Description
We present near infrared (J, H and Ks) observations of a 5'x10' sample field in the Serpens Star Formation region obtained with SOFI at the NTT. These observations are sensitive enough to detect a 20M_Jup_ brown dwarf through an extinction of A_V_~16 and are used to build an infrared census of this field in the cluster. From photometry and mass-luminosity models, we have developed a detailed methodology to extract quantitative parameters (distance modulus, extinction, spectral type, masses) for objects observed towards and inside the Serpens molecular cloud. An extinction map of the region is derived allowing us to disentangle cloud members from background field objects. Luminosities and masses for 14 low-mass stars and substellar object candidate members of the cluster are derived.
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