2006ApJ...649L..29T

Wide-field (∼8'x8') and deep near-infrared (JHK_sbands) polarization images of the Orion Nebula are presented. These data revealed various circumstellar structures as infrared reflection nebulae (IRNe) around young stellar objects (YSOs), both massive and low-mass. We found the IRN around both IRc2 and BN to be very extensive, suggesting that there might be two extended (>0.7 pc) bipolar/monopolar IRNe in these sources. We discovered at least 13 smaller scale (∼0.01-0.1 pc) IRNe around less massive YSOs, including the famous source θ² Ori C. We also suggest the presence of many unresolved (<690 AU) systems around low-mass YSOs and young brown dwarfs showing possible intrinsic polarizations. Wide-field infrared polarimetry is thus demonstrated to be a powerful technique in revealing IRNe and hence potential disk/outflow systems among high-mass to substellar YSOs.