The Structure and Evolution of Young Stellar Clusters

Details The Structure and Evolution of Young Stellar Clusters The Structure and Evolution of Young Stellar Clusters

2006-03-03

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0603096v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

16 pages, to appear in "Protostars and Planets V"

Scientific paper

We examine the properties of embedded clusters within 1 kiloparsec using new data from the Spitzer Space Telescope, as well as recent results from 2MASS and other ground-based near-infrared surveys. We use surveys of entire molecular clouds to understand the range and distribution of cluster membership, size and surface density. The Spitzer data demonstrate clearly that there is a continuum of star- forming environments, from relative isolation to dense clusters. The number of members of a cluster is correlated with the cluster radius, such that the average surface density of clusters having a few to a thousand members varies by a factor of only a few. The spatial distributions of Spitzer-identified young stellar objects frequently show elongation, low density halos, and sub-clustering. The spatial distributions of protostars resemble the distribution of dense molecular gas, suggesting that their morphologies result directly from the fragmentation of the natal gas. We also examine the effects of the cluster environments on star and planet formation. Although Far-UV and Extreme-UV radiation from massive stars can truncate disks in a few million years, fewer than half of the young stars in our sample (embedded clusters within 1 kpc) are found in regions of strong FUV and EUV fields. Typical volume densities and lifetimes of the observed clusters suggest that dynamical interactions are not an important mechanism for truncating disks on solar system size scales.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Structure and Evolution of Young Stellar Clusters does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Structure and Evolution of Young Stellar Clusters, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Structure and Evolution of Young Stellar Clusters will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-118036