| 1. |
- Chauvin, G., et al.
(författare)
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Discovery of a warm, dusty giant planet around HIP 65426
- 2017
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 605
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. The SHINE program is a high-contrast near-infrared survey of 600 young, nearby stars aimed at searching for and characterizing new planetary systems using VLT/SPHERE's unprecedented high-contrast and high-angular-resolution imaging capabilities. It is also intended to place statistical constraints on the rate, mass and orbital distributions of the giant planet population at large orbits as a function of the stellar host mass and age to test planet-formation theories.Methods. We used the IRDIS dual-band imager and the IFS integral field spectrograph of SPHERE to acquire high-contrast coronagraphic differential near-infrared images and spectra of the young A2 star HIP 65426. It is a member of the similar to 17 Myr old Lower Centaurus-Crux association. Results. At a separation of 830 mas (92 au projected) from the star, we detect a faint red companion. Multi-epoch observations confirm that it shares common proper motion with HIP 65426. Spectro-photometric measurements extracted with IFS and IRDIS between 0.95 and 2.2 mu m indicate a warm, dusty atmosphere characteristic of young low-surface-gravity L5-L7 dwarfs. Hot-start evolutionary models predict a luminosity consistent with a 6-12 M-Jup, T-eff = 1300-1600K and R = 1.5 +/- 0.1 R-Jup giant planet. Finally, the comparison with Exo-REM and PHOENIX BT-Settl synthetic atmosphere models gives consistent effective temperatures but with slightly higher surface gravity solutions of log(g) = 4.0-5.0 with smaller radii (1.0-1.3 R-Jup).Conclusions. Given its physical and spectral properties, HIP 65426 b occupies a rather unique placement in terms of age, mass, and spectral-type among the currently known imaged planets. It represents a particularly interesting case to study the presence of clouds as a function of particle size, composition, and location in the atmosphere, to search for signatures of non-equilibrium chemistry, and finally to test the theory of planet formation and evolution.
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| 2. |
- Mesa, D., et al.
(författare)
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VLT/SPHERE exploration of the young multiplanetary system PDS70
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 632
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. PDS 70 is a young (5.4 Myr), nearby (similar to 113 pc) star hosting a known transition disk with a large gap. Recent observations with SPHERE and NACO in the near-infrared (NIR) allowed us to detect a planetary mass companion, PDS 70 b, within the disk cavity. Moreover, observations in H-alpha with MagAO and MUSE revealed emission associated to PDS 70 b and to another new companion candidate, PDS 70 c, at a larger separation from the star. PDS 70 is the only multiple planetary system at its formation stage detected so far through direct imaging.Aims. Our aim is to confirm the discovery of the second planet PDS 70 c using SPHERE at VLT, to further characterize its physical properties, and search for additional point sources in this young planetary system.Methods. We re-analyzed archival SPHERE NIR observations and obtained new data in Y, J, H and K spectral bands for a total of four different epochs. The data were reduced using the data reduction and handling pipeline and the SPHERE data center. We then applied custom routines (e.g., ANDROMEDA and PACO) to subtract the starlight.Results. We re-detect both PDS 70 b and c and confirm that PDS 70 c is gravitationally bound to the star. We estimate this second planet to be less massive than 5 M-Jup and with a T-eff around 900 K. Also, it has a low gravity with log g between 3.0 and 3.5 dex. In addition, a third object has been identified at short separation (similar to 0.12 '') from the star and gravitationally bound to the star. Its spectrum is however very blue, meaning that we are probably seeing stellar light reflected by dust and our analysis seems to demonstrate that it is a feature of the inner disk. We cannot however completely exclude the possibility that it is a planetary mass object enshrouded by a dust envelope. In this latter case, its mass should be of the order of a few tens of M-circle plus. Moreover, we propose a possible structure for the planetary system based on our data, and find that this structure cannot be stable on a long timescale.
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| 3. |
- Mesa, D., et al.
