A Study on the Structure of the Dust Cloud Around ${\lambda}$-Orionis

  • Published : 2014.04.10

Abstract

The dust cloud around ${\lambda}$-Orionis is seen to be circular symmetric with the large angular extent (${\sim}8^{\circ}$). However, whether the three dimensional structure of the cloud is shell or torus ring is not yet fully resolved. We studied the structure of the dust cloud using a three-dimensional Monte-Carlo simulation code, MoCafe (Monte Carlo radiative transfer). The dust density structure of the cloud was inferred based on the star-count method. We assumed that the cloud is a spherical shell or a torus ring and calculated the radial profiles of scattered light originating from a central OB association. Comparison of the results with the S2/68 ultraviolet observations indicates that the cloud is a spherical shell. We also compared the Av map around ${\lambda}$-Orionis with the optical depth obtained based on the star-count.

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