The formation of multiples in small-$N$ subclusters

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Hauptverfasser: Ambrose, Hannah E., Whitworth, A. P.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
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author Ambrose, Hannah E.
Whitworth, A. P.
author_facet Ambrose, Hannah E.
Whitworth, A. P.
contents We explore the relative percentages of binary systems and higher-order multiples that are formed by pure stellar dynamics, within a small subcluster of $N$ stars. The subcluster is intended to represent the fragmentation products of a single isolated core, after most of the residual gas of the natal core has dispersed. Initially the stars have random positions, and masses drawn from a log-normal distribution. For low-mass cores spawning multiple systems with Sun-like primaries, the best fit to the observed percentages of singles, binaries, triples and higher-order systems is obtained if a typical core spawns on average between $N=$ 4.3 and 5.2 stars, specifically a distribution of $N$ with mean $μ_{_{N}}\sim4.8$ and standard deviation $σ_{_N}\sim2.4$. This fit is obtained when $\sim 50\%$ of the subcluster's internal kinetic energy is invested in ordered rotation and $\sim 50\%$ in isotropic Maxwellian velocities. There is little dependence on other factors, for example mass segregation or the rotation law. Whilst such high values of $N$ are at variance with the lower values often quoted (i.e. $N=$ 1 or 2), very similar values ($N=4.3\pm0.4$ and $N=4.5\pm1.9$) have been derived previously by completely independent routes, and seem inescapable when the observed distribution of multiplicities is taken into account.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_07290
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The formation of multiples in small-$N$ subclusters
Ambrose, Hannah E.
Whitworth, A. P.
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
We explore the relative percentages of binary systems and higher-order multiples that are formed by pure stellar dynamics, within a small subcluster of $N$ stars. The subcluster is intended to represent the fragmentation products of a single isolated core, after most of the residual gas of the natal core has dispersed. Initially the stars have random positions, and masses drawn from a log-normal distribution. For low-mass cores spawning multiple systems with Sun-like primaries, the best fit to the observed percentages of singles, binaries, triples and higher-order systems is obtained if a typical core spawns on average between $N=$ 4.3 and 5.2 stars, specifically a distribution of $N$ with mean $μ_{_{N}}\sim4.8$ and standard deviation $σ_{_N}\sim2.4$. This fit is obtained when $\sim 50\%$ of the subcluster's internal kinetic energy is invested in ordered rotation and $\sim 50\%$ in isotropic Maxwellian velocities. There is little dependence on other factors, for example mass segregation or the rotation law. Whilst such high values of $N$ are at variance with the lower values often quoted (i.e. $N=$ 1 or 2), very similar values ($N=4.3\pm0.4$ and $N=4.5\pm1.9$) have been derived previously by completely independent routes, and seem inescapable when the observed distribution of multiplicities is taken into account.
title The formation of multiples in small-$N$ subclusters
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.07290