Jochen Eislöffel
Thüringer Landessternwarte
Probing protostellar outflows in the far-infrared [OI] lines
Protostellar outflows are spectacular phenomena associated with star formation. Through them excess angular momentum is transported away from forming star during its main accretion phase. In order to understand the dynamics and evolution of the accreting system, we need to know basic physical parameters such as the mass loss rate and the accretion rate. The [OI]63mum line is predicted to be the main coolant in shocks that emerge when the outflowing gas hits the ambient medium. As such, the [OI]63mum line potentially allows a clear determination of the mass loss rate. Following this idea, we have mapped nine protostellar outflows (CepE, HH1, HH212, HH26, HH34, HH111, L1551 IRS5, SVS13, HH30) in the far-infrared [OI]63mum and [OI]145mum lines using SOFIA/FIFI-LS. In this talk we present the main results of this study.
