IRAS 20050+2720: Anatomy of a young stellar cluster

TL;DR

This study provides a comprehensive multiwavelength analysis of the young stellar cluster IRAS 20050+2720, revealing its structure, YSO distribution, and X-ray properties, highlighting differences from more massive star-forming regions.

Contribution

It identifies a second cluster core and analyzes the spatial distribution and X-ray luminosity function of YSOs in IRAS 20050+2720, offering new insights into low-mass star formation.

Findings

Discovery of a second cluster core mostly of class II objects.

YSOs are more clustered at earlier evolutionary stages.

X-ray luminosity function is lognormal and steeper than in Orion.

Abstract

IRAS 20050+2720 is young star forming region at a distance of 700 pc without apparent high mass stars. We present results of our multiwavelength study of IRAS 20050+2720 which includes observations by Chandra and Spitzer, and 2MASS and UBVRI photometry. In total, about 300 YSOs in different evolutionary stages are found. We characterize the distribution of young stellar objects (YSOs) in this region using a minimum spanning tree (MST) analysis. We newly identify a second cluster core, which consists mostly of class II objects, about 10 arcmin from the center of the cloud. YSOs of earlier evolutionary stages are more clustered than more evolved objects. The X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of IRAS 20050+2720 is roughly lognormal, but steeper than the XLF of the more massive Orion nebula complex. IRAS 20050+2720 shows a lower N_H/A_K ratio compared with the diffuse ISM.