Do O-stars form in isolation?

Details Do O-stars form in isolation? Do O-stars form in isolation?

2007-07-04

arxiv.org/abs/0707.0605v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

6 pages, 5 figures, MNRAS in press

Scientific paper

10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.12179.x

Around 4% of O-stars are observed in apparent isolation, with no associated cluster, and no indication of having been ejected from a nearby cluster. We define an isolated O-star as a star > 17.5 M_\odot in a cluster with total mass <100 M_\odot which contains no other massive (>10 M_\odot) stars. We show that the fraction of apparently isolated O-stars is reproduced when stars are sampled (randomly) from a standard initial mass function and a standard cluster mass function of the form N(M) \propto M^-2. This result is difficult to reconcile with the idea that there is a fundamental relationship between the mass of a cluster and the mass of the most massive star in that cluster. We suggest that such a relationship is a typical result of star formation in clusters, and that `isolated O-stars' are low-mass clusters in which massive stars have been able to form.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Do O-stars form in isolation? 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 Do O-stars form in isolation?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Do O-stars form in isolation? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-547456