Open AccessROSAT observations of Cepheus OB3: the discovery of low‐mass stars
Author(s) -
Naylor Tim,
Fabian A. C.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02160.x
Subject(s) - physics , stars , astrophysics , t tauri star , initial mass function , molecular cloud , star formation , low mass , astronomy , rosat , stellar mass loss , stellar evolution , galaxy
We present X‐ray images of the high‐mass star‐forming region Cepheus OB3, in which we discover over 50 point sources, the majority of which are T Tauri stars. We use the ratio of high‐mass to low‐mass stars to constrain the initial mass function, and find that it is consistent with that for field stars. This supports the picture that there is little difference between high‐mass and low‐mass star‐forming regions. The presence of low‐mass stars between the high‐mass stars and the molecular cloud they are ionizing argues against mechanisms whereby heating of the cloud inhibits low‐mass star formation. Finally, the efficiency of star formation in this region is shown to be of the order of a few per cent.