ALMA Observations of the Water Fountain Pre-Planetary Nebula IRAS 16342-3814: High-velocity bipolar jets and an Expanding Torus
We have mapped 12CO J=3–2 and other molecular lines from the “water fountain” bipolar pre-planetary nebula (PPN) IRAS 16342-3814 with ∼0.35″ resolution using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We find (i) two very high-speed knotty, jet-like molecular outflows; (ii) a central high-density (>few x106 cm−3), expanding torus of diameter 1300 au; and (iii) the circumstellar envelope of the progenitor AGB, generated by a sudden, very large increase in the mass-loss rate to >3.5 x10-4 Ms yr−1 in the past ∼455 years. Strong continuum emission at 0.89 mm from a central source (690 mJy), if due to thermally emitting dust, implies a substantial mass (0.017 Ms) of very large (∼millimeter-sized) grains. The measured expansion ages of the above structural components imply that the torus (age∼160 years) and the younger high-velocity outflow (age∼110 years) were formed soon after the sharp increase in the AGB mass-loss rate. Assuming a binary model for the jets in IRAS 16342, the high momentum rate for the dominant jet-outflow in IRAS 16342 implies a high minimum accretion rate, ruling out standard Bondi–Hoyle–Lyttleton wind accretion and wind Roche-lobe overflow (RLOF) models with white-dwarf or main-sequence companions. Most likely, enhanced RLOF from the primary or accretion modes operating within common-envelope evolution are needed.
Item Type | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords | circumstellar matter; stars: AGB and post-AGB; stars: mass-loss; stars: winds, outflows; techniques: interferometric |
Date Deposited | 26 Jul 2024 18:09 |
Last Modified | 26 Jul 2024 18:09 |
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Read more research from the creator(s):
- Sahai, Raghvendra
- Vlemmings, W.H.T.
- Gledhill, Timothy
- Sanchez Contreras, Carmen
- Lagadec, Eric
- Nyman, L.A.
- Quintana-Lacaci, G.
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