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Session 6 - HII Regions & Massive Star Formation.
Display session, Wednesday, January 07
Exhibit Hall,
We have imaged three sites of massive star formation in the giant H II region/star-forming cloud NGC 6334 with the MIRAC2 instrument in order to investigate their dust properties. We have obtained diffraction-limited continuum images at 12.5 and 20.6 \mum toward each region. The 12.5 \mum/20.6 \mum color temperature and dust opacity can distinguish between embedded sources and column density enhancements. We compare the structure of the mid-infrared continuum emission with radio and near-infrared continuum emission. NGC 6334 F was also imaged at additional wavelengths (8.8, 9.8, and 11.7 \mum) to search for silicate absorption and UIR features.
Toward NGC 6334 F, we identify a new IR source just in front of the cometary H II region. NGC 6334 F also displays a deep silicate absorption feature from foreground dust that uniformly covers the entire region.
Toward the bipolar radio source NGC 6334 A, we find warm dust associated with the inner portions of the massive molecular disk as well as the bipolar lobes. The lobes have different dust color temperatures.
Toward NGC 6334 V we identify four embedded mid-IR sources. A comparison with previous radio and IR data suggests that these objects cannot be ZAMS stars; rather they are most likely embedded protostars.
