Mid‐Infrared Imaging of the Protostellar Binary L1448N IRS 3(A,B)

Abstract

Mid-infrared (10-25 μm) imaging of the protostellar binary system L1448N IRS 3(A,B) is presented. Only one source, IRS 3(A), was detected at mid-infrared wavelengths-all of the mid-infrared emission from IRS 3(A,B) emanates from IRS 3(A). The mid-infrared luminosity of IRS 3(A) is Lmidir=1.3[d/(300pc)]2Lsolar, which yields a central source mass, depending on the mass infall rate, of M*=0.2Msolar(10- 6Msolaryr-1/M). The envelope mass surrounding IRS 3(A) is ~0.15 Msolar, suggesting that the central source and the envelope are of comparable mass. The locations of IRS 3(A) and IRS 3(B) on an Menv-Lbol diagram indicate that IRS 3(A) and IRS 3(B) appear to be Class I and Class 0 protostars, respectively.