Infall/Expansion Velocities in the Low-Mass Dense Cores L492, L694-2, and L1521F: Dependence on Position and Molecular Tracer

TL;DR

This study maps infall velocities in dense cores using multiple molecular lines, revealing that measured velocities depend on position, molecular tracer, and core evolution, highlighting the complexity of core dynamics.

Contribution

It provides detailed spatial maps of infall velocities in dense cores using multiple spectral lines, emphasizing the importance of tracer choice and position in infall measurements.

Findings

Infall velocities vary with position and molecular tracer.

Line-of-sight infall speeds decrease with radial offset.

Single-point surveys may misrepresent true core dynamics.

Abstract

Although surveys of infall motions in dense cores have been carried out for years, few surveys have focused on mapping infall across cores using multiple spectral line observations. To fill this gap, we present IRAM 30-m Telescope maps of N2H+(1-0), DCO+(2-1), DCO+(3-2), and HCO+(3-2) emission towards two prestellar cores (L492 and L694-2) and one protostellar core (L1521F). We find that the measured infall velocity varies with position across each core and choice of molecular line, likely as a result of radial variations in core chemistry and dynamics. Line-of-sight infall speeds estimated from DCO+(2-1) line profiles can decrease by 40-50 m/s when observing at a radial offset >= 0.04 pc from the core's dust continuum emission peak. Median infall speeds calculated from all observed positions across a core can also vary by as much as 65 m/s depending on the transition. These results show that while single-pointing, single-transition surveys of core infall velocities may be good indicators of whether a core is either contracting or expanding, the magnitude of the velocities they measure are significantly impacted by the choice of molecular line, proximity to the core center, and core evolutionary state.