A near–infrared survey for Galactic Wolf-Rayet stars

Initial results, techniques, and rationalefor a near-infrared survey of evolved emission-line stars towards the Galactic Center are presented. We use images taken through narrow-band emission-line and continuum filters to select candidates for spectroscopic follow-up. The filters are optimized for the detection of Wolf-Rayet stars and other objects that exhibit emission- lines in the 2 µm region. Approximately three square degrees along the Galactic plane have been analyzed in seven narrow filters (four emission lines and three continuum). Four new Wolf-Rayet stars have been found and are the subject of a following paper.