Fast changes in the morphology of the X-ray emitting shocks in HH 154

Abstract

Our recent second epoch Chandra observations have shown a fast morphological evolution of the X-ray source associated with the protostellar jet HH 154 (Fig.\ 1). We propose to study the evolution of the optical structures in the jet, specially the ones associated with the X-ray emission with a monitoring program of imaging narrow and broad band optical observations. We will determine the proper motions (and braking) of the optical knows associated with shock features and the evolution of their line luminosity and therefore their cooling time. These data, together with our past and future X-ray observations, constitute a fundamental input and constraint to our parallel program of ongoing hydrodynamic modeling of the X-ray emitting shocks in HH 154.