Optical Long-slit Spectroscopy of Parsec-scale Jets from DG Tauri

  • Published : 2015.04.10

Abstract

Classical T Tauri star DG Tau is suggested as the driving source of parsec-scale jet which expands up to 650" (0.4 pc). To investigate the kinematics and physical properties of the jet, we have obtained the optical emission lines of $H{\alpha}$, [O I] ${\lambda}{\lambda}$6300, 6363, [N II] ${\lambda}{\lambda}$6548,6584, and [S II] ${\lambda}{\lambda}$6716, 6731 from HH 158 ad HH 702. The radial velocity of HH 158 is in the range of -50 to $-250km\;s^{-1}$. For HH 702, located at 650" from the source, it shows ~ $-80km\;s^{-1}$. In HH 158, the electron density ($n_e$) close to the star is ${\sim}10^4cm^{-3}$ and it decreases to ${\sim}10^2cm^{-3}$ at 14" away from the star. Electron temperature ($T_e$) is decreasing from >15,000 K to ~5,000 K with distance. Ionization fraction ($x_e$) is increasing from almost zero to > 0.4 along the distance. In HH 702, the values of $n_e$, $T_e$, and $x_e$ are similar to those estimated at 14" from source, where knot C of HH 158 is located. This may imply that the physical properties of the knot could persist through such a long distance in the space, and the gas could be re-excited by the shock during propagation of the jet. On the other hand, we cannot avoid the possibility that HH 702 is driven by another source rather than DG Tau because HH 158 and HH 702 show somewhat large difference in their inclination angles (${\Delta}i=21-35^{\circ}$).

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