(författare)
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Signs of late infall and possible planet formation around DR Tau using VLT/SPHERE and LBTI/LMIRCam
- 2022
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 658
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Protoplanetary disks around young stars often contain substructures like rings, gaps, and spirals that could be caused by interactions between the disk and forming planets.Aims. We aim to study the young (1-3 Myr) star DR Tau in the near-infrared and characterize its disk, which was previously resolved through submillimeter interferometry with ALMA, and to search for possible substellar companions embedded into it.Methods. We observed DR Tau with VLT/SPHERE both in polarized light (H broad band) and total intensity (in Y, J, H, and K spectral bands). We also performed L' band observations with LBTI/LMIRCam on the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). We applied differential imaging techniques to analyze both the polarized data, using dual beam polarization imaging, and the total intensity data, using angular and spectral differential imaging.Results. We found two previously undetected spirals extending north-east and south of the star, respectively. We further detected an arc-like structure north of the star. Finally a bright, compact and elongated structure was detected at a separation of 303 +/- 10 mas and a position angle 21.2 +/- 3.7 degrees, just at the root of the north-east spiral arm. Since this feature is visible both in polarized light and total intensity and has a blue spectrum, it is likely caused by stellar light scattered by dust.Conclusions. The two spiral arms are at different separations from the star, have very different pitch angles, and are separated by an apparent discontinuity, suggesting they might have a different origin. The very open southern spiral arm might be caused by infalling material from late encounters with cloudlets into the formation environment of the star itself. The compact feature could be caused by interaction with a planet in formation still embedded in its dust envelope and it could be responsible for launching the north-east spiral. We estimate a mass of the putative embedded object of the order of few M-Jup.
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| 4. |
- Bjerkeli, Per, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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H2O line mapping at high spatial and spectral resolution Herschel observations of the VLA 1623 outflow
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 546, s. Article Number: A29 -
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Apart from being an important coolant, water is known to be a tracer of high-velocity molecular gas. Recent models predict relatively high abundances behind interstellar shockwaves. The dynamical and physical conditions of the water emitting gas, however, are not fully understood yet. Using the Herschel Space Observatory, it is now possible to observe water emission from supersonic molecular outflows at high spectral and spatial resolution. Several molecular outflows from young stars are currently being observed as part of the WISH (Water In Star-forming regions with Herschel) key program. Aims. We aim to determine the abundance and distribution of water, its kinematics, and the physical conditions of the gas responsible for the water emission. The observed line profile shapes help us understand the dynamics in molecular outflows. Methods. We mapped the VLA1623 outflow, in the ground-state transitions of o-H2O, with the HIFI and PACS instruments. We also present observations of higher energy transitions of o-H2O and p-H2O obtained with HIFI and PACS towards selected outflow positions. From comparison with non-LTE radiative transfer calculations, we estimate the physical parameters of the water emitting regions. Results. The observed water emission line profiles vary over the mapped area. Spectral features and components, tracing gas in different excitation conditions, allow us to constrain the density and temperature of the gas. The water emission originates in a region where temperatures are comparable to that of the warm H-2 gas (T greater than or similar to 200 K). Thus, the water emission traces a gas component significantly warmer than the gas responsible for the low-J CO emission. The water column densities at the CO peak positions are low, i.e. N(H2O) similar or equal to (0.03-10) x 10(14) cm(-2). Conclusions. The water abundance with respect to H-2 in the extended outflow is estimated at X(H2O)
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| 5. |
- Mesal, D., et al.
