The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: radiative heating by OB stars

Radiative feedback can influence subsequent star formation. We quantify the heating from OB stars in the local star-forming regions in the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) Gould Belt Survey. Dust temperatures are calculated from 450/850 mu m flux ratios from SCUBA-2 observations at the JCMT assuming a fixed dust opacity spectral index beta = 1.8. Mean dust temperatures are calculated for each submillimetre clump along with projected distances from the main OB star in the region. Temperature versus distance is fitted with a simple model of dust heating by the OB star radiation plus the interstellar radiation field and dust cooling through optically thin radiation. Classifying the heating sources by spectral type, O-type stars produce the greatest clump average temperature rises and largest heating extent, with temperatures of over 40 K and significant heating out to at least 2.4 pc. Early-type B stars (B4 and above) produce temperatures of over 20 K and significant heating over 0.4 pc. Late-type B stars show a marginal heating effect within 0.2 pc. For a given projected distance, there is a significant scatter in clump temperatures that is due to local heating by other luminous stars in the region, projection effects, or shadowing effects. Even in these local, 'low-mass' star-forming regions, radiative feedback is having an effect on parsec scales, with 24 per cent of the clumps heated to at least 3 K above the 15 K base temperature expected from heating by only the interstellar radiation field, and a mean dust temperature for heated clumps of 24 K.

Automated summary

Radiative feedback from OB stars in star-forming regions influences subsequent star formation by heating dust in the surrounding areas. The study quantifies the impact of different spectral type stars, with O-type stars showing the greatest temperature rises and heating extent, while B-type stars have a weaker heating effect. Even in local, 'low-mass' star-forming regions, 24% of the clumps are heated to at least 3 K above the base temperature expected from interstellar radiation heating, with a mean dust temperature of 24 K for heated clumps.