The photodissociation region Car I: optical and near-infrared imaging

TAPIA, M., PERSI, P., ROTH, M., BOHIGAS, J., GOMEZ, M.

Paris, Francia

Conferencia; The dusty and molecular universe: a prelude to Herschel and ALMA; 2004

European Space Agency (ESA)

Preliminary results of a broad (JHK) and narrow band imaging study of the dark cloud/photodissociation region Car I are presented. The images include [SII], [SIII], [OII], Halpha, Hbeta and Brγ as well H_2 lines, spanning from the blue to the mid-infrared. Filamentary molecular hydrogen emission is seen arising from large areas of the cloud, clearly displaced from the atomic gas emission as predicted by photodissociation theories. A few H_2 and [SII] emission knots were found, probably caused by internal shocks. One set of knots is likely a jet driven by an embedded young stellar object. Several stars with near-infrared excess and with Brγ line emission are located within and in the outskirts of the cloud.