Star Formation near Photodissociation Regions: Detection of a Peculiar Protostar near Cederblad 201

Abstract

We present the detection and characterization of a peculiar low-mass protostar (IRAS 22129+7000) located ∼ 0.4 pc from the Cederblad 201 photodissociation region (PDR) and ∼0.2 pc from the HH 450 jet. The cold circumstellar envelope surrounding the object has been mapped through its 1.2 mm dust continuum emission with IRAM 30 m/ MAMBO. The deeply embedded protostar is clearly detected with Spitzer MIPS (70 μm), 1RS (20-35 μm), and IRAC (4.5, 5.8, and 8 μm), but also in the Ks band (2.15 μm). Given the large near- and mid-IR excess in its spectral energy distribution, but large submillimeter-to-bolometric luminosity ratio (≃2%), IRAS 22129+7000 must be a transition Class 0/I source and/or a multiple stellar system. Targeted observations of several molecular lines from CO, 13CO, C 18O, HCO+, and DCO+ have been obtained. The presence of a collimated molecular outflow mapped with the CSO telescope in the CO J = 3-2 line suggests that the protostar/disk system is still accreting material from its natal envelope. Indeed, optically thick line profiles from high-density tracers such as HCO+ J=I-O show a redshifted absorption asymmetry reminiscent of inward motions. We construct a preliminary physical model of the circumstellar envelope (including radial density and temperature gradients, velocity field, and turbulence) that reproduces the observed line profiles and estimates the ionization fraction. The presence of both mechanical and (nonionizing) farultraviolet (FUV) radiative input makes the region an interesting case to study triggered star formation. © 2008. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.