Molecular Gas Toward the Gemini OB1 Molecular Cloud Complex II: CO Outflow Candidates with Possible WISE Associations

TL;DR

This large-scale survey identified 198 CO outflow candidates in the Gem OB1 molecular cloud complex, revealing their limited energetic impact on cloud turbulence and stability, and providing new insights into star formation activity in the region.

Contribution

First comprehensive survey of CO outflows in Gem OB1 with 193 newly detected candidates, analyzing their physical properties and impact on cloud dynamics.

Findings

Outflow candidates contribute less than 3% of turbulent energy.

Outflows cannot disrupt the overall cloud structure.

Most outflows are associated with ring-like or filamentary structures.

Abstract

We present a large scale survey of CO outflows in the Gem OB1 molecular cloud complex and its surroundings using the Purple Mountain Observatory Delingha 13.7 m telescope. A total of 198 outflow candidates were identified over a large area ($\sim$ 58.5 square degrees), of which 193 are newly detected. Approximately 68% (134/198) are associated with the Gem OB1 molecular cloud complex, including clouds GGMC 1, GGMC 2, BFS 52, GGMC 3 and GGMC 4. Other regions studied are: Local Arm (Local Lynds, West Front), Swallow, Horn, and Remote cloud. Outflow candidates in GGMC 1, BFS 52, and Swallow are mainly located at ring-like or filamentary structures. To avoid excessive uncertainty in distant regions ($\gtrsim$ 3.8 kpc), we only estimated the physical parameters for clouds in the Gem OB1 molecular cloud complex and in the Local arm. In those clouds, the total kinetic energy and the energy injection rate of the identified outflow candidates are $\lesssim$ 1% and $\lesssim$ 3% of the turbulent energy and the turbulent dissipation rate of each cloud, indicating that the identified outflow candidates cannot provide enough energy to balance turbulence of their host cloud at the scale of the entire cloud (several pc to dozens of pc). The gravitational binding energy of each cloud is $\gtrsim$ 135 times the total kinetic energy of the identified outflow candidates within the corresponding cloud, indicating that the identified outflow candidates cannot cause major disruptions to the integrity of their host cloud at the scale of the entire cloud.