Predicted long-slit, high-resolution emission-line profiles from interstellar bow shocks. II - Arbitrary bow shock orientation

Abstract

Theoretical position-dependent line profiles (position-velocity diagrams) of several emission lines were obtained for models of a bow shock moving at an arbitrary direction with respect to the line of sight. Models such as these have been suggested as an explanation for the emission-line spectra of Herbig-Haro objects by several authors (in connection with the interstellar bullet model, the shocked cloudlet model, or the jet model). The rather complex position-velocity diagrams of two HH objects (obtained by Boehm and Solf) can be successfully interpreted with these simple models. This is an extension of previous calculations carried out by Raga and Boehm, which were restricted to the case of a bow shock moving in the plane of the sky.