Infrared and optical imaging of newborn stars

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astronomical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115441· OSTI ID:6700713

Heyer, M H; Ladd, E F; Myers, P C; Campbell, B ^[1]

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1. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC (USA) Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (USA) Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (USA) New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque (USA)

Deep optical and near-infrared imaging observations of five low- to intermediate-luminosity pre-main-sequence stars embedded within dense cores reveal an extended emission component. Four of the five stars were previously identified as outflow sources. Nebulosity is detected with the optical and J and H bandpasses for each source. The large measured polarization values (p = 10 to 70 percent) at H and K identify the nebulosity as scattered light. At K the intensity distribution is generally less extended than at J and H, and is characterized by an additional, unresolved component. The position of this point source likely identifies the location of the newborn star within the field. For all sources, the illuminating star is redder than its associated nebula. The observed correlation of cometary reflection nebulae with newborn stars undergoing mass outflow suggests that the low-opacity paths are cavities associated with energetic stellar winds. 35 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6700713
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal; (USA), Vol. 99; ISSN 0004-6256
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
PROTOSTARS
NEAR INFRARED RADIATION
VISIBLE RADIATION
COSMIC GASES
GAS FLOW
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
LUMINOSITY
MASS TRANSFER
NEBULAE
POINT SOURCES
SPECTRA
STAR EVOLUTION
STELLAR WINDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GASES
INFRARED RADIATION
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
SPACE
STELLAR ACTIVITY
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources