The Bipolar Outflow of AFGL 5142

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Session 58 -- Outflows and the Low Mass IMF
Oral presentation, Thursday, January 13, 10:15-11:45, Salon V Room (Crystal Gateway)

[58.02] The Bipolar Outflow of AFGL 5142

T.R. Hunter, G.B. Taylor, T.G. Phillips (Caltech), M. Felli, G. Tofani (Arcetri)

We present new molecular line maps of the bipolar outflow in the AFGL 5142 star-forming region along with high-resolution 3.6~cm radio continuum and H$_2$O maser maps. A $4'$ square map of the CO $J$=2$\rightarrow$1 transition taken with the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory reveals a well-collimated $\sim10$~km~s$^{-1}$ outflow nearly 2 pc in length with a distinct 18 degree bend between the opposing red and blueshifted lobes. Preliminary calculations yield a mass loss rate of 1.5${\times}10^{-4}$ $M_{\odot}$~yr$^{-1}$ and a timescale of 8$\times10^4$~yr. Located at the outflow origin are five H$_2$O maser spots resolved with the VLA in the A-configuration. The spots are spread over~$\sim3''$~ and lie roughly along an axis normal to the outflow directions. The two innermost masers are nearly aligned with a 0.5~mJy radio continuum source (projected separation $\sim200$~A.U.) whose flux is consistent with the ionizing radation of a B3 ZAMS star. We note the close similarity of AFGL 5142 to the more massive W75N region (Hunter et al. 1993) and consider these observations as support for the model of H$_2$O maser formation in disks around young massive stars.

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