ALMA observations of the Red Rectangle, a preliminary analysis

V. Bujarrabal , A. Castro-Carrizo (1) , J. Alcolea , H. van Winckel , C. Sánchez Contreras , M. Santander-García , R. Neri (1) , R. Lucas (2)

1 IRAM - Institut de RadioAstronomie Millimétrique
2 IPAG - Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble

Aims: We aim to study equatorial disks in rotation and axial outflows in post-AGB objects so as to disclose the formation and shaping mechanisms in planetary nebulae. So far, both disks and outflows have not been observed simultaneously.
Methods: We obtained high-quality ALMA observations of ¹²CO and ¹³CO J = 3-2 and ¹²CO J = 6-5 line emission in the Red Rectangle, the only post-AGB/protoplanetary object for which a disk in rotation has been mapped.
Results: These observations provide an unprecedented description of the complex structure of this source. Together with an equatorial disk in rotation, we find a low-velocity outflow that more or less occupies the region situated between the disk and the optical X-shaped nebula. From our observations and preliminary modeling of the data, we confirm the previously known properties of the disk and obtain a first description of the structure, dynamics, and physical conditions of the outflow.

Appendix A is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

Keywords: stars: AGB and post-AGB; circumstellar matter; radio lines: stars; planetary nebulae: individual: Red Rectangle

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Astrophysics [astro-ph]

V. Bujarrabal, A. Castro-Carrizo, J. Alcolea, H. van Winckel, C. Sánchez Contreras, et al.. ALMA observations of the Red Rectangle, a preliminary analysis. Astronomy and Astrophysics - A&A, 2013, 557, ⟨10.1051/0004-6361/201322232⟩. ⟨insu-03614298⟩