Very Large Array and Jansky Very Large Array Observations of the Compact Radio Sources in M8
Abstract
We analyze high-resolution Very Large Array continuum observations of the M8 region carried out at several epochs that span a period of 30 yr. Our maps reveal two compact sources. One is associated with Her 36 SE, a possible companion of the O7 luminous massive star Her 36, and the other is associated with G5.97-1.17, whose proplyd nature was previously established. Using the analyzed data, we do not find significant time variability in any of these sources. The derived spectral index of >=0.1 for Her 36 SE, the marginal offset of the radio emission with the previous infrared detection, and the associated X-ray emission previously reported suggest the presence of an unresolved interaction region between the strong winds of Her 36 and Her 36 SE. This region would contribute non-thermal contamination to the global wind emission of Her 36, flattening its spectral index. On the other hand, the emission of G5.97-1.17 can also be explained by a mixture of thermal and non-thermal emission components, with different relative contributions of both emission mechanisms along the proplyd. We argue that the shock created by the photo-evaporation flow of the proplyd with the collimated stellar wind of Her 36 accelerates charged particles in G5.97-1.17, producing considerable synchrotron emission. On the contrary, an electron density enhancement at the southwest of G5.97-1.17 makes the thermal emission dominant over this region.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- December 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/797/1/60
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1410.4151
- Bibcode:
- 2014ApJ...797...60M
- Keywords:
-
- H II regions;
- ISM: individual objects: M8;
- stars: protostars;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 19 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