The initial conditions for formation of low-mass stars: Kinematics and density structure of the protostellar envelope in B335

Citation
M. Saito et al., The initial conditions for formation of low-mass stars: Kinematics and density structure of the protostellar envelope in B335, ASTROPHYS J, 518(1), 1999, pp. 334-345
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
0004637X → ACNP
Volume
518
Issue
1
Year of publication
1999
Part
1
Pages
334 - 345
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(19990610)518:1<334:TICFFO>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
We have observed dense molecular gas toward a deeply embedded protostar in B335 using the Nobeyama 45 m telescope and the Nobeyama Millimeter Array. T he (HCO+)-C-13 and (CO)-O-18 maps taken by the 45 m telescope show elongate d features perpendicular to the axis of molecular outflow, suggesting that these emission lines arise from a dense disklike envelope surrounding the p rotostar. The size and mass of the (HCO+)-C-13 disklike envelope are 0.17 x 0.15 pc and 2.4 M., respectively. The (CO)-O-18 envelope gas has a linear velocity gradient along its major axis indicative of a rigid rotation with an angular velocity of 1.1 x 10(-14) radians s(-1). The density profile der ived from the (CO)-O-18 and (HCO+)-C-13 data shows a power law of rho(r) si milar to rho(0)r(-1.95) similar to (a(2)/2 pi G)r(-2) over the radius range between 0.03 and 0.2 pc. Tn addition, the coefficient of the density profi le is consistent with Shu's solution rather than Larson's, though there is uncertainty particularly in the fractional abundance of the (HCO+)-C-13 mol ecule. Our results suggest that the protostar in B335 was formed in an isot hermal core with a rigid rotation. The interferometric observations of the (HCO+)-C-13 line reveal a dense com pact feature centered on the protostar. This compact feature has a size of 2000 AU, and its elongation is roughly perpendicular to the outflow axis. W e thus consider that this compact feature is an inner part of the disklike envelope. There is a velocity gradient along the minor axis of the feature which might be interpreted as a disk infalling motion. The previous observa tions also suggested the existence of infalling motion toward the protostar B335 IRS. In addition, the inner envelope shows a rotating motion of V-the ta = 0.14 km s(-1) at r = 490 AU. This rotational velocity is smaller than the corresponding Keplerian velocity of similar to 0.42 km s(-1), indicatin g that the inner envelope is not rotationally supported.