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Sub-arcsecond images of the protostellar jet from L1448C(N)

Image Credit: N. Hirano

The SiO J=8-7 and CO J=3-2 images of the jet driven by the class 0 protostar, L1448C(N), observed with the SMA at a resolution of ~0.5". The blue and red are the approaching and receding parts of the jet, the green is the 350 GHz continuum emission, which indicates the position of the protostar.

The molecular jet driven by the class 0 protostar, L1448C(N), was observed in the SiO J=8-7 and CO J=3-2 lines and 350 GHz continuum at ~0.5'' resolution with the SMA. The subarcsecond images of SiO and CO resolve the jet in its transverse direction. The jet consists of a chain of knots with V-shaped bowlike features, suggesting that the knots are the internal working surfaces in the jet beam. The widths of the jet increases with increasing distance from the central star; the beam-deconvolved jet width is 70 AU at the position of the innermost knot, while it increases to 320 AU at ~10'' away from the source. The opening angle of the jet is ~10°. This broadening of the jet is probably due to the sideways ejection of material from internal working surfaces.