2006ApJ...645.1264S

The bipolar outflow from the massive star-forming cluster in DR 21 is one of the most powerful known, and in IRAC images the outflow stands out by virtue of its brightness at 4.5 µm (band 2). Indeed, IRAC images of many Galactic and extragalactic star formation regions feature prominent band 2 morphologies. We have analyzed archival ISO SWS spectra of the DR 21 outflow and compare them to updated H₂shocked and UV excitation models. We find that H₂line emission contributes about 50% of the flux of the IRAC bands at 3.6, 4.5, and 5.8 µm, and is a significant contributor to the 8.0 µm band as well, and confirm that the outflow contains multiple excitation mechanisms. Other potentially strong features, in particular Brα and CO emission, have been suggested as contributing to IRAC fluxes in outflows, but they are weak or absent in DR 21; surprisingly, there also is no evidence for strong PAH emission. The results imply that IRAC images can be a powerful detector of, and diagnostic for, outflows caused by massive star formation activity in our Galaxy, and in other galaxies as well. They also suggest that IRAC color-color diagnostic diagrams may need to take into account the possible influence of these strong emission lines. IRAC images of the general ISM in the region, away from the outflow, are in approximate, but not precise, agreement with theoretical models.