THE MOLECULAR CORE AND THE POWERING SOURCE OF THE BIPOLAR MOLECULAR OUTFLOW IN NGC 2264G

We present NH3(1, 1) and (2, 2), and radio continuum observations towa rd the bipolar molecular outflow NGC 22640. We detected a high-density NH3 core of 0.08 x 0.06 pc in size, M similar or equal to 6[X(NH3)/10 (-8)](-1) M., and T-K similar or equal to 15 K, located almost midway between the blueshifted and redshifted CO lobes of the outflow. Neithe r the infrared sources detected so far (with the exception of IRAS 063 84+0958) nor VLA I, the radio continuum source previously detected in the area (and suggested as the powering source of the outflow), appear s to be associated with the high-density molecular clump. However, we detected a new radio continuum source, VLA 2, close to the maximum of NH3 emission. This continuum source shows a jetlike morphology, elonga ted in the direction of the bipolar molecular outflow. We propose that VLA 2 is a deeply embedded low-mass star and the most likely powering source of the bipolar outflow in NGC 22640. We find that the mechanic al luminosity of the wind from VLA 2 is of the same order as the mecha nical luminosity of the outflow, and as the estimated stellar luminosi ty of the source. Thus, this remarkable source appears to provide a ve ry efficient outflow acceleration mechanism.