The following document lists the file abstract/ELADA_CLUSTOBS.abs
from catalogue VI/111.
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We propose to obtain deep mid infrared, 5 & 10 micron, imaging observations of the 6 x 6 arcmin central regions of the NGC 2024 (age=1Myrs) and IC 348 (age=5-7Myrs) clusters, using ISOCAM with the LW2 & LW10 filters. The proposed observations will be combined with our existing near infrared JHK (1-2 micron) data to determine the physical natures and evolutionary status of more than 100 stars in each cluster. These data will therefore provide, for the first time, a complete, statistically significant and essentially unambiguous census of Class I and Class II young stellar objects within the cores of these young, nearby clusters. Specifically, these data will be used to construct broad-band infrared spectral energy distibutions for the cluster members, which will in turn be used to determine the frequency distributions of the protostellar sources and sources with disks in both NGC 2024 & IC 348. Since the clusters differ in age, a comparison of these frequency distributions will allow us to estimate the relative timescales for the protostellar and disk phases of evolution in dense clusters and possibly set constraints on important issues, such as the timescales for planet formation in a clustered environment. Note: Our primary targets for this proposal would be available for for observation only with a spring launch of ISO. If ISO is launched in the autumn, our scientific goals can be achieved by substituting the young clusters LkHa 234 and IC 5146 for NGC 2024 and IC 348.