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Extreme infrared variables from UKIDSS-I. A concentration in star-forming regions

Contreras Pena, C., Lucas, P.W., Froebrich, Dirk, Kumar, M.S.N., Goldstein, J., Drew, Janet E., Adamson, A., Davis, Chris J., Barentsen, G., Wright, N.J. and others. (2014) Extreme infrared variables from UKIDSS-I. A concentration in star-forming regions. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 439 (2). pp. 1829-1854. ISSN 0035-8711. (doi:10.1093/mnras/stu063) (KAR id:49551)

Abstract

We present initial results of the first panoramic search for high-amplitude near-infrared variability in theGalactic plane.We analyse the widely separated two-epoch K-band photometry in the fifth and seventh data releases of the UKIDSS Galactic plane survey.We find 45 stars with δK > 1 mag, including two previously known OH/IR stars and a Nova. Even though the midplane is not yet included in the data set, we find the majority (66 per cent) of our sample to be within known star-forming regions (SFRs), with two large concentrations in the Serpens OB2 association (11 stars) and the Cygnus-X complex (12 stars). Sources in SFRs show spectral energy distributions that support classification as young stellar objects (YSOs). This indicates that YSOs dominate the Galactic population of high-amplitude infrared variable stars at low luminosities and therefore likely dominate the total high-amplitude population. Spectroscopic follow up of the DR5 sample shows at least four stars with clear characteristics of eruptive premain- sequence variables, two of which are deeply embedded. Our results support the recent concept of eruptive variability comprising a continuum of outburst events with different timescales and luminosities, but triggered by a similar physical mechanism involving unsteady accretion. Also, we find what appears to be one of the most variable classical Be stars. © 2014 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/mnras/stu063
Additional information: Unmapped bibliographic data: LA - English [Field not mapped to EPrints] J2 - Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. [Field not mapped to EPrints] AD - Centre for Astrophysics Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, United Kingdom [Field not mapped to EPrints] AD - Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NH, United Kingdom [Field not mapped to EPrints] AD - Centro de Astrofsica da Universidade do Porto, Rua das Estrelas, P-4150-762 Porto, Portugal [Field not mapped to EPrints] AD - Gemini Observatory, Northern Operations Center, 670 N. A'ohoku Place, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, United States [Field not mapped to EPrints] AD - Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House, Egerton Wharf, Birkenhead CH41 1LD, United Kingdom [Field not mapped to EPrints] DB - Scopus [Field not mapped to EPrints]
Uncontrolled keywords: AGB and post-AGB-stars, Herbig Ae/Be-infrared, Low-mass-stars, Pre-main-sequence-stars, Protostars-stars, Stars, T Tauri, Variables
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Q Science > QB Astronomy > QB460 Astrophysics
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Giles Tarver
Date Deposited: 20 Jul 2015 10:35 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Dec 2022 10:33 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/49551 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Froebrich, Dirk.

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