| Description |
In the early protostellar stages, fast jets powered by the nascent
star, possibly surrounded by a wider angle wind, are seen to
interact with the parental medium through molecular bowshocks,
producing a slower moving molecular outflow cavity.
The nature of the shock accelerating the outflow plays an important
role in the dynamical and chemical evolution of the entrained gas.
We propose to study with Herschel the physics of protostellar
outflow shocks from the observation of CO and OI lines with HIFI
and PACS, in a broad sample of outflows.
These observations will permit to bring strong constraints to shock
models over a wide range of parameters, and will facilitate the
interpretation of current observational programs on protostellar
shock chemistry and dynamics. |
