Identication of L328-IRS as a Proto-Brown Dwarf

Our understanding of how brown dwarfs form is limited by observational evidence. We report identification of a L328-IRS as a proto-brown dwarf embedded in an isolated dense molecular core. This source exhibits typical properties of a protostar, however, its luminosity (~0.05 $L{\odot}$) is far below than expected from the least massive protostar by the standard star formation theory. The most likely mass accretion rate (~2.4 10-7 $M{\odot}$ yr-1) inferred from its small bipolar outflow is an order of magnitude less than the canonical value for a protostar. The mass available in its envelope is less than 0.1 $M{\odot}$. These points suggest that L328-IRS will accrete the mass of a brown dwarf, but not that of a star. L328 is found to be fairly well isolated from other nearby clouds and seems to be forming three sub-cores simultaneously through a gravitational fragmentation process. Altogether with these, our direct detection of inward motions in L328 which harbors this proto-brown dwarf clearly supports the idea that a brown dwarf forms like a normal star.