Whelan, Emma and Ray, T.P. and Comerón, F. and Bacciotti, F. and Kavanagh, P.J. (2012) Spatially resolved observations of the bipolar optical outflow from the brown dwarf 2mass J12073347-3932540*. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 76 (120). ISSN 0004-637X

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Abstract

Studies of brown dwarf (BD) outflows provide information pertinent to questions on BD formation, as well as allowing outflow mechanisms to be investigated at the lowest masses. Here new observations of the bipolar outflow from the 24 M JUP BD 2MASS J12073347–3932540 are presented. The outflow was originally identified through the spectro-astrometric analysis of the [O I]λ6300 emission line. Follow-up observations consisting of spectra and [S II], R-band and I-band images were obtained. The new spectra confirm the original results and are used to constrain the outflow position angle (P.A.) at ~65°. The [O I]λ6300 emission line region is spatially resolved and the outflow is detected in the [S II] images. The detection is firstly in the form of an elongation of the point-spread function (PSF) along the direction of the outflow P.A. Four faint knot-like features (labeled A-D) are also observed to the southwest of 2MASS J12073347–3932540 along the same P.A. suggested by the spectra and the elongation in the PSF. Interestingly, D, the feature furthest from the source, is bow shaped with the apex pointing away from 2MASS J12073347–3932540. A color-color analysis allows us to conclude that at least feature D is part of the outflow under investigation while A is likely a star or galaxy. Follow-up observations are needed to confirm the origin of B and C. This is a first for a BD, as BD optical outflows have to date only been detected using spectro-astrometry. This result also demonstrates for the first time that BD outflows can be collimated and episodic.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	*Based on data collected by UVES (281.C-5025(A)) and FORS1 (380.C-0412(A)) observations at the VLT on Cerro Paranal (Chile) which is operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Data collected from the ESO archive (071.C-0432(A), 085.C0238(A), 078.C-0158(A, B)) are also used in the analysis presented here. Citation: E. T. Whelan et al 2012 ApJ 761 120
Keywords:	ISM: jets and outflows; stars: pre-main sequence;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Experimental Physics
Item ID:	9892
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/761/2/120
Depositing User:	Emma Whelan
Date Deposited:	10 Sep 2018 14:11
Journal or Publication Title:	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Publisher:	IOP Publishing
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://iopscience.iop.org
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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