First Science Results From SOFIA/FORCAST: Super-Resolution Imaging of the S140 Cluster at 37\micron

TL;DR

This study uses SOFIA/FORCAST 37 micron imaging to resolve the S140 cluster's main sources, demonstrating super-resolution techniques that surpass the diffraction limit for detailed infrared observations.

Contribution

First application of super-resolution imaging on SOFIA data using the van Cittert algorithm with multi-resolution techniques, enhancing infrared imaging resolution.

Findings

Resolved three main sources at 37 microns with near-diffraction-limited detail.

Confirmed dust optical depth and luminosity estimates for early B star cluster.

Validated super-resolution methods for improving SOFIA infrared imaging.

Abstract

We present 37\micron\ imaging of the S140 complex of infrared sources centered on IRS1 made with the FORCAST camera on SOFIA. These observations are the longest wavelength imaging to resolve clearly the three main sources seen at shorter wavelengths, IRS 1, 2 and 3, and are nearly at the diffraction limit of the 2.5-m telescope. We also obtained a small number of images at 11 and 31\micron\ that are useful for flux measurement. Our images cover the area of several strong sub-mm sources seen in the area -- SMM 1, 2, and 3 -- that are not coincident with any mid-infrared sources and are not visible in our longer wavelength imaging either. Our new observations confirm previous estimates of the relative dust optical depth and source luminosity for the components in this likely cluster of early B stars. We also investigate the use of super-resolution to go beyond the basic diffraction limit in imaging on SOFIA and find that the van Cittert algorithm, together with the "multi-resolution" technique, provides excellent results.