637X
Volume
466
Issue
2
Year of publication
1996
Part
1
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(1996)466:2<957:PIITGD>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
We report observations of (CO)-C-13(J = 1-0) emission from L1551-IRS5 carried out with the Nobeyama Millimeter Array. We detected a strong a nd compact condensation associated with L1551-IRS5, and weaker extende d components with ''U''-like features with a spatial resolution of 5.' ' 1 x 3.'' 9 (P.A. = 159 degrees). The U-like features delineate the e dges of the molecular outflow as well as the 2.2 mu infrared reflectio n nebula. This suggests that the extended component may be a dense she ll swept up by the molecular outflow. The compact component was margin ally resolved with the present angular resolution. The estimated decon volved size is similar to 1200 x 670 AU with a position angle perpendi cular to the optical jet. This elongated structure is very similar to the compact gaseous disk observed in (CO)-O-18 (J = 1-0). The (CO)-C-1 3 elongated structure may be more extended than the actually measured size, suggesting that the compact (CO)-C-13 gas is most probably the i nner part of the gaseous disk around L1551-IRS5. The (CO)-C-13 disk ha s a velocity gradient along its minor axis, which can be explained in terms of infalling motion in the plane of the disk with a central mass of 0.5 M.. We estimate the mass accretion rate at 600 AU in radius to be 1.3-2.6 x 10(-5) M. yr(-1). The derived accretion rate might be la rger than the accretion rate onto the star estimated from the bolometr ic luminosity of L1551-IRS5 on the assumption of steady accretion, whi ch suggests that the accretion around L1551-IRS5 may also be nonsteady as was the case for HL Tau.