$\lambda$ Ori: A Case Study in Star Formation

Abstract

In the previous chapters we have discussed the products of the star formation process. In the remaining chapters we focus on an overview of star-forming regions; however, in this chapter we take an in-depth look at one young region in particular, the $\lambda$ Orionis association. Our discussion begins by placing the $\lambda$ Ori region in context through investigating the local environment, namely the interstellar dust and molecular gas. We then move on to a census of the stellar population of the $\lambda$ Ori region, briefly introducing the high-mass stars, before providing a more comprehensive description of the low-mass stars, specifically in terms of the history of their identification and what information we can extract from them concerning the star formation history of the region. We conclude by using this analysis to create an almost complete picture of how the region formed and subsequently evolved to its current state of dissolving into the Galactic field.