2009ApJ...692..162R

We present sensitive 7 mm observations of the H53α recombination line and adjacent continuum, made toward the Orion BN/KL region. In the continuum we detect the BN object, the radio source I (GMR I) and the radio counterpart of the infrared (IR) source n (Orion-n). Comparing with observations made at similar angular resolutions but lower frequency, we discuss the spectral indices and angular sizes of these sources. In the H53α line, we only detect the BN object. This is the first time that radio recombination lines have been detected from this source. The LSR radial velocity of BN from the H53α line, v_LSR= 20.1±2.1 km/s, is consistent with that found from previous studies in near-IR lines. While the continuum emission is expected to have considerable optical depth at 7 mm, the observed H53α line emission is consistent with an optically thin nature and we discuss possible explanations for this apparent discrepancy. There is evidence of a velocity gradient, with the NE part of BN being redshifted by ∼10 km/s with respect to the SW part. This is consistent with the suggestion of Jiang et al. that BN may be driving an ionized outflow along that direction.