Millimeter and Submillimeter Survey of the R Corona Australis Region
Christopher Groppi, Craig Kulesa, Christopher Walker, Christopher Martin
Abstract
Using a combination of data from the Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO), the Arizona Radio Observatory Kitt Peak 12m telescope and the Arizona Radio Observatory 10m Heinrich Hertz Telescope, we have studied the most active part of the R CrA molecular cloud in multiple transitions of Carbon Monoxide, HCO
+
and 870\micron continuum emission. Since R CrA is nearby (130 pc), we are able to obtain physical spatial resolution as high as 0.01pc over an area of 0.16 pc
2
, with velocity resolution finer than 1 km/s. Mass estimates of the protostar driving the mm-wave emission derived from HCO
+
, dust continuum emission and kinematic techniques point to a young, deeply embedded protostar of
∼
0.5-0.75 M
⊙
, with a gaseous envelope of similar mass. A molecular outflow is driven by this source that also contains at least 0.8 M
⊙
of molecular gas with
∼
0.5 L
⊙
of mechanical luminosity. HCO
+
lines show the kinematic signature of infall motions as well as bulk rotation. The source is most likely a Class 0 protostellar object not yet visible at near-IR wavelengths. With the combination of spatial and spectral resolution in our data set, we are able to disentangle the effects of infall, rotation and outflow towards this young object.