A Census of the Carina Nebula -- II. Energy Budget and Global Properties of the Nebulosity

TL;DR

This study analyzes the energy budget and large-scale properties of the Carina Nebula, revealing insights into star formation processes, energy distribution, and potential for future star formation triggered by supernovae.

Contribution

It provides a detailed assessment of the nebula's energy budget and global properties, highlighting the role of triggered star formation and the potential for reinitiating massive star formation.

Findings

Total IR luminosity is about 50-60% of stellar luminosity.

Star formation is likely triggered by stellar winds and UV radiation.

Future supernovae may rejuvenate massive star formation.

Abstract

The first paper in this series took a direct census of energy input from the known OB stars in the Carina Nebula, and in this paper we study the global properties of the surrounding nebulosity. We find that the total IR luminosity of Carina is about 1.2E7 Lsun, accounting for only about 50-60% of the known stellar luminosity from Paper I. Similarly, the ionizing photon luminosity -- (abridged; many important details omitted). Synchronized star formation around the periphery of Carina provides a strong case that star formation here was indeed triggered by stellar winds and UV radiation. This second generation appears to involve a cascade toward preferentially intermediate- and low-mass stars, but this may soon change when eta Car and its siblings explode. If the current reservoir of atomic and molecular gas can be tapped at that time, massive star formation may be rejuvinated around the periphery of Carina much as if it were a young version of Gould's Belt. Also, when these multiple SNe occur, the triggered second generation will be pelted repeatedly with SN ejecta bearing short-lived radioactive nuclides. Carina may therefore represent the most observable analog to the cradle of our own Solar System.