Alma observations of a high-density core in Taurus: Dynamical gas interaction at the possible site of a multiple star formation

Kazuki Tokuda, Toshikazu Onishi, Kazuya Saigo, Akiko Kawamura, Yasuo Fukui, Tomoaki Matsumoto, Shu Ichiro Inutsuka, Masahiro N. Machida, Kengo Tomida, Kengo Tachihara

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Starless dense cores eventually collapse dynamically, forming protostars inside them, and the physical properties of the cores determine the nature of the forming protostars. We report ALMA observations of dust continuum emission and molecular rotational lines toward MC27 or L1521F, which is considered to be very close to the first protostellar core phase. We found a few starless high-density cores, one of which has a very high density of 107 cm-3, within a region of several hundred AU around a very low-luminosity protostar detected by Spitzer. A very compact bipolar outflow with a dynamical timescale of a few hundred years was found toward the protostar. The molecular line observation shows several cores with an arc-like structure, possibly due to the dynamical gas interaction. These complex structures revealed in the present observations suggest that the initial condition of star formation is highly dynamical in nature, which is considered to be a key factor in understanding fundamental issues of star formation such as the formation of multiple stars and the origin of the initial mass function of stars.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberL4
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume789
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Jul 1
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ISM: clouds
  • ISM: kinematics and dynamics
  • ISM: molecules
  • stars: formation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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