Turbulent mixing layers in supersonic protostellar outflows, with application to DG Tauri

TL;DR

This paper develops a formalism for turbulent mixing layers in supersonic protostellar outflows, applying it to DG Tauri to explain observed emission features and outflow dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a new turbulence-based model for mixing layers in protostellar jets and applies it to interpret observations of DG Tauri's outflows.

Findings

Model accurately estimates luminosity of intermediate-velocity outflow components.

Proposes the intermediate-velocity component is a turbulent mixing layer.

Matches observed emission and outflow rates in DG Tauri.

Abstract

Turbulent entrainment processes may play an important role in the outflows from young stellar objects at all stages of their evolution. In particular, lateral entrainment of ambient material by high-velocity, well-collimated protostellar jets may be the cause of the multiple emission-line velocity components observed in the microjet-scale outflows driven by classical T Tauri stars. Intermediate-velocity outflow components may be emitted by a turbulent, shock- excited mixing layer along the boundaries of the jet. We present a formalism for describing such a mixing layer based on Reynolds decomposition of quantities measuring fundamental properties of the gas. In this model, the molecular wind from large disc radii provides a continual supply of material for entrainment. We calculate the total stress profile in the mixing layer, which allows us to estimate the dissipation of turbulent energy, and hence the luminosity of the layer. We utilize MAPPINGS IV shock models to determine the fraction of total emission that occurs in [Fe II] 1.644 {\mu}m line emission in order to facilitate comparison to previous observations of the young stellar object DG Tauri. Our model accurately estimates the luminosity and changes in mass outflow rate of the intermediate-velocity component of the DG Tau approaching outflow. Therefore, we propose that this component represents a turbulent mixing layer surrounding the well-collimated jet in this object. Finally, we compare and contrast our model to previous work in the field.