(författare)
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Exploring the R CrA environment with SPHERE Discovery of a new stellar companion
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 624
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. R Coronae Australis (R CrA) is the brightest star of the Coronet nebula of the Corona Australis (CrA) star forming region. This star is very red in color, probably due to dust absorption, and is strongly variable. High-contrast instruments allow for an unprecedented direct exploration of the immediate circumstellar environment of this star. Methods. We observed R CrA with the near-infrared (NIR) channels (IFS and IRDIS) of SPHERE at the Very Large Telescope (VET). In this paper, we used four different epochs, three of which are from open time observations while one is from SPHERE guaranteed time. The data were reduced using the data reduction and handling pipeline and the SPHERE Data Center. We implemented custom IDL routines on the reduced data with the aim to subtract the speckle halo. We have also obtained pupil-tracking H-band (1.45-1.85 mu m) observations with the VLT/SINFONI NIR medium-resolution (R similar to 3000) spectrograph. Results. A companion was found at a separation of 0.156 '' from the star in the first epoch and increasing to 0.184 '' in the final epoch. Furthermore, several extended structures were found around the star, the most noteworthy of which is a very bright jet-like structure northeast from the star. The astrometric measurements of the companion in the four epochs confirm that it is gravitationally bound to the star. The SPHERE photometry and SINFONI spectrum, once corrected for extinction, point toward a spectral type object that is early M with a mass between 0.3 and 0.55 M-circle dot. The astrometric analyis provides constraints on the orbit paramenters: e similar to 0.4, semimajor axis at 27-28 au, inclination of similar to 70 degrees, and a period larger than 30 yr. We were also able to put constraints of few M (jup) on the mass of possible other companions down to separations of few tens of au.
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| 6. |
- Nisini, B., et al.
(författare)
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Mapping water in protostellar outflows with Herschel PACS and HIFI observations of L1448-C
- 2013
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 549
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Water is a key probe of shocks and outflows from young stars because it is extremely sensitive to both the physical conditions associated with the interaction of supersonic outflows with the ambient medium and the chemical processes at play.Aims. Our goal is to investigate the spatial and velocity distribution of H2O along outflows, its relationship with other tracers, and its abundance variations. In particular, this study focuses on the outflow driven by the low-mass protostar L1448-C, which previous observations have shown to be one of the brightest H2O emitters among the class 0 outflows.Methods. To this end, maps of the o-H2O 1(10)-1(01) and 2(12)-1(01) transitions taken with the Herschel-HIFI and PACS instruments, respectively, are presented. For comparison, complementary maps of the CO(3-2) and SiO(8-7) transitions, obtained at the JCMT, and the H-2 S(0) and S(1) transitions, taken from the literature, were used as well. Physical conditions and H2O column densities were inferred using large velocity gradient radiative transfer calculations.Results. The water distribution appears to be clumpy, with individual peaks corresponding to shock spots along the outflow. The bulk of the 557 GHz line is confined to radial velocities in the range +/- 10-50 km s(-1), but extended emission at extreme velocities (up to v(r) similar to 80 km s(-1)) is detected and is associated with the L1448-C extreme high-velocity (EHV) jet. The H2O 1(10)-1(01)/CO(3-2) ratio shows strong variations as a function of velocity that likely reflect different and changing physical conditions in the gas that is responsible for the emissions from the two species. In the EHV jet, a low H2O/SiO abundance ratio is inferred, which could indicate molecular formation from dust-free gas directly ejected from the proto-stellar wind. The ratio between the two observed H2O lines and the comparison with H-2 indicate averaged T-kin and n(H-2) values of similar to 300-500 K and 5 x 10(6) cm(-3), respectively, while a water abundance with respect to H-2 of about 0.5-1x10(-6) along the outflow is estimated, in agreement with results found by previous studies. The fairly constant conditions found all along the outflow imply that evolutionary effects on the timescales of outflow propagation do not play a major role in the H2O chemistry.Conclusions. The results of our analysis show that the bulk of the observed H2O lines comes from post-shocked regions where the gas, after being heated to high temperatures, has already been cooled down to a few hundred K. The relatively low derived abundances, however, call for some mechanism that diminishes the H2O gas in the post-shock region. Among the possible scenarios, we favor H2O photodissociation, which requires the superposition of a low-velocity nondissociative shock with a fast dissociative shock able to produce a far-ultraviolet field of sufficient strength.
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| 7. |
- Rigliaco, E., et al.
