Characterizing Outflows in the Cygnus X Region

TL;DR

This study analyzes 13 molecular outflows in the Cygnus X star-forming region using multiple CO emission lines, measuring their properties and developing a method to estimate these properties from existing data.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach to measure outflow properties using only $^{12}$CO(3-2) data, validated against more detailed observations.

Findings

Outflow properties are consistent with previous surveys.

The new method estimates properties within a factor of 2.

Identified protostars are typical of those in the Milky Way.

Abstract

In this paper, we perform an analysis of 13 outflows in the Cygnus X star-forming region. We use the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope observations of $^{13}$CO(3-2) and C$^{18}$O(3-2) molecular emission lines combined with archival $^{12}$CO(3-2) data. Using these new observations, we measure the mechanical properties of the outflows, and identify the associated protostars, finding their properties consistent with previous surveys of outflows throughout the Milky Way. Finally, we develop and test a method to measure the same properties using the existing $^{12}$CO(3-2) line data alone, finding the properties agree to within a factor of 2.