Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1998-05-28
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
10 pages, submitted to MNRAS; low resolution figures only
Scientific paper
It is expected that an average protostar will undergo at least one impulsive interaction with a neighbouring protostar whilst a large fraction of its mass is still in a massive, extended disc. Such interactions must have a significant impact upon the evolution of the protostars and their discs. We have carried out a series of simulations of coplanar encounters between two stars, each possessing a massive circumstellar disc, using an SPH code that models gravitational, hydrodynamic and viscous forces. We find that during a coplanar encounter, disc material is swept up into a shock layer between the two interacting stars, and the layer then fragments to produce new protostellar condensations. The truncated remains of the discs may subsequently fragment; and the outer regions of the discs may be thrown off to form circumbinary disc-like structures around the stars. Thus coplanar disc-disc encounters lead efficiently to the formation of multiple star systems and small-N clusters.
Bhattal A. S.
Boffin Henri. M. J.
Francis Neil
Watkins Joel S.
Whitworth Anthony P.
No associations
LandOfFree
Numerical simulations of protostellar encounters II. Coplanar disc-disc encounters 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 Numerical simulations of protostellar encounters II. Coplanar disc-disc encounters, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Numerical simulations of protostellar encounters II. Coplanar disc-disc encounters will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-392899