Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2008-02-11
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
80 pages, 24 figures
Scientific paper
10.1086/527315
We discuss the results from the combined IRAC and MIPS c2d Spitzer Legacy survey observations and complementary optical and near infrared data of the Chamaeleon II (Cha II) dark cloud. We perform a census of the young population of Cha II, in a mapped area of ~1.75 square degrees, and study the spatial distribution and properties of the cloud members and candidate pre-main sequence (PMS) objects and their circumstellar matter. From the analysis of the volume density of the PMS objects and candidates we find two tight groups of objects with volume densities higher than 25 solar masses per cubic parsec and 5-10 members each. These groups correlate well in space with the regions of high extinction. A multiplicity fraction of about 13% is observed for objects with separations between 0.8" and 6.0". Using the results of masses and ages from a companion paper, we estimate the star formation efficiency to be 1-4% significantly lower than for Cha I. This might mean that different star-formation activities in the Chamaeleon clouds reflect a different history of star formation. We also find that the Cha II cloud is turning some 6-7 solar masses into stars every Myr, which is low in comparison with the star formation rate in other c2d clouds. On the other hand, the disk fraction of 70-80% that we estimate in Cha II is much higher than in other star forming regions and indicates that the population in this cloud is dominated by objects with active accretion. Finally, the Cha II outflows are discussed, with particular regard to the discovery of a new Herbig-Haro outflow, HH 939, driven by the classical T Tauri star Sz 50.
Alcala' Juan M.
Chapman Nicholas
Covino Elvira
Evans II Neal. J.
Frasca Antonio
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