Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2000-03-08
Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 316 (2000) 605
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
9 pages including figures, MNRAS in press
Scientific paper
10.1046/j.1365-8711.2000.03537.x
We use data from the Hipparcos catalogue to construct colour-magnitude diagrams for the solar neighbourhood, which are then treated using advanced Bayesian analysis techniques to derive the star formation history, $SFR(t)$, of this region over the last 3 Gyr. The method we use allows the recovery of the underlying $SFR(t)$ without the need of assuming any {\it a priori} structure or condition on $SFR(t)$, and hence yields a highly objective result. The remarkable accuracy of the data permits the reconstruction of the local $SFR(t)$ with an unprecedented time resolution of $\approx 50 $ Myr. A $SFR(t)$ having an oscillatory component of period $\approx 0.5$ Gyr is found, superimposed on a small level of constant star formation activity. Problems arising from the non-uniform selection function of the Hipparcos satellite are discussed and treated. Detailed statistical tests are then performed on the results, which confirm the inferred $SFR(t)$ to be compatible with the observed distribution of stars.
Gilmore Gerard
Hernandez Xabier
Valls-Gabaud David
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