The Spitzer c2d survey of large, nearby, interstellar clouds. XI. Lupus observed with IRAC and MIPS

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Bruno Merín
  • Jørgensen, Jes Kristian
  • Loredana Spezzi
  • Juan M. Alcalá
  • Neal J., II Evans
  • Paul M. Harvey
  • Timo Prusti
  • Nicholas Chapman
  • Tracy Huard
  • Ewine F. Van Dishoeck
  • Fernando Comerón

We present c2d Spitzer IRAC observations of the Lupus I, III, and IV dark clouds and discuss them in combination with optical, near-infrared, and c2d MIPS data. With the Spitzer data, the new sample contains 159 stars, 4 times larger than the previous one. It is dominated by low- and very low mass stars, and it is complete down to M ≈ 0.1 M. We find 30%-40% binaries with separations between 100 and 2000 AU with no apparent effect on the disk properties of the members. A large majority of the objects are Class II or III objects, with only 20 (12%) Class I or flat-spectrum sources. The disk sample is complete down to "debris"-like systems in stars as small as M ≈ 0.2 M and includes substellar objects with larger IR excesses. The disk fraction in Lupus is 70%-80%, consistent with an age of 1-2 Myr. However, the young population contains 20% optically thick accretion disks and 40% relatively less flared disks. A growing variety of inner disk structures is found for larger inner disk clearings for equal disk masses. Lupus III is the most centrally populated and rich, followed by Lupus I with a filamentary structure and by Lupus IV, where a very high density core with little star formation activity has been found. We estimate star formation rates in Lupus of 2-10 M Myr-1 and star formation efficiencies of a few percent, apparently correlated with the associated cloud masses.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume177
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)551-583
Number of pages33
ISSN0067-0049
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2008
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Infrared: general, ISM: individual (Lupus I, Lupus III, Lupus IV), Stars: formation, Stars: pre-main-sequence

ID: 229739508