Near-Infrared Polarization Images of the Orion Nebula

Wide-field (~8′ × 8′) and deep near-infrared (JHKs bands) 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.