Protostellar jet collisions reduce the efficiency of outflow-driven turbulence in molecular clouds

Andrew J. Cunningham , Adam Frank , and Eric G. Blackman

Astrophysical Journal 646, 1059-1069 (2006)

We present a series of numerical studies of the interaction of colliding radiative, hydrodynamic young stellar outflows. We study the effect of the collision impact parameter on the acceleration of ambient material and the degree to which the flow is isotropized by the collision as a mechanism for driving turbulence in the parent molecular cloud. Our results indicate that the high degree of compression of outflow material, achieved through radiative shocks near the vertex of the interaction, prevents the redirected outflow from spraying over a large spatial region. Furthermore, the collision reduces the redirected outflow's ability to entrain and impart momentum into the ambient cloud. Consideration of the probabilities of outflow collisions leads us to conclude that individual low-velocity fossil outflows are the principle coupling between outflows and the cloud

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http://spider.pas.rochester.edu:8080/wwwPAS/PASforms/events/pubsShowItem$abstract=We+present+a+series+of+numerical+studies+of+the+interaction+of+colliding+radiative,+hydrodynamic+young+stellar+outflows.+We+study+the+effect+of+the+collision+impact+parameter+on+the+acceleration+of+ambient+material+and+the+degree+to+which+the+flow+is+isotropized+by+the+collision+as+a+mechanism+for+driving+turbulence+in+the+parent+molecular+cloud.+Our+results+indicate+that+the+high+degree+of+compression+of+outflow+material,+achieved+through+radiative+shocks+near+the+vertex+of+the+interaction,+prevents+the+redirected+outflow+from+spraying+over+a+large+spatial+region.+Furthermore,+the+collision+reduces+the+redirected+outflow%27s+ability+to+entrain+and+impart+momentum+into+the+ambient+cloud.+Consideration+of+the+probabilities+of+outflow+collisions+leads+us+to+conclude+that+individual+low-velocity+fossil+outflows+are+the+principle+coupling+between+outflows+and+the+cloud&authors=Andrew+J.+Cunningham+,+Adam+Frank+,+and+Eric+G.+Blackman&journal=Astrophysical+Journal&page=1059-1069&title=Protostellar+jet+collisions+reduce+the+efficiency+of+outflow-driven+turbulence+in+molecular+clouds&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.journals.uchicago.edu%2FApJ%2Fjournal%2Fissues%2FApJ%2Fv646n2%2F64338%2F64338.web.pdf&vol=646&year=2006