Stellar Variability in a Forming Massive Star Cluster

TL;DR

This study analyzes near-infrared variability in a massive star-forming region, revealing that a significant fraction of young stellar objects exhibit variability, including an extreme outburst event resembling FU Ori objects.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed NIR variability analysis of the G286.21+0.17 protocluster, identifying highly variable objects and characterizing an ongoing low-mass outburst event.

Findings

7% of objects show significant NIR variability

14% of disk-bearing YSOs are variable

Detected an ongoing low-mass outburst with 3.5 mag brightening

Abstract

We present a near-infrared (NIR) variability analysis for an 6\arcmin $\times$ 6\arcmin region, which encompasses the massive protocluster G286.21+0.17. The total sample comprises more than 5000 objects, of which 562 show signs of a circumstellar disk based on their infrared colors. The data includes HST observations taken in two epochs separated by 3 years in the F110W and F160W bands. 363 objects (7% of the sample) exhibit NIR variability at a significant level (Stetson index >1.7), and a higher variability fraction (14%) is found for the young stellar objects (YSOs) with disk excesses. We identified 4 high amplitude (>0.6 mag) variables seen in both NIR bands. Follow up and archival observations of the most variable object in this survey (G286.2032+0.1740) reveal a rising light curve over 8 years from 2011 to 2019, with a K band brightening of 3.5 mag. Overall the temporal behavior of G286.2032+0.1740 resembles that of typical FU Ori objects, however its pre-burst luminosity indicates it has a very low mass ($<0.12\:M_\odot$), making it an extreme case of an outburst event that is still ongoing.