ALMA view of the circumstellar environment of the post-common-envelope-evolution binary system HD 101584

Aims. We study the circumstellar evolution of the binary HD 101584, consisting of a post-AGB star and a low-mass companion, which is most likely a post-common-envelope-evolution system. Methods. We used ALMA observations of the 12CO, 13CO, and C18O J = 2−1 lines and the 1.3 mm continuum to determine the morphology, kinematics, masses, and energetics of the circumstellar environment. Results. The circumstellar medium has a bipolar hour-glass structure, seen almost pole-on, formed by an energetic jet, ≈150 km s−1. We conjecture that the circumstellar morphology is related to an event that took place ≈500 yr ago, possibly a capture event where the companion spiraled in towards the AGB star. However, the kinetic energy of the accelerated gas exceeds the released orbital energy, and, taking into account the expected energy transfer efficiency of the process, the observed phenomenon does not match current common-envelope scenarios. This suggests that another process must augment, or even dominate, the ejection process. A significant amount of material resides in an unresolved region, presumably in the equatorial plane of the binary system.