The ALMA-ATOMS-QUARKS Survey: Resolving a Chemically Rich Massive Protostellar Outflow
Abstract We present a comprehensive study on the physical and chemical structures of a chemically rich bipolar outflow in a high-mass star-forming region IRAS 16272−4837 (SDC335), utilizing high-resolution spectral line data at 1.3 and 3 mm dual bands from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, ATOMS, and QUARKS surveys. The high-velocity jet is enveloped by a lower-velocity outflow cavity, containing bright knots that show enhanced molecular intensities and elevated excitation temperatures. Along the outflow, we have identified 35 transitions from 22 molecular species. By analyzing the spatial distribution and kinematics of these molecular lines, we find that the molecular inventory in the outflow is regulated by three processes: (i) direct entrainment from the natal molecular core by the outflow; (ii) shock-induced release of molecules or atoms from dust grains; and (iii) thermal desorption and gas-phase reactions driven by shock heating. These results confirm that outflows are not only dynamical structures but also active chemical factories, where entrainment, shocks, and thermal processing jointly enrich the molecular content. Our findings confirmed that outflow chemistry has a multiorigin nature, and provide critical insights into chemical evolution during high-mass star formation.
Authors
- Dongting Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6159-5375)
- Xindi Tang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4154-4309)
- Tie Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5286-2564)
- Yan-Kun Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7817-1975)
- Jihye Hwang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7866-2686)
- Patricio Sanhueza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7125-7685)
- Fengwei Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5950-1932)
- Prasanta Gorai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1602-6849)
- Tapas Baug (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0295-6586)
- Chang Won Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3179-6334)
- Ariful Hoque (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6633-525X)
- Sami Dib (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8697-9808)
- A. Y. Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4546-2623)
- Pablo García (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8586-6721)
- L. Viktor Tóth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5310-4212)
- Guido Garay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1649-7958)
- Li Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8154-4205)
- Hongli Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3343-9645)
- Di Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3010-7661)
- Swagat Ranjan Das (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3658-0516)
- J. H. Zou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9090-9960)
- Delin Meng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5764-8527)
Institutions
- Eötvös Loránd University (HU)
- University of Debrecen (HU)
- Kyushu University (JP)
- University of Oslo (NO)
- Yunnan University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Peking University (CN)
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (CN)
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KR)
- Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (CN)
- Universidad Católica del Norte (CL)
- Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences (CN)
- Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (DE)
- National Astronomical Observatories (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- University of Chile (CL)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (IN)
- Korea University of Science and Technology (KR)
- Tsinghua University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Published
- 2025-12-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae1cad
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.15