Position-Velocity Analysis of HH 111: Physical Structure and Dust Content

Abstract

Spectral diagnostics techniques have proved to be a powerful tool in deriving from the observations a wealth of information on the jet structure and dynamics and, hence, constraints for the theoretical models for the jet launching and propagation. From the analysis of the optical forbidden lines detected on the EFOSC2 spectra of HH 111 we derived the gas physical conditions and the depletion of calcium both as a function of the distance from the source and in different velocity channels. The performed analysis highlighted that the density, the temperature and the ionization fraction peak at the position of the strongest shocks and at high velocities, in agreement with theoretical predictions for the shock structure. Interestingly also the gas-phase abundance of Calcium is maximum in the strongest shocks confirming theoretical predictions for dust reprocessing in shocks.