High-resolution near-infrared study of the deeply embedded young stellar object S140 IRS 3^*

¹ Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hügel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany
² Special Astrophysical Observatory, Nizhnij Arkhyz, Zelenchuk region, Karachai-Cherkesia 357147, Russia
³ Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh BT61 9DG, Northern Ireland

Corresponding author: T. Preibisch, preib@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de

Received: 9 May 2001
Accepted: 5 June 2001

Abstract

We explore the structures immediately surrounding the high-mass young stellar object S140 IRS 3 within the L1204 molecular cloud. We have obtained a bispectrum speckle interferometric K-band image with a resolution of 150 mas and a seeing-limited molecular hydrogen line emission image of IRS 3. Our speckle image resolves IRS 3 into three point sources, a close binary with separation and a third component away. A rough assessment of the system stability suggests that the IRS 3 triple system is unstable. Our speckle image also reveals extended diffuse emission of very complex morphology around IRS 3. An extended diffuse feature north-east of IRS 3 displays a remarkable -shaped structure. This feature is the innermost part of an at least long extended structure, which is pointing towards a bow-shock like patch located away from IRS 3. We find strong H₂ line emission associated with this feature, suggesting the presence of shocks, caused by the collision of outflowing material with the ambient medium. The -shaped structure of this feature can be well reproduced by a model assuming a precessing outflow from IRS 3a. Furthermore, we find several elongated features pointing away from IRS 3 in a southern direction. Some of these features also exhibit strong H₂ line emission, demonstrating that IRS 3 drives outflows in several directions.