Introducing PxP: A Population Synthesis Framework for Predicting YSO Properties

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Peltonen, J., Rosolowsky, E., Ginsburg, A, Indebetouw, R., Richardson, T., Rodriguez, M. Jimena
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Peltonen, J.
Rosolowsky, E.
Ginsburg, A
Indebetouw, R.
Richardson, T.
Rodriguez, M. Jimena
author_facet Peltonen, J.
Rosolowsky, E.
Ginsburg, A
Indebetouw, R.
Richardson, T.
Rodriguez, M. Jimena
contents The most direct method of measuring the star formation rate is with young stellar objects (YSOs), but this requires high-resolution observations and high-quality models. Using the latest YSO radiation transfer and stellar evolution models, we have developed a population synthesis code that generates model YSO populations that can be observed by JWST. We combine these model populations with principal component analysis (PCA) and maximum likelihood fitting to create a complete framework for predicting the age and mass of YSO populations. We dub this combination of Population synthesis and PCA, PxP, and show that it is effective at predicting mass and age with self-fitting tests. We apply PxP to the Spitzer identified YSOs in N44 and find a mass of (1.1+-0.1)*10^4 M_sun and an age of 0.74^{+0.06}_{-0.03} Myr, consistent with previous work. Next, we identify 112 YSO candidates in the archival JWST observations of NGC 604. Applying PxP to this newly identified population we find a mass of (2.2+-0.2)*10^4 M_sun and an age of 0.62+-0.01 Myr. This first look at this framework demonstrates its effectiveness with a specific set of models and leaves clear opportunities for future exploration. PxP allows us to directly determine the recent (<3~Myr) star formation history, giving an unprecedented look at the effect of the large-scale environment on individual star formation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_29012
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Introducing PxP: A Population Synthesis Framework for Predicting YSO Properties
Peltonen, J.
Rosolowsky, E.
Ginsburg, A
Indebetouw, R.
Richardson, T.
Rodriguez, M. Jimena
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
The most direct method of measuring the star formation rate is with young stellar objects (YSOs), but this requires high-resolution observations and high-quality models. Using the latest YSO radiation transfer and stellar evolution models, we have developed a population synthesis code that generates model YSO populations that can be observed by JWST. We combine these model populations with principal component analysis (PCA) and maximum likelihood fitting to create a complete framework for predicting the age and mass of YSO populations. We dub this combination of Population synthesis and PCA, PxP, and show that it is effective at predicting mass and age with self-fitting tests. We apply PxP to the Spitzer identified YSOs in N44 and find a mass of (1.1+-0.1)*10^4 M_sun and an age of 0.74^{+0.06}_{-0.03} Myr, consistent with previous work. Next, we identify 112 YSO candidates in the archival JWST observations of NGC 604. Applying PxP to this newly identified population we find a mass of (2.2+-0.2)*10^4 M_sun and an age of 0.62+-0.01 Myr. This first look at this framework demonstrates its effectiveness with a specific set of models and leaves clear opportunities for future exploration. PxP allows us to directly determine the recent (<3~Myr) star formation history, giving an unprecedented look at the effect of the large-scale environment on individual star formation.
title Introducing PxP: A Population Synthesis Framework for Predicting YSO Properties
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.29012