Dynamical and chemical properties of the “starless” core L1014

Abstract

Abstract. Spitzer Space Telescope observations of a point-like source, L1014-IRS, close to the dust peak of the low-mass dense core L1014, have raised questions about its starless nature. These show the presence of an object with colors expected for an embedded protostar with the implication that L1014-IRS would be the lowest luminosity isolated protostar known, and an ideal target with which to test star formation theories at the low mass end. In order to study its molecular content and to search for the presence of a molecular outflow, we mapped L1014 in at least one transition of 12 No classical signatures of molecular outflow are found in the 12 CO and 13 CO FCRAO observations. In particular, no high velocity wings are found, and no well-defined blue-red lobes of 12 CO emission are seen in the channel maps. Sensitive, higher resolution observations will clarify the presence of a molecular outflow on a smaller scale than that probed by our observations.

The Spitzer c2d Survey of Nearby Dense Cores. II. Discovery of a Low-Luminosity Object in the "Evolved Starless Core" L1521F

“…0.1 L , (Young et al 2004;Bourke et al 2005;Huard et al 2006). Interestingly, L1014 shows very little evidence of being an evolved core (Crapsi et al 2005b). If L1014-IRS and similar objects have accretion rates that are significantly lower than that expected of low-mass protostars, then some are likely to be proto-brown dwarfs.…”

Spitzer discovery of very low luminosity objects

“…Crapsi et al (2005b); N is column density. A plus indicates that a criterion is met, a minus that it is not, a question mark that the data is insufficient to decide.…”

“…A plus indicates that a criterion is met, a minus that it is not, a question mark that the data is insufficient to decide. Data are from Motte & André (2001), Belloche et al (2002), Crapsi et al (2005b), and this work. …”

Deep Near‐Infrared Observations of L1014: Revealing the Nature of the Core and Its Embedded Source

“…In an attempt to detect an outflow from L1014, Crapsi et al (2005b) mapped the core in CS(2-1) and CO(1-0) with the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO). The CS(2-1) spectra do not indicate an asymmetric double-peaked feature, with the blue peak stronger than the red peak, typically used to identify infall motions arising from the star formation process in cores (e.g., .…”