JWST Mid-infrared Spectroscopy Resolves Gas, Dust, and Ice in Young Stellar Objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud

• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad18bc
• Publication Date: 2024-03-04T10:40:24Z
• Authors: Omnarayani Nayak; Alec S. Hirschauer; Patrick J. Kavanagh; Margaret Meixner; Laurie Chu; Nolan Habel; Olivia C. Jones; Laura Lenkić; Conor Nally; Megan Reiter; Massimo Robberto; B. A. Sargent
• Keywords: Large Magellanic Cloud; Young stellar object

Abstract In this work, we present spectra of 11 young stellar objects (YSOs) taken with the Mid-Infrared Instrument / Medium Resolution Spectroscopy (MRS) instrument on board James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The YSOs are located in N79 region Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), an active star-forming hundreds Spitzer- and Herschel-identified host to super star cluster (SSC) candidate H72.97-69.39. three giant molecular clouds (East, West, South) have varying formation rates populations. MRS follow-up observations four Spitzer-identified East, South revealed that what seemed be a single, massive YSO is actually YSOs. We discuss emission absorption lines six complete or almost-complete spectral coverage from 4.9–27.9 μ m. Y3, youngest source study likely less than 10,000 yr old, as inferred prominent CH 4 , NH 3 OH, OCHO, CO 2 ice features. most luminous central ionizing SSC H72.97-69.39, Y4, which has dozens fine-structure H lines. Unlike other Y4 no polyaromatic hydrocarbon lines, due intense radiation destroying these large carbon-chain molecules. mass accretion based i (7-6) line luminosities Y1, Y2, Y9 range between 1.22 × 10 −4 –1.89 −2 M ⊙ −1 . For first time mid-infrared, able resolve individual high-mass protostars forming small clusters extragalactic environment like LMC.