EPoS Contribution
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Characterizing the Structure of Embedded Clusters with the Spitzer Young Stellar Cluster Survey
Robert Gutermuth Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA | |
The Spitzer Young Stellar Cluster Survey is now revolutionizing our understanding of structure in embedded clusters by allowing us to isolate forming stars with disks and envelopes from field stars. Several embedded stellar clusters have asymmetric stellar distributions that appear largely dictated by the arrangement of the dense gas in their natal cloud. Others appear largely centrally condensed and also show signs of recent dispersal of local molecular gas. By characterizing the spatial distributions of stars in over 30 young clusters within 1 kpc and comparing it to maps of their host molecular clouds, we can infer relative changes in the dynamical states of these objects, building a more comprehensive picture of how clusters form and how the clustered environment affects the component stellar members as they form. I will present a subset of new results from the now-complete survey, with emphasis on treatments for biases associated with Spitzer's resolution limitations, the preponderance of bright, structured mid-IR nebulosity around star forming regions, and dust extinction obscuring embedded stars non-uniformly with position can affect our characterization of cluster structure. |