| Name: Neha Sharma |
| Affiliation: Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital |
| Conference ID: ASI2026_120 |
| Title: Tracing a Decade of Change: Mid-Infrared Variability in 20,000 Young Stellar Objects |
| Abstract Type: Oral |
| Abstract Category: Stars, Interstellar Medium, and Astrochemistry in Milky Way |
| Author(s) and Co-Author(s) with Affiliation: Sharma Neha(Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital - 263002, India), Saurabh Sharma(Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital - 263002, India) |
| Abstract: We present a comprehensive analysis of mid-infrared variability in over 20,000 candidate young stellar objects (YSOs) using a decade-long light curve dataset from the ALLWISE and NEOWISE missions. By applying Lomb–Scargle periodograms and linear fits, we classify YSO variability into secular (linear, curved, periodic) and stochastic (burst, drop, irregular) categories. Approximately 26% of the sample displays significant variability, with irregular fluctuations being the most common. Class I sources show a higher incidence of variability (36%) compared to Class II and III objects (~22%). A detailed color–magnitude analysis (W1–W2 vs. W2) reveals that the "redder-when-brighter" trend dominates across all classes, though the "bluer-when-brighter" behavior is notably more frequent in younger, embedded YSOs. These findings provide new insights into the evolutionary stages and underlying physical mechanisms governing infrared variability in star-forming regions. |
