Mid-Infrared Photometry and Spectra of Three High Mass Protostellar Candidates at IRAS 18151-1208 and IRAS 20343+4129

TL;DR

This study provides mid-infrared photometry and spectra of high-mass protostellar candidates, estimating their physical properties and evolutionary stages, revealing different stages from pre-ultracompact HII regions to ZAMS stars.

Contribution

It offers new mid-infrared observational data and modeling of three high-mass protostellar candidates, clarifying their nature and evolutionary status.

Findings

IRAS 18151-1208 is a pre-ultracompact HII region.

IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 1 is a B3 star with embedded YSO characteristics.

IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 3 is a B2 ZAMS star with an ultracompact HII region.

Abstract

We present arcsecond-scale mid-ir photometry (in the 10.5 micron N band and at 24.8 microns), and low resolution spectra in the N band (R~100) of a candidate high mass protostellar object (HMPO) in IRAS 18151-1208 and of two HMPO candidates in IRAS 20343+4129, IRS 1 and IRS 3. In addition we present high resolution mid-ir spectra (R~80000) of the two HMPO candidates in IRAS 20343+4129. These data are fitted with simple models to estimate the masses of gas and dust associated with the mid-ir emitting clumps, the column densities of overlying absorbing dust and gas, the luminosities of the HMPO candidates, and the likely spectral type of the HMPO candidate for which [Ne II] 12.8 micron emission was detected (IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 3). We suggest that IRAS 18151-1208 is a pre-ultracompact HII region HMPO, IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 1 is an embedded young stellar object with the luminosity of a B3 star, and IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 3 is a B2 ZAMS star that has formed an ultracompact HII region and disrupted its natal envelope.