Photometric and Spectroscopic Study of Young Stellar Objects in IC 1848E Region

Abstract

We present a comprehensive analysis combining multi-epoch mid-infrared (MIR) photometric and optical spectroscopic observations of young stellar candidates associated with elongated, elephant trunk-like structures (ETLSs) in the IC 1848E star-forming region. A sample of 15 candidate YSOs, initially identified by Chauhan et al. (2011), was investigated using multi-epoch NEOWISE $W1$ and $W2$ photometry to characterize their variability properties. After imposing stringent positional and photometric quality constraints, a final set of eight robust YSOs was retained and classified into three variability categories: non-variable, secular, and stochastic. One source, Star #9, exhibits a pronounced curved variability in the MIR light-curve and color-magnitude domains, indicative of systematic evolution of its circumstellar disk and/or accretion processes. Optical spectroscopic data for this object show strong H$\alpha$ emission and prominent forbidden lines, providing clear evidence of active mass accretion and outflow phenomena. The combined photometric and spectroscopic diagnostics establish a close link between infrared variability, circumstellar disk evolution, and accretion-driven activity in YSOs associated with ETLSs in IC 1848E.