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The SAO/ASIAA Submillimeter Array (SMA)

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Direct Imaging of a Compact Molecular Outflow from a Very Low-luminosity Object

Image Credit: Takahashi et al.

Blueshifted and redshifted outflow components obtained in the CO (2-1) emission with SMA (this work), superposed on the infrared reflection nebula obtained in the 4.5 um image with Spitzer/IRAC (Bourke et al. 2006)

An very compact molecular outflow (~1000 AU) associated with a very low-luminosity object, L1521F in Taurus, have been successfully imaged in CO (2-1) using SMA for the first time. The imaged outflow suggests two outflow components: (1) low-velocity less collimated outflow, (2) high-velocity compact outflow. The velocity structure of outflows are not consistent with those expected in jet/wind driven outflow models, may suggesting a remnant outflow from the first hydrodynamic core as well as undeveloped outflow from the protostar. (Takahashi et al. 2013, ApJ, in press)