The following document lists the file abstract/DCLEMENS_STARLESS.abs
from catalogue VI/111.
A plain copy of the file
(without headers/trailers) may be downloaded.
Bok globules are the smallest and simplest molecular clouds
capable of forming new stars. Past work using the IRAS data base has
helped to identify samples of nearby globules with infrared signatures
of current embedded star formation. Perhaps equally important, IRAS
data have been used to identify Bok globules which appear to not have
embedded star formation. Subsequent studies of this STARLESS sample of
globules have been initiated, with the goal of characterizing the
physical conditions of these simple clouds before stars have formed.
However, IRAS was not able to detect all low mass stars, and
the quality of the starless sample of Bok globules is unknown, if not
suspect.
Using ISO with the ISOCAM instrument, we propose to conduct a very
deep search for stars in the "starless" globule sample. The detection
limit is set so that any hydrogen burning star or any YSO will be
clearly identified within the globule cores and very near envelopes.
The results of such a search will be analyzed in order to:
1) establish a bona fide sample of truly starless Bok globules;
2) determine the star formation rates and efficiencies for stars in the
0.08 - 0.7 solar mass range (fainter than IRAS, but detectable by
ISO) for the globules here found to contain low-mass stars; and
3) test for low-mass stellar clustering in Bok globules to see if
such clustering is universal in star forming regions.
This survey will be conducted using the ISOCAM instrument in the
LW2 (6.75 micron) and LW3 (15 micron) filters in a micro-stepping map
mode to return maps of 3 arcsecond resolution (PFOV) over areas of
3.7 x 3.7 arcmin square.