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The Coldest Object in the Universe: Probing the Mass Distribution of the Ultra-Cold Outflow and Dusty Disk in the Boomerang NebulaOur Cycle 0 ALMA observations confirmed that the Boomerang Nebula is the coldest known object in the universe, with a massive high-speed outflow that has cooled significantly below the temperature of the cosmic background (CMB). The Boomerang's prodigious mass-loss rate (0.001 solar mass M yr (exp -1) and low-luminosity (300L ) make it a key object for understanding the remarkable transition of the circumstellar envelopes of AGB stars into bipolar planetary nebulae. We have obtained new ACA CO 1-0 data that recover much of the flux lost in the Cycle O data, and reveal heretofore unseen distant regions of the ultra-cold outflow reheated to temperatures above the CMB. Our CO J=3-2 data reveal the precise, highly collimated shape of an inner bipolar structure and its dense central waist, with unprecedented angular resolution (0.4 in). The waist shows a core-halo structure in the thermal dust emission at 0.88 millimeter, and its derived flux at this wavelength, compared with the 3.3, 2.6, and 1.3 millimeter fluxes support the presence of about 5 x 10 (exp -4) solar mass of very large (approximately millimeter-sized), cold (approximately 30K) grains. We also find the unexpected presence of weak SO emission, possibly resulting from the release of S from grains due to high-speed shocks.
Document ID
20170007015
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Sahai, R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Vlemmings, W.
(Chalmers Univ. of Technology Onsala, Sweden)
Nyman, L. A.
(European Southern Observatory Santiago, Chile)
Date Acquired
August 1, 2017
Publication Date
December 8, 2014
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: ESO Revolution in Astronomy with ALMA
Location: Tokyo
Country: Japan
Start Date: December 8, 2014
End Date: December 11, 2014
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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