High Angular Resolution Mid-infrared Imaging of Young Stars in Orion BN/KL

We present Keck LWS images of the Orion BN/KL star forming region obtained in the first multi-wavelength study to have 0. 3-0. 5 resolution from 4.7μm to 22μm. The young stellar objects designated infrared sourcen and radio source I are believed to dominate the BN/KL region. We have detected extended emission from a probable accretion disk around sourcen but infer a stellar luminosity on the order of only 2000L⊙. Although source I is believed to be more luminous, we do not detect an infrared counterpart even at the longest wavelengths. However, we resolve the closeby infrared source, IRc2, into an arc of knots ∼ 10 AU long at all wavelengths. Although the physical relation of source I to IRc2 remains ambiguous, we suggest these sources mark a high density core (10-10 pc over ∼ 10 AU) within the larger BN/KL star forming cluster. The high density may be a consequence of the core being young and heavily embedded. We suggest the energetics of the BN/KL region may be dominated by this cluster core rather than one or two individual sources. Subject headings: infrared: stars — ISM: individual (Orion KL) — stars: formation — stars: pre–main-sequence