An anomalous extinction law in the Cep OB3b young cluster: Evidence for dust processing during gas dispersal

Journal Article · Sat May 10 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/786/2/113· OSTI ID:22356923

Allen, Thomas S.; Prchlik, Jakub J.; Megeath, S. Thomas ^[1]; Gutermuth, Robert A. ^[2]; Pipher, Judith L. ^[3]; Naylor, Tim ^[4]; Jeffries, R. D. ^[5]

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1. University of Toledo, Ritter Astrophysical Observatory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Toledo, OH 43606 (United States)
2. Five College Astronomy Department, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063 (United States)
3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627 (United States)
4. School of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK EX4 4QL (United Kingdom)
5. Astrophysics Group, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK ST5 5BG (United Kingdom)

We determine the extinction law through Cep OB3b, a young cluster of 3000 stars undergoing gas dispersal. The extinction is measured toward 76 background K giants identified with MMT/Hectospec spectra. Color excess ratios were determined toward each of the giants using V and R photometry from the literature, g, r, i, and z photometry from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and J, H, and K{sub s} photometry from the Two Micron All Sky Survey. These color excess ratios were then used to construct the extinction law through the dusty material associated with Cep OB3b. The extinction law through Cep OB3b is intermediate between the R{sub V} = 3.1 and R{sub V} = 5 laws commonly used for the diffuse atomic interstellar medium and dense molecular clouds, respectively. The dependence of the extinction law on line-of-sight A{sub V} is investigated and we find the extinction law becomes shallower for regions with A{sub V} > 2.5 mag. We speculate that the intermediate dust law results from dust processing during the dispersal of the molecular cloud by the cluster.

• OSTI ID: 22356923
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 786; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
COLOR
COSMIC GASES
DUSTS
MOLECULES
PHOTOMETRY
SPECTRA
STARS