(författare)
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Investigating the nature of the extended structure around the Herbig star RCrA using integral field and high-resolution spectroscopy
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 632
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. We present a detailed analysis of the extended structure detected around the young and close-by Herbig Ae/Be star R CrA. This is a young triple system with an intermediate mass central binary whose separation is of the order of a few tens of the radii of the individual components, and an M-star companion at about 30 au.Aims. Our aim is to understand the nature of the extended structure by means of combining integral-field and high-resolution spectroscopy.Methods. We conducted the analysis based on FEROS archival optical spectroscopy data and adaptive optics images and integral-field spectra obtained with SINFONI and SPHERE at the VLT.Results. The observations reveal a complex extended structure that is composed of at least two components: a non-uniform wide cavity whose walls are detected in continuum emission up to 400 au, and a collimated wiggling-jet detected in the emission lines of helium and hydrogen. Moreover, the presence of [Fe II] emission projected close to the cavity walls suggests the presence of a slower moving wind, most likely a disk wind. The multiple components of the optical forbidden lines also indicate the presence of a high-velocity jet co-existing with a slow wind. We constructed a geometrical model of the collimated jet flowing within the cavity using intensity and velocity maps, finding that its wiggling is consistent with the orbital period of the central binary. The cavity and the jet do not share the same position angle, suggesting that the jet is itself experiencing a precession motion possibly due to the wide M-dwarf companion.Conclusions. We propose a scenario that closely agrees with the general expectation of a magneto-centrifugal-launched jet. These results build upon the extensive studies already conducted on R CrA.
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| 8. |
- Santangelo, G., et al.
(författare)
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First spectrally-resolved H-2 observations towards HH 54 Low H2O abundance in shocks
- 2014
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 569, s. Art. no. L8-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Herschel observations suggest that the H2O distribution in outflows from low-mass stars resembles the H-2 emission. It is still unclear which of the different excitation components that characterise the mid-and near-IR H-2 distribution is associated with H2O. Aims. The aim is to spectrally resolve the different excitation components observed in the H-2 emission. This will allow us to identify the H-2 counterpart associated with H2O and finally derive directly an H2O abundance estimate with respect to H-2. Methods. We present new high spectral resolution observations of H-2 0-0 S(4), 0-0 S(9), and 1-0 S(1) towards HH 54, a bright nearby shock region in the southern sky. In addition, new Herschel/HIFI H2O (2(12)-1(01)) observations at 1670 GHz are presented. Results. Our observations show for the first time a clear separation in velocity of the different H-2 lines: the 0-0 S(4) line at the lowest excitation peaks at -7 kms(-1), while the more excited 0-0 S(9) and 1-0 S(1) lines peak at -15 km s(-1). H2O and high-J CO appear to be associated with the H-2 0-0 S(4) emission, which traces a gas component with a temperature of 700-1000 K. The H2O abundance with respect to H-2 0-0 S(4) is estimated to be X(H2O)
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| 9. |
- Santangelo, G., et al.
(författare)
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Herschel-PACS observations of shocked gas associated with the jets of L1448 and L1157
- 2013
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 557
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. In the framework of the Water In Star-forming regions with Herschel (WISH) key program, several H2O (E-u > 190 K), high-J CO, [OI], and OH transitions are mapped with Herschel-PACS in two shock positions along two prototypical outflows around the low-luminosity sources L1448 and L1157. Previous Herschel-HIFI H2O observations (E-u = 53-249 K) are also used. The aim is to derive a complete picture of the excitation conditions at the selected shock positions.Methods. We adopted a large velocity gradient analysis (LVG) to derive the physical parameters of the H2O and CO emitting gas. Complementary Spitzer mid-IR H-2 data were used to derive the H2O abundance.Results. Consistent with other studies, at all selected shock spots a close spatial association between H2O, mid-IR H-2, and high-J CO emission is found, whereas the low-J CO emission traces either entrained ambient gas or a remnant of an older shock. The excitation analysis, conducted in detail at the L1448-B2 position, suggests that a two-component model is needed to reproduce the H2O, CO, and mid-IR H-2 lines: an extended warm component (T similar to 450 K) is traced by the H2O emission with E-u = 53-137 K and by the CO lines up to J = 22-21, and a compact hot component (T = 1100 K) is traced by the H2O emission with E-u > 190 K and by the higher-J CO transitions. At L1448-B2 we obtain an H2O abundance (3-4) x 10(-6) for the warm component and (0.3-1.3) x 10(-5) for the hot component and a CO abundance of a few 10-5 in both components. In L1448-B2 we also detect OH and blue-shifted [OI] emission, spatially coincident with the other molecular lines and with [FeII] emission. This suggests a dissociative shock for these species, related to the embedded atomic jet. On the other hand, a non-dissociative shock at the point of impact of the jet on the cloud is responsible for the (HO)-O-2 and CO emission. The other examined shock positions show an H2O excitation similar to L1448-B2, but a slightly higher (HO)-O-2 abundance (a factor of similar to 4).Conclusions. The two gas components may represent a gas stratification in the post-shock region. The extended and low-abundance warm component traces the post-shocked gas that has already cooled down to a few hundred Kelvin, whereas the compact and possibly higher-abundance hot component is associated with the gas that is currently undergoing a shock episode. This hot gas component is more affected by evolutionary effects on the timescales of the outflow propagation, which explains the observed H2O abundance variations.
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| 10. |
- Santangelo, G., et al.
(författare)
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Water distribution in shocked regions of the NGC 1333-IRAS 4A protostellar outflow
- 2014
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 568, s. Article no. A125-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Water is a key molecule in protostellar environments because its line emission is very sensitive to both the chemistry and the physical conditions of the gas. Observations of H2O line emission from low-mass protostars and their associated outflows performed with HIFI onboard the Herschel Space Observatory have highlighted the complexity of H2O line emission from low-mass protostars and their associated outflows performed with HIFI onboard the Herschel Space Observ line profiles, in which different kinematic components can be distinguished. Aims. The goal is to study the spatial distribution of H2O line emission from low-mass protostars and their associated outflows performed with HIFI onboard the Herschel Space Observ, in particular of the different kinematic components detected in H2O line emission from low-mass protostars and their associated outflows performed with HIFI onboard the Herschel Space Observ emission, at two bright shocked regions along IRAS 4A, one of the strongest H2O line emission from low-mass protostars and their associated outflows performed with HIFI onboard the Herschel Space Observ emitters among the Class 0 outflows. Methods. We obtained Herschel-PACS maps of the IRAS 4A outflow and HIFI observations of two shocked positions. The largest HIFI beam of 38'' at 557 GHz was mapped in several key water lines with different upper energy levels, to reveal possible spatial variations of the line profiles. A large velocity gradient (LVG) analysis was performed to determine the excitation conditions of the gas. Results. We detect four H2O line emission from low-mass protostars and their associated outflows performed with HIFI onboard the Herschel Space Observ lines and CO (16-15) at the two selected shocked positions. In addition, transitions from related outflow and envelope tracers are detected. Different gas components associated with the shock are identified in the H2O emission. In particular, at the head of the red lobe of the outflow, two distinct gas components with different excitation conditions are distinguished in the HIFI emission maps: a compact component, detected in the ground-state water lines, and a more extended one. Assuming that these two components correspond to two different temperature components observed in previous H2O and CO studies, the LVG analysis of the H2O line emission from low-mass protostars and their associated outflows performed with HIFI onboard the Herschel Space Observ emission suggests that the compact (about 32, corresponding to about 700 AU) component is associated with a hot (T similar to 1000 K) gas with densities n(H2) similar to (1-4) x 10(5) cm(-3), whereas the extended (10 ''-17 '', corresponding to 2400-4000 AU) one traces a warm (T similar to 300-500 K) and dense gas (n(H2) similar to (3-5) x 10(7) cm(-3)). Finally, using the CO (16-15) emission observed at R2 and assuming a typical CO/H-2 abundance of 10(-4), we estimate the H2O/H-2 abundance of the warm and hot components to be (7-10) x 10(-7) and (3-7) x 10(-5). Conclusions. Our data allowed us, for the first time, to resolve spatially the two temperature components previously observed with HIFI and PACS. We propose that the compact hot component may be associated with the jet that impacts the surrounding material, whereas the warm, dense, and extended component originates from the compression of the ambient gas by the propagating flow.
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