Abstract
Unbiased analysis shows that IRAS data reliably differentiate between the early and late stages of stellar evolution because objects at these stages clearly segregate in infrared color-color diagrams. Structure in these diagrams is primarily controlled by the density distribution of circumstellar dust. The density profile around older objects is the steepest, declining as r-2, while young objects have profiles that vary as r-3/2 and flatter. The different density profiles reflect the different dynamics that govern the different environments. Our analysis also shows that high-mass star formation is strongly concentrated within ~5 kpc around the Galactic center, in support of other studies.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2000
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/312641
Repository Citation
Ivezić, Željko and Elitzur, Moshe, "Infrared Classification of Galactic Objects" (2000). Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications. 216.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/physastron_facpub/216
Notes/Citation Information
Published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, v. 534, no. 1, p. L93-L96.
© 2000. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
The copyright holder has granted permission for posting the article here.