Young Star Clusters in Bright-rimmed Clouds: Small-Scale Sequential Star Formation?

Abstract

A JHK imaging survey has been made for 44 bright-rimmed clouds associated with IRAS point sources detected by Sugitani et al. We have found small clusters of near-infrared sources having young stellar object (YSO) colors in some of these objects; most of the cluster members are considered to be older than the IRAS point sources and to be pre-main-sequence stars such as T Tauri stars. In at least six bright-rimmed clouds, the clusters are elongated toward the bright-rim tip or the exciting star(s) of the bright rim with the IRAS sources situated near the other end. There is a tendency for bluer (i.e., older) stars to be located closer to the exciting star(s) and for redder (i.e., younger) stars to be closer to the IRAS sources. This asymmetric distribution of the cluster members strongly suggests small-scale sequential star formation or propagation of star formation from the side of the exciting star(s) to the IRAS position in a few times 105 yr, as a result of the advance of the shock caused by the UV radiation from the exciting star(s).