No Arabic abstract
Using our deep optical and near-infrared photometry along with multiwavelength archival data, we here present a detailed study of the Galactic H II region Sh 2-305, to understand the star/star-cluster formation. On the basis of excess infra-red emission, we have identified 116 young stellar objects (YSOs) within a field of view of ~ 18.5 arcminute x 18.5 arcminute, around Sh 2-305. The average age, mass and extinction (A_V) for this sample of YSOs are 1.8 Myr, 2.9 solar mass and 7.1 mag, respectively. The density distribution of stellar sources along with minimal spanning tree calculations on the location of YSOs reveals at least three stellar sub-clusterings in Sh 2-305. One cluster is seen toward the center (i.e., Mayer 3), while the other two are distributed toward the north and south directions. Two massive O-type stars (VM2 and VM4; ages ~ 5 Myr) are located at the center of the Sh 2-305 H II region. The analysis of the infrared and radio maps traces the photon dominant regions (PDRs) in the Sh 2-305. Association of younger generation of stars with the PDRs is also investigated in the Sh 2-305. This result suggests that these two massive stars might have influenced the star formation history in the Sh 2-305. This argument is also supported with the calculation of various pressures driven by massive stars, slope of mass function/K-band luminosity function, star formation efficiency, fraction of Class I sources, and mass of the dense gas toward the sub-clusterings in the Sh 2-305.
We present multi-epoch deep ($sim$20 mag) $I_{c}$~band photometric monitoring of the Sh 2-170 star-forming region to understand the variability properties of pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars. We report identification of 47 periodic and 24 non-periodic variable stars with periods and amplitudes ranging from $sim$4 hrs to 18 days and from $sim$0.1 to 2.0 mag, respectively. We have further classified 49 variables as PMS stars (17 Class,{sc ii} and 32 Class,{sc iii}) and 17 as main-sequence (MS)/field star variables. A larger fraction of MS/field variables (88%) show periodic variability as compared to the PMS variables (59%). The ages and masses of the PMS variable stars are found to be comparable with those of T-Tauri stars. Their variability amplitudes show an increasing trend with the near-IR/mid-IR excess. The period distribution of the PMS variables shows two peaks, one near $sim$1.5 days and the other near $sim$4.5 days. It is found that the younger stars with thicker discs and envelopes seem to rotate slower than their older counterparts. These properties of the PMS variables support the disc-locking mechanism. Both the period and amplitude of PMS stars show decrease with increasing mass probably due to the effective dispersal of circumstellar discs in massive stars. Our results favour the notion that cool spots on weak line T-Tauri stars are responsible for most of their variations, while hot spots on classical T-Tauri stars resulting from variable mass accretion from an inner disc contribute to their larger amplitudes and irregular behaviours.
The textit{Spitzer} SAGE survey has allowed the identification and analysis of significant samples of Young Stellar Object (YSO) candidates in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). However the angular resolution of textit{Spitzer} is relatively poor meaning that at the distance of the LMC, it is likely that many of the textit{Spitzer} YSO candidates in fact contain multiple components. We present high resolution textit{K}-band integral field spectroscopic observations of the three most prominent massive YSO candidates in the N113 H,{sc ii} region using VLT/SINFONI. We have identified six textit{K}-band continuum sources within the three textit{Spitzer} sources and we have mapped the morphology and velocity fields of extended line emission around these sources. Br$gamma$, He,{sc i} and H$_2$ emission is found at the position of all six textit{K}-band sources; we discuss whether the emission is associated with the continuum sources or whether it is ambient emission. H$_2$ emission appears to be mostly ambient emission and no evidence of CO emission arising in the discs of YSOs has been found. We have mapped the centroid velocities of extended Br$gamma$ emission and He {sc i} emission and found evidence of two expanding compact H,{sc ii} regions. One source shows compact and strong H$_2$ emission suggestive of a molecular outflow. The diversity of spectroscopic properties observed is interpreted in the context of a range of evolutionary stages associated with massive star formation.
The study of prestellar cores is critical as they set the initial conditions in star formation and determine the final mass of the stellar object. To date, several hypotheses are describing their gravitational collapse. We perform detailed line analysis and modelling of H$_{2}$D$^{+}$ 110 -111 and N$_{2}$H$^{+}$ 4-3 emission at 372 GHz, using 2x2 maps (JCMT). Our goal is to test the most prominent dynamical models by comparing the modelled gas kinematics and spatial distribution (H$_{2}$D$^{+}$ and N$_{2}$H$^{+}$) with observations towards four prestellar (L1544, L183, L694-2, L1517B) and one protostellar core (L1521f). We perform a detailed non-LTE radiative transfer modelling using RATRAN, where we compare the predicted spatial distribution and line profiles of H$_{2}$D$^{+}$ and N$_{2}$H$^{+}$ with observations towards all cores. To do so, we adopt the physical structure for each core predicted by three different dynamical models taken from literature: Quasi-Equilibrium Bonnor-Ebert Sphere (QE-BES), Singular Isothermal Sphere (SIS), and Larson-Penston (LP) flow. Our analysis provides an updated picture of the physical structure of prestellar cores. We find that the SIS model can be clearly excluded in explaining the gas emission towards the cores, but a larger sample is required to differentiate clearly between the LP flow, the QE-BES and the static models. All models of collapse underestimate the intensity of the gas emission by up to several factors towards the only protostellar core in our sample, indicating that different dynamics take place in different evolutionary core stages. If the LP model is confirmed towards a larger sample of prestellar cores, it would indicate that they may form by compression or accretion of gas from larger scales. If the QE-BES model is confirmed, it means that quasi hydrostatic cores can exist within turbulent ISM.
We present a catalog of 167 newly discovered, irregular variables spanning a $sim$7 deg${^2}$ area that encompasses the G 305 star-forming complex, one of the most luminous giant H II regions in the Galaxy. We aim to unveil and characterize the young stellar object (YSO) population of the region by analyzing the $K_{rm s}$-band variability and $JHK_{rm s}$ infrared colors from the {it VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea} (VVV) survey. Additionally, SDSS-IV APOGEE-2 infrared spectra of selected objects are analyzed. The sample show relatively high amplitudes ($0.661<Delta K_{rm S} <3.521$ mag). Most of them resemble sources with outbursts with amplitude $>1$ mag and duration longer than a few days, typically at least a year, known as {it Eruptive Variables}. About 60% are likely to be Class II/Flat/I objects. This is also confirmed by the spectral index $alpha$ when available. From the analysis of APOGEE-2 near-infrared spectra of sources in the region, another 122 stars are classified as YSOs, and displays some infrared variability. The measured effective temperature $T_{rm eff}$ peak is around 4000K and they are slightly super-solar in metal abundance. The modal radial velocity is approximately $-$41 km/s. Combining available catalogs of YSOs in the region with our data, we investigate the spatial distributions of 700 YSOs. They are clearly concentrated within the central cavity formed by the massive clusters Danks 1 and 2. The calculated surface density for the entire catalog is 0.025 YSOs/pc$^{-2}$, while the central cavity contains 10 times more objects per area (0.238 YSOs/pc$^{-2}$).
Recent studies have indicated that triple star systems may play a role in the formation of an appreciable number of planetary nebulae, however only one triple central star is known to date (and that system is likely too wide to have had much influence on the evolution of its component stars). Here, we consider the possibility that Sh 2-71 was formed by a triple system which has since broken apart. We present the discovery of two regions of emission, seemingly aligned with the proposed tertiary orbit (i.e. in line with the axis formed by the two candidate central star systems previously considered in the literature). We also perform a few simple tests of the plausibility of the triple hypothesis based on the observed properties (coordinates, radial velocities, distances and proper motions) of the stars observed close to the projected centre of the nebula, adding further support through numerical integrations of binary orbits responding to mass loss. Although a number of open questions remain, we conclude that Sh 2-71 is currently one of the best candidates for planetary nebula formation influenced by triple-star interactions.