Kinematics of a young low-mass star forming core: Understanding the evolutionary state of the First Core Candidate L1451-mm

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution molecular line observations to analyze the kinematics of the first core candidate L1451-mm, revealing infall and rotation consistent with an early evolutionary stage of star formation, likely a first core.

Contribution

It provides detailed kinematic evidence supporting L1451-mm as a bona fide first core, advancing understanding of early star formation stages.

Findings

Evidence of infall and rotation in molecular lines

Estimated age of about 10,000 years for the core

No detected outflow motions at scales > 2000 AU

Abstract

We use 3mm multi-line and continuum CARMA observations towards the first hydrostatic core (FHSC) candidate L1451-mm to characterize the envelope kinematics at 1000 AU scales and investigate its evolutionary state. We detect evidence of infall and rotation in the N2H+(1-0), NH2D(1(1,1)-1(0,1)) and HCN(1-0) molecular lines. We compare the position velocity diagram of the NH2D line with a simple kinematic model and find that it is consistent with an envelope that is both infalling and rotating while conserving angular momentum around a central mass of about 0.06 Msun. The N2H+(1-0) LTE mass of the envelope along with the inferred infall velocity leads to a mass infall rate of approximately 6e-6 Msun/yr, implying a young age of 10,000 years for this FHSC candidate. Assuming that the accretion onto the central object is the same as the infall rate we obtain that the minimum source size is 1.5-5 AU consistent with the size expected for a first core. We do not see any evidence of outflow motions or signs of outflow-envelope interaction at scales > 2000 AU. This is consistent with previous observations that revealed a very compact outflow (<500 AU). We conclude that L1451-mm is indeed at a very early stage of evolution, either a first core or an extremely young Class 0 protostar. Our results provide strong evidence that L1451-mm is the best candidate for being a bonafide first core.