Millimeter and Submillimeter Survey of the R Corona Australis Region

• Main Authors: Groppi, Christopher, Kulesa, Craig, Walker, Christopher, Martin, Christopher
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: arXiv 2004
• Subjects: Astrophysics astro-ph; FOS Physical sciences; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0405037; https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0405037

Using a combination of data from the Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO), the Arizona Radio Observatory Kitt Peak 12m telescope and the Arizona Radio Observatory 10m Heinrich Hertz Telescope, we have studied the most active part of the R CrA molecular cloud in multiple transitions of Carbon Monoxide, HCO$^+$ and 870\micron continuum emission. Since R CrA is nearby (130 pc), we are able to obtain physical spatial resolution as high as 0.01pc over an area of 0.16 pc$^2$, with velocity resolution finer than 1 km/s. Mass estimates of the protostar driving the mm-wave emission derived from HCO$^+$, dust continuum emission and kinematic techniques point to a young, deeply embedded protostar of $\sim$0.5-0.75 M$_\odot$, with a gaseous envelope of similar mass. A molecular outflow is driven by this source that also contains at least 0.8 M$_\odot$ of molecular gas with $\sim$0.5 L$_\odot$ of mechanical luminosity. HCO$^+$ lines show the kinematic signature of infall motions as well as bulk rotation. The source is most likely a Class 0 protostellar object not yet visible at near-IR wavelengths. With the combination of spatial and spectral resolution in our data set, we are able to disentangle the effects of infall, rotation and outflow towards this young object. : 29 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal