Near-infrared observations of outflows and young stellar objects in the massive star-forming region AFGL 5180
Journal article, 2024
Context. Massive stars play important roles throughout the universe; however, their formation remains poorly understood. Observations of jets and outflows in high-mass star-forming regions, as well as surveys of young stellar object (YSO) content, can help test theoretical models of massive star formation. Aims. We aim at characterizing the massive star-forming region AFGL 5180 in the near-infrared (NIR), identifying outflows and relating these to sub-mm/mm sources, as well as surveying the overall YSO surface number density to compare to massive star formation models. Methods. Broad- and narrow-band imaging of AFGL 5180 was made in the NIR with the Large Binocular Telescope, in both seeing-limited (~0.5′) and high angular resolution (~0.09′) Adaptive Optics (AO) modes, as well as with the Hubble Space Telescope. Archival continuum data from the Atacama Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) was also utilized. Results. At least 40 jet knots were identified via NIR emission from H2 and [FeII] tracing shocked gas. Bright jet knots outflowing from the central most massive protostar, S4 (estimated mass ~11 M⊙, via SED fitting), are detected towards the east of the source and are resolved in fine detail with the AO imaging. Additional knots are distributed throughout the field, likely indicating the presence of multiple driving sources. Sub-millimeter sources detected by ALMA are shown to be grouped in two main complexes, AFGL 5180 M and a small cluster ~15′ (0.15 pc in projection) to the south, AFGL 5180 S. From our NIR continuum images we identify YSO candidates down to masses of ~0.1 M⊙. Combined with the sub-mm sources, this yields a surface number density of such YSOs of N* ~ 103pc-2 within a projected radius of about 0.1 pc. Such a value is similar to those predicted by models of both core accretion from a turbulent clump environment and competitive accretion. The radial profile of N* is relatively flat on scales out to 0.2 pc, with only modest enhancement around the massive protostar inside 0.05 pc, which provides additional constraints on these massive star formation models. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the utility of high-resolution NIR imaging, in particular with AO, for detecting outflow activity and YSOs in distant regions. The presented images reveal the complex morphology of outflow-shocked gas within the large-scale bipolar flow of a massive protostar, as well as clear evidence for several other outflow driving sources in the region. Finally, this work presents a novel approach to compare the observed YSO surface number density from our study against different models of massive star formation.
infrared: stars
stars: protostars
stars: individual: AFGL 5180
ISM: jets and outflows
stars: formation
techniques: high angular resolution
Author
S. Crowe
University of Virginia
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
R. Fedriani
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Jonathan Tan
Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics
University of Virginia
M. Whittle
University of Virginia
Y. Zhang
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
A. Caratti o. Garatti
Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte
J. P. Farias
University of Texas
A. Gautam
University of Virginia
Z. Telkamp
University of Virginia
B. Rothberg
US Naval Observatory
George Mason University
M. Grudić
Carnegie Observatories
Morten Andersen
NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab)
Giuliana Cosentino
Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics
R. Garcia-Lopez
University College Dublin
Viviana Rosero
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Kei E.I. Tanaka
Tokyo Institute of Technology
E. Pinna
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
F. Rossi
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
D. Miller
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
G. Agapito
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
C. Plantet
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
E. Ghose
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
J. Christou
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab)
J. Power
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
A. Puglisi
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
R. Briguglio
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
G. Brusa
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
G. Taylor
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
X. Zhang
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
T. Mazzoni
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
M. Bonaglia
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
S. Esposito
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
C. Veillet
Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
Astronomy and Astrophysics
0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)
Vol. 682 A2Shock Compressions in the Interstellar Medium as triggers of Star Formation
Swedish Research Council (VR) (2021-05589), 2022-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics
DOI
10.1051/0004-6361/202348094