Wide-Field Infrared Imaging Polarimetry of the NGC 6334 Region: A Nest of Infrared Reflection Nebulae

TL;DR

This study presents extensive near-infrared polarimetric imaging of the NGC 6334 star-forming region, revealing 18 infrared reflection nebulae, most of which are new, and suggests their diverse properties reflect different evolutionary stages of young massive stars.

Contribution

The paper provides one of the widest near-infrared polarization surveys of star-forming regions, discovering 16 new IRNe and proposing an evolutionary sequence based on nebula characteristics.

Findings

18 IRNe detected, 16 are new discoveries

Variety of nebula sizes, morphologies, and polarization properties

Possible evolutionary sequence of circumstellar structures

Abstract

We report the detection of eighteen infrared reflection nebulae (IRNe) in the $J$, $H$, & $Ks$ linear polarimetric observations of the NGC 6334 massive star-formation complex, of which 16 IRNe are new discoveries. Our images cover $\sim$180 square arcminutes, one of the widest near-infrared polarization data in star-formation regions so far. These IRNe are most likely associated with embedded young OB stars at different evolutionary phases, showing a variety of sizes, morphologies, and polarization properties, which can be divided into four categories. We argue the different nebula characteristics to be a possible evolutionary sequence of circumstellar structures around young massive stars.