218 research outputs found
The young stellar population of Lynds 1340. An infrared view
We present results of an infrared study of the molecular cloud Lynds 1340,
forming three groups of low and intermediate-mass stars. Our goals are to
identify and characterise the young stellar population of the cloud, study the
relationships between the properties of the cloud and the emergent stellar
groups, and integrate L1340 into the picture of the star-forming activity of
our Galactic environment. We selected candidate young stellar objects from the
Spitzer and WISE data bases using various published color criteria, and
classified them based on the slope of the spectral energy distribution. We
identified 170 Class II, 27 Flat SED, and Class 0/I sources. High angular
resolution near-infrared observations of the RNO 7 cluster, embedded in L1340,
revealed eight new young stars of near-infrared excess. The surface density
distribution of young stellar objects shows three groups, associated with the
three major molecular clumps of L1340, each consisting of less than 100
members, including both pre-main sequence stars and embedded protostars. New
Herbig--Haro objects were identified in the Spitzer images. Our results
demonstrate that L1340 is a prolific star-forming region of our Galactic
environment in which several specific properties of the intermediate-mass mode
of star formation can be studied in detail.Comment: 73 pages, 33 figures, 15 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ
New Candidate Eruptive Young Stars in Lynds 1340
We report on the discovery of three candidate eruptive young stars, found during our comprehensive multi-wavelength study of the young stellar population of the dark cloud L1340. These stars are as follows. (1) IRAS 02224+7227 (2MASS 02270555+7241167, HH 487S) exhibited FUor-like spectrum in our low-resolution optical spectra. The available photometric data restrict its luminosity to 23 L_☉ < L_(bol) < 59 L_☉. (2) 2MASS 02263797+7304575, identified as a classical T Tauri star during our Hα survey, exhibited an EXor-type brightening in 2005 November at the time of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey observations of the region. (3) 2MASS 02325605+7246055, a low-mass embedded young star, associated with a fan-shaped infrared nebula, underwent an outburst between the DSS 1 and DSS 2 surveys, leading to the appearance of a faint optical nebula. Our [S II] and Hα images, as well as the Spitzer Infrared Array Camera 4.5 μm images, revealed Herbig-Haro objects associated with this star. Our results suggest that amplitudes and timescales of outbursts do not necessarily correlate with the evolutionary stage of the stars
Giant Molecular Outflows Powered by Protostars in L1448
We present sensitive, large-scale maps of the CO J=1-0 emission of the L1448
dark cloud. These maps were acquired using the On-The-Fly capability of the
NRAO 12-meter telescope. CO outflow activity is seen in L1448 on parsec-scales
for the first time. Careful comparison of the spatial and velocity distribution
of our high-velocity CO maps with previously published optical and
near-infrared images and spectra has led to the identification of six distinct
CO outflows. We show the direct link between the heretofore unknown, giant,
highly-collimated, protostellar molecular outflows and their previously
discovered, distant optical manifestations. The outflows traced by our CO
mapping generally reach the projected cloud boundaries. Integrated intensity
maps over narrow velocity intervals indicate there is significant overlap of
blue- and red-shifted gas, suggesting the outflows are highly inclined with
respect to the line-of-sight, although the individual outflow position angles
are significantly different. The velocity channel maps also show that the
outflows dominate the CO line cores as well as the high-velocity wings. The
magnitude of the combined flow momenta, as well as the combined kinetic energy
of the flows, are sufficient to disperse the 50 solar mass NH3 cores in which
the protostars are currently forming, although some question remains as to the
exact processes involved in redirecting the directionality of the outflow
momenta to effect the complete dispersal of the parent cloud.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, to be published in the Astronomical Journa
Star Formation in Massive Protoclusters in the Monoceros OB1 Dark Cloud
We present far-infrared, submillimetre, and millimetre observations of bright
IRAS sources and outflows that are associated with massive CS clumps in the
Monoceros OB1 Dark Cloud. Individual star-forming cores are identified within
each clump. We show that combining submillimetre maps, obtained with SCUBA on
the JCMT, with HIRES-processed and modelled IRAS data is a powerful technique
that can be used to place better limits on individual source contributions to
the far-infrared flux in clustered regions. Three previously categorized "Class
I objects" are shown to consist of multiple sources in different evolutionary
stages. In each case, the IRAS point source dominates the flux at 12 and 25
microns. In two cases, the IRAS point source is not evident at submillimetre
wavelengths. The submillimetre sources contribute significantly to the 60 and
100 micron fluxes, dominating the flux in the 100 micron waveband. Using fluxes
derived from our technique, we present the spectral energy distribution and
