High Resolution CO Imaging of the Molecular Disk around the jets in KjPN 8

Abstract

We report high resolution (2.5 arcsec) CO J=1-0 line imaging which confirms the presence of a molecular disk around the origin of the spectacular, 14 arcmin times 4 arcmin, episodic jets in the planetary nebula KjPn 8. The disk is 30 arcsec in diameter with an expansion velocity of approximately 7 km/s. The axis of the disk is aligned with the youngest and fastest (approximately 300 km/s) of the bipolar jets, and there is evidence for interaction between the jets and the disk material. The inner 4 arcsec of the disk are photo-ionized by the central star. The disk-jet system dominates the environment of this young nebula, and should govern the morphology of KjPn 8 as it evolves to become fully ionized.

15 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Jets and Tori in Proto-Planetary Nebulae
• Kinematics of the H2O masers at the centre of the PN K3-35
• Multiple Collimated Outflows in the Proto-planetary Nebula GL 618
• High Resolution Millimeter Imaging of the Proto-Planetary Nebula He 3-1475
• Jets and the shaping of the giant bipolar envelope of the planetary nebula KjPn 8
• The expansion proper motions of the extraordinary giant lobes of the planetary nebula KjPn 8 revisited
• Optically Thick Radio Cores of Narrow-Waist Bipolar Nebulae