Chemical and kinematic structure of extremely high-velocity molecular jets in the Serpens Main star-forming region

TL;DR

This study uses ALMA observations to analyze the chemical and kinematic structure of extremely high-velocity molecular jets in the Serpens Main star-forming region, revealing their interaction, composition, and evolution.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of the chemical composition and kinematic structure of EHV jets in multiple sources, highlighting their potential commonality and interaction with slow outflows.

Findings

EHV jets are present in 3 out of 5 sources studied.

Only the youngest source's EHV jet has enough momentum to drive the slow outflow.

SiO abundance increases with velocity, HCN is absent in EHV jets, and H$_2$CO is found in low-velocity and some EHV features.

Abstract

The fastest molecular component to the protostellar outflows -- extremely high-velocity (EHV) molecular jets -- are still puzzling since they are seen only rarely. The first aim is to analyze the interaction between the EHV jet and the slow outflow by comparing their outflow force content. The second aim is to analyze the chemical composition of the different outflow velocity components and to reveal the spatial location of molecules. ALMA 3 mm and 1.3 mm observations of five outflow sources at 130 -- 260 au resolution in the Serpens Main cloud are presented. Observations of CO, SiO, H$_2$CO and HCN reveal the kinematic and chemical structure of those flows. Three velocity components are distinguished: the slow and the fast wing, and the EHV jet. Out of five sources, three have the EHV component. Comparison of outflow forces reveals that only the EHV jet in the youngest source Ser-emb 8 (N) has enough momentum to power the slow outflow. The SiO abundance is generally enhanced with velocity, while HCN is present in the slow and the fast wing, but disappears in the EHV jet. For Ser-emb 8 (N), HCN and SiO show a bow-shock shaped structure surrounding one of the EHV peaks suggesting sideways ejection creating secondary shocks upon interaction with the surroundings. Also, the SiO abundance in the EHV gas decreases with distance from this protostar, whereas that in the fast wing increases. H$_2$CO is mostly associated with low-velocity gas but also appears surprisingly in one of the bullets in the Ser-emb~8~(N) EHV jet. The high detection rate suggests that the presence of the EHV jet may be more common than previously expected. The origin and temporal evolution of the abundances of SiO, HCN and H$_2$CO through high-temperature chemistry are discussed. The data are consistent with a low C/O ratio in the EHV gas versus high C/O ratio in the fast and slow wings.