physical parameters for an intermediate-mass Class 0 object in one of the
regions. Our new CO J=2-1 outflow maps of the three regions studied indicate
complex morphology suggestive of multiple driving sources. We discuss the
possible implications of our results for published correlations between outflow
momentum deposition rates and "source" luminosities, and for using these
derived properties to estimate the ratio of mass ejection rates to mass
accretion rates onto protostars.Comment: 12 pages, 11 gzipped gif figures, LaTex file and MNRAS style files,
accepted by MNRAS, v2: reference typos and author affiliation have been
correcte
The Milky Way Project: A statistical study of massive star formation associated with infrared bubbles
The Milky Way Project citizen science initiative recently increased the
number of known infrared bubbles in the inner Galactic plane by an order of
magnitude compared to previous studies. We present a detailed statistical
analysis of this dataset with the Red MSX Source catalog of massive young
stellar sources to investigate the association of these bubbles with massive
star formation. We particularly address the question of massive triggered star
formation near infrared bubbles. We find a strong positional correlation of
massive young stellar objects (MYSOs) and H II regions with Milky Way Project
bubbles at separations of < 2 bubble radii. As bubble sizes increase, a
statistically significant overdensity of massive young sources emerges in the
region of the bubble rims, possibly indicating the occurrence of triggered star
formation. Based on numbers of bubble-associated RMS sources we find that
67+/-3% of MYSOs and (ultra)compact H II regions appear associated with a
bubble. We estimate that approximately 22+/-2% of massive young stars may have
formed as a result of feedback from expanding H II regions. Using MYSO-bubble
correlations, we serendipitously recovered the location of the recently
discovered massive cluster Mercer 81, suggesting the potential of such analyses
for discovery of heavily extincted distant clusters.Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ, comments
welcome. Milky Way Project public data release available at
http://www.milkywayproject.org/dat
The onset of X-ray emission in young stellar objects: a Chandra observation of the Serpens star-forming region
AIMS: To study the properties of X-ray emissions from young stellar objects
(YSOs), through their evolution from Class I to Class III and determine whether
Class 0 protostars emit in X-rays. METHODS: A deep Chandra X-ray observation of
the Serpens star-forming region was obtained. The Serpens Cloud Core is ideally
suited for this type of investigation, being populated by a dense and extremely
young cluster whose members are found in all different evolutionary stages,
including six well studied Class 0 sources. RESULTS: None of the six Class 0
protostars is detected in our observations, excluding the presence of sources
with X-ray luminosities > 0.4 10^30 erg/s (for column densities of the order of
4 10^{23} cm^-2, or A_V ~ 200). A total of 85 X-ray sources are detected and
the light curves and spectra of 35 YSOs are derived. There is a clear trend of
decreasing absorbing column densities as one moves from Class I to Class III
sources, and, possibly, evidence of decreasing plasma temperatures, too. We
observe a strong, long-duration, flare from a Class II low-mass star, for which
we derive a flaring loop length of the order of 20 stellar radii. We interpret
the flaring event as originating from a magnetic flux tube connecting the star
to its circumstellar disk. The presence of such a disk is supported by the
detection, in the spectrum of this star, of 6.4 keV Fe fluorescent emission.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
L1448 IRS2E: A candidate first hydrostatic core
Intermediate between the prestellar and Class 0 protostellar phases, the
first core is a quasi-equilibrium hydrostatic object with a short lifetime and
an extremely low luminosity. Recent MHD simulations suggest that the first core
can even drive a molecular outflow before the formation of the second core
(i.e., protostar). Using the Submillimeter Array and the Spitzer Space
Telescope, we present high angular resolution observations towards the embedded
dense core IRS2E in L1448. We find that source L1448 IRS2E is not visible in
the sensitive Spitzer infrared images (at wavelengths from 3.6 to 70 um), and
has weak (sub-)millimeter dust continuum emission. Consequently, this source
has an extremely low bolometric luminosity (< 0.1 L_sun). Infrared and
(sub-)millimeter observations clearly show an outflow emanating from this
source; L1448 IRS2E represents thus far the lowest luminosity source known to
be driving a molecular outflow. Comparisons with prestellar cores and Class 0
protostars suggest that L1448 IRS2E is more evolved than prestellar cores but
less evolved than Class 0 protostars, i.e., at a stage intermediate between
prestellar cores and Class 0 protostars. All these results are consistent with
the theoretical predictions of the radiative/magneto hydrodynamical
simulations, making L1448 IRS2E the most promising candidate of the first
hydrostatic core revealed so far.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, to be published by Ap
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