THE TRIPLE RADIO-CONTINUUM SOURCE IN SERPENS - ITS INTERACTION WITH THE AMBIENT MOLECULAR GAS

We present VLA D observations of the NH3(1, 1) and NH3(2, 2) lines toward the triple radio continuum source in the Serpens region. A nonthermal radio spectrum for the outer components of this triple radio source was suggested in 1989 by Rodriguez et al. These spectral ammonia line observations were made in the VLA 4IF mode. A sensitivity of 4 mJy per channel of 48.8 kHz of resolution (approximately 0.6 km s-1) was reached. This is the highest sensitivity for ammonia data obtained with the VLA. We find a perturbation of the molecular gas near the triple radio continuum source in terms of heating and broadening of the ammonia lines. These results convincingly support a Galactic nature for the triple radio source. The origin of the observed heating in the molecular gas is probably the luminosity of the central object. We propose that the line broadening observed along the direction of the proper motions of the outer components of the triple radio source may be driven by a shock associated with a wind from the central object.