A Novel Survey for Young Substellar Objects with the W-band Filter. V. IC 348 and Barnard 5 in the Perseus Cloud

Abstract

We report the discovery of substellar objects in the young star cluster IC 348 and the neighboring Barnard 5 dark cloud, both at the eastern end of the Perseus star-forming complex. The substellar candidates are selected using narrowband imaging, i.e., on and off photometric technique with a filter centered around the water absorption feature at 1.45 μm, a technique proven to be efficient in detecting water-bearing substellar objects. Our spectroscopic observations confirm three brown dwarfs in IC 348. In addition, the source WBIS 03492858+3258064, reported in this work, is the first confirmed brown dwarf discovered toward Barnard 5. Together with the young stellar population selected via near- and mid-infrared colors using the Two Micron All Sky Survey and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, we diagnose the relation between stellar versus substellar objects with the associated molecular clouds. Analyzed by Gaia EDR3 parallaxes and kinematics of the cloud members across the Perseus region, we propose the star formation scenario of the complex under influence of the nearby OB association.

The cosmic DANCe of Perseus

“…In the case of IC 348, our 3 Myr estimate for the core is slightly larger than the 2 Myr median value of Luhman et al (2003). Similarly, the 5 Myr age of IC 348 halo is similar to the 6 Myr reported by Bell et al (2015), and in agreement with the recent 5 Myr age determination of Pang et al (2022) and Lalchand et al (2022). Both our core and halo age estimates fall within the age interval reported by Luhman et al (2003).…”

“…We notice that our results are insufficient to link the star formation history of the Perseus groups to that of other nearby star-forming regions, as suggested in the literature. Thus, we cannot confirm nor reject the star formation histories proposed by de Zeeuw et al (1999), Bialy et al (2021), Zucker et al (2022), Wang et al (2022), or Lalchand et al (2022). On the contrary, the star formation histories proposed by Herbig (1998), Belikov et al (2002a), Pavlidou et al (2021), Kerr et al (2021), andKounkel et al (2022) are related, up to a certain point, to the intrinsic properties of the region and thus can be scrutinised under the light of the evidence gathered here.…”

“…In addition to IC 348 and NGC 1333, these authors also identified two subgroups corresponding to the Autochthe one from Pavlidou et al (2021) and a new one associated with the Barnard 1 cloud. Lalchand et al (2022) searched for substellar objects in the Perseus cloud regions of IC 348 and Barnard 5 using narrowband imaging centred on the water absorption feature at 1.45 µm. They confirm three brown dwarfs in IC 348 and discover the first one in Barnard 5.…”

“…Autochthe and Barnard 1 group), respectively. Moreover, Lalchand et al (2022) estimated ages of 5 Myr for IC 348 and the Barnard 5 group. et al (2003) derived the mass distribution of IC 348 down to 10 M Jup based on infrared (JHK) photometry.…”

“…On the contrary, Alcaeus, Autochthe, IC 348 and NGC 1333 are near the edge of the shell and may have formed during the same star formation event. Lalchand et al (2022) propose a star formation scenario in which a supernova explosion in the Perseus region triggered the star formation of the region through the driving of a HI supershell. The latter has at its centre the eastern part of the Perseus region.…”