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P Hartigan (Rice University), B Reipurth, J Morse (CASA), S Heathcote (NOAO), J Bally (CASA)
We present the results of a proper motion study of four bright stellar jets, HH 1, HH 34, HH 47, and HH 111, based on H-alpha and [S II] HST images obtained over a baseline of about 5 years. A new interpolation algorithm for moving nebulae makes it possible to create images at intermediate times between the two epochs. The resulting movies make it much easier to detect photometric variations and shear motions than by simply blinking images taken at two epochs.
Although the motion of the outflowing gas resembles ballistic motion in all cases, consistent with low shock velocities in a highly supersonic jet, the movies do show significant photometric variability and shear. This behavior is most evident in the H-alpha images of working surfaces, where the shock structure is especially complex. Velocity and density variability in the jet is the most likely cause of the observed shock structures.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: hartigan@sparky.rice.edu