Document 
| Abstract | PDF (308 KB) | PS (757 KB) | References | HTML | Simbad Objects | NASA ADS Abstract Service |
Free access article
A&A 386, 204-210 (2002)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20011387
Discovery of X-ray emission from the protostellar jet L1551 IRS5 (HH 154)
F. Favata1, C. V. M. Fridlund1, G. Micela2, S. Sciortino2 and A. A. Kaas31 Astrophysics Division - Space Science Department of ESA, ESTEC, Postbus 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
2 Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, Piazza del Parlamento 1, 90134 Palermo, Italy
3 Nordic Optical Telescope, Apartado 474, 38700 Santa Cruz de la Palma, Canarias, Spain
(Received 20 July 2001 / Accepted 27 September 2001 )
Abstract
We have for the first time detected X-ray emission
associated with a protostellar jet, on the jet emanating from the
L1551 IRS5 protostar. The IRS5 protostar is hidden behind a very
large absorbing column density, making the direct observation of the
jet's emission possible. The observed X-ray emission is likely
associated with the shock "working surface", i.e. the interface
between the jet and the circumstellar medium. The X-ray luminosity
emanating from the jet is, at
erg s
-1, a significant fraction of the luminosity normally associated
with the coronal emission from young stars. The spectrum of the
X-ray emission is compatible with thermal emission from a hot
plasma, with a temperature of
4 MK, higher than the
temperature expected (on the basis of the jet's velocity) for the
shock front produced by the jet hitting the circumstellar medium.
Key words: ISM: clouds -- ISM: individual objects: L1551: HH 454 -- ISM: jets and outflows -- stars: formation -- stars: pre-main sequence -- radio lines: ISM
Offprint request: F. Favata, Fabio.Favata@rssd.esa.int
SIMBAD Objects
© ESO 2002