Chandra X-ray detection of YSOs in Serpens South

The ratio of N_H_ to A_K_ is found to be ~0.68x10^22^, similar to that measured in other young low-mass regions, but lower than that measured in the interstellar medium and high-mass clusters (~(1.6-2)x10^22^). We find that the spatial distribution closely follows that of the dense filament from which the stars have formed, with the class II population still strongly associated with the filament. There are four subclusters in the field, with three forming knots in the filament, and a fourth to the west, which may not be associated but may be contributing to the distributed class III population.

A high percentage of diskless class IIIs (upper limit 30% of classified X-ray sources) in such a young cluster could indicate that processing of disks is influenced by the cluster environment and is not solely dependent on timescale.