Journal
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Volume 676, Issue 2, Pages 1088-1108Publisher
IOP PUBLISHING LTD
DOI: 10.1086/528364
Keywords
ISM : clouds; ISM : jets and outflows; ISM : magnetic fields; MHD; stars : formation
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The driving mechanisms of low- and high-velocity outflows in star formation processes are studied using three-dimensional resistive MHD simulations. Starting with a Bonnor-Ebert isothermal cloud rotating in a uniform magnetic field, we calculate cloud evolution from the molecular cloud core (n(c) 10(4) cm(-3)) to the stellar core (n(c) = 10(22) cm-3), where n(c) denotes the central density. In the collapsing cloud core, we found two distinct flows: low- velocity flows (similar to 5 km s(-1)) with a wide opening angle, driven from the adiabatic core when the central density exceeds n(c) greater than or similar to 10(12) cm(-3); and high-velocity flows (similar to 30 km s(-1)) with good collimation, driven from the protostar when the central density exceeds n(c) greater than or similar to 10(21) cm(-3). High-velocity flows are enclosed by low- velocity flows after protostar formation. The difference in the degree of collimation between the two flows is caused by the strength of the magnetic field and configuration of the magnetic field lines. The magnetic field around an adiabatic core is strong and has an hourglass configuration; therefore, flows from the adiabatic core are driven mainly by the magnetocentrifugal mechanism and guided by the hourglass-like field lines. In contrast, the magnetic field around the protostar is weak and has a straight configuration owing to ohmic dissipation in the high-density gas region. Therefore, flows from the protostar are driven mainly by the magnetic pressure gradient force and guided by straight field lines. Differing depth of the gravitational potential between the adiabatic core and the protostar causes the difference of flow speed. Low-velocity flows may correspond to the observed molecular outflows, while high-velocity flows may correspond to the observed optical jets. We suggest that the protostellar outflow and the jet are driven by different cores, rather than the outflow being entrained by the jet.
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