Herbig-Haro objects and mid-infrared outflows in the Vela C molecular cloud

TL;DR

This study conducted a comprehensive survey of Herbig-Haro objects and mid-infrared outflows in the Vela C molecular cloud, discovering new objects, identifying outflows, and associating them with young stellar objects to understand star formation activity.

Contribution

It presents the first deep [SII] survey of HH objects in Vela C, identifies new mid-infrared outflows, and links outflows with YSO candidates, advancing understanding of star formation in this region.

Findings

18 new HH objects discovered

11 mid-infrared outflows identified, including 6 new

12 HH objects and 5 EGOs associated with 10 YSOs

Abstract

We have performed a deep [SII]6717/6731 wide field Herbig-Haro (HH) object survey toward the Vela C molecular cloud with a sky coverage of about 2 deg2. In total, 18 new HH objects, HH 1090-1107, are discovered and the two previously known HH objects, HH 73-74, are also detected in our [SII] images. We also present an investigation of mid-infrared outflows in the Vela C molecular cloud using the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer images taken from AllWISE data release. Using the method suggested by Zhang & Wang, eleven extended green objects (EGOs) are identified to be the mid-infrared outflows, including 6 new mid-infrared outflows that have not been detected previously at other wavelengths and 5 mid-infrared counterparts of the HH objects detected in this work. Using the AllWISE Source Catalog and the source classification scheme suggested by Koenig et al., we have identified 56 young stellar object (YSO) candidates in the Vela C molecular cloud. The possible driving sources of the HH objects and EGOs are discussed based on the morphology of HH objects and EGOs and the locations of HH objects, EGOs and YSO candidates. Finally we associate 12 HH objects and five EGOs with 10 YSOs and YSO candidates. The median length of the outflows in Vela C is 0.35pc and the outflows seem to be oriented randomly.