VLA detection of protostars in OMC-2/3

The OMC-2/3 molecular clouds contain one of the highest concentrations of p rotostars known in nearby molecular clouds. We have observed an area of abo ut 6' x 15' (0.8 pc x 2 pc) covering the OMC-2/3 region with the Very Large Array in the D configuration at 3.6 cm, matching well the area of a recent 1300 mu m survey. We detected 14 sources, of which it is highly probable t hat 11 sources are either protostars or very young stars. This testifies to the star-forming activity and extreme youth of the OMC-2/3 region. The 3.6 cm flux is free-free emission probably due to shocks in outflowing materia l. Three of the sources are extended even with the relatively low resolutio n of the present observations, and two of these may be collimated radio jet s. The large fraction of submillimeter continuum sources that have a radio continuum counterpart is evidence that outflow is already common at the ver y earliest evolutionary stages. No relation is found between the radio cont inuum flux and the 1300 mu m flux of the associated submillimeter dust clum ps.