GGD 37: An Extreme Protostellar Outflow

TL;DR

This paper presents Spitzer spectral maps of the Herbig-Haro flow GGD 37, revealing high-temperature shock regions exceeding 100,000 K and indicating an unusually energetic protostellar outflow.

Contribution

First spectral mapping of GGD 37 showing extended high-ionization lines, indicating extreme shock conditions in a protostellar outflow.

Findings

Detection of extended [O IV] and [Ne V] emission lines.

Shock temperature exceeds 100,000 K.

Shock speed exceeds 200 km/s.

Abstract

We present the first Spitzer-IRS spectral maps of the Herbig-Haro flow GGD 37 detected in lines of [Ne III], [O IV], [Ar III], and [Ne V]. The detection of extended [O IV] (55 eV) and some extended emission in [Ne V] (97 eV) indicates a shock temperature in excess of 100,000 K, in agreement with X-ray observations, and a shock speed in excess of 200 km s-1. The presence of an extended pho- toionization or collisional ionization region indicates that GGD 37 is a highly unusual protostellar outflow.