ISSN:
1572-946X
Keywords:
Herbig-Haro Objects
;
Stellar Outflows
;
Shock Waves
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract High velocity jets from young stars interact with the surrounding molecular environment and molecular outflows quite possibly are the result. This interaction can take place through the formation of a turbulent mixing layer. Models have been constructed (following Cant/'o and Raga) of a plane mixing layer in the boundary between a high velocity, atomic wind (i.e., the stellar jet) and a stationary, molecular environment, computed considering a detailed chemical network. The chemical composition of the mixing layer initially corresponds to the direct mixture of the (atomic) jet and (molecular) environmental material. However, we find that the mixing layer is hot (with temperatures exceeding 104 K), and the surprising only partial dissociation of H2 means that a number of molecules are either created or survive in the high velocity gas. This contrasts with the slower, cooler flows that have tended to be termed a ‘molecular outflow’. The emission from such atomic jet/molecular environment mixing layers is dominated by emission in the rotational and vibrational lines of H2. As a result of the high temperatures and velocities (ranging from zero to the jet velocity) of these mixing layers, the predicted H2 emission line spectrum has interesting characteristics.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00627341
Permalink
