We have discovered and mapped a compact (= 80" in extent) outflow from the gas-rich protostar, S68N, with newly combined single-dish (Haystack) and interferometer (BIMA) data. The outflow momentum flux is =4.8x10-4 solar masses km s-1 yr-1, or about two orders of magnitude larger than the average momentum flux for Class I objects, and one order of magnitude larger than the average momentum flux for Class 0 objects (e.g., Bontemps et al. 1996). Such a high momentum flux is a newly-found indicator of the extreme youth of Class 0 protostars. Our new CS J=2~1 results, combined with previous H2CO data, suggest the simultaneous occurrence of infall and outflow in S68N (Hurt, Barsony, & Wootten 1996; McMullin et al. 1994).
We have also mapped the S68N region at 450microns & 850microns, with SCUBA on the JCMT with 7" and 14" resolutions, respectively. In addition to S68N, the SCUBA maps also detect swept-up dust associated with the redshifted outflow lobe, as well as the Class I source, SMM5, 45" to the East. We have discovered a new protostellar source 13" to the NE of S68N, but only marginally detected a previously known 1.1 mm continuum peak, associated with submillimeter H2CO emission, 27" NW of S68N (Casali, Eiroa, & Duncan 1993; Barsony, Wootten, & Hurt, unpublished data). This 1' region surrounding S68N in the Serpens cloud core (d=310 pc) contains a pre-protostellar core, a possible proto-binary, and a Class I protostar. We plan future line radiative transfer modelling, combined with higher resolution interferometric imaging of this source, to advance our understanding of cloud fragmentation processes leading to multiple system formation.
Check out:
More S68N Images!
E-mail: lowrance@astro.ucla.edu