Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Star Clusters in the Era of Large Surveys pp 147–154Cite as

Do All Stars in the Solar Neighbourhood Form in Clusters?

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings ((ASSSP))

Abstract

We present a global study of low mass, young stellar object (YSO) surface densities (Σ) in nearby (<500 pc) star forming regions based on a comprehensive collection of Spitzer Space Telescope surveys. We show that the distribution of YSO surface densities is a smooth distribution, being adequately described by a lognormal function from a few to 103 YSOs per { pc}2, with a peak at ∼ 22 stars { pc}−2. The observed lognormal Σ is consistent with predictions of hierarchically structured star-formation at scales below 10pc, arising from the molecular cloud structures. We do not find evidence for multiple discrete modes of star-formation (e.g.clustered and distributed). Comparing the observed Σ distribution to previous Σ threshold definitions of clusters show that they are arbitrary. We find that only a low fraction (<26%) of stars are formed in dense environments where their formation/evolution (along with their circumstellar disks and/or planets) may be affected by the close proximity of their low-mass neighbours.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Allen, L., et al.: Protostars Planets V 361 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Allison, R.J., et al.: Astrophys. J. Lett.  700, L99 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. André, P., et al.: Astron. Astrophys.  518, L102 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bastian, N., et al.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.  379, 1302 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bastian, N., et al.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.  392, 868 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bate, M., Bonnell, I., Bromm, V.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.  339, 577 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bressert, E., et al.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.  409, L54 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Carpenter, J.M.: Astron. J.  120, 3139 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Casertano, S., Hut, P.: Astrophys. J.  298, 80 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Efremov, Y.N.: Astron. J.  110, 2757 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Elmegreen, B., Efremov, Y.: Astrophys. J. 466, 802 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Elmegreen, B.: Astrophys. J. 564 773 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Elmegreen, B., Elmegreen, D., Chandar, R., Whitmore, B., Regan, M.: Astrophys. J. 644, 879 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Elmegreen, B.: Astrophys. J.  672, 1006 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Evans, II, N., et al.: Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac.  115, 965 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Evans, II, N., et al.: Astrophys. J. Suppl.  181, 321 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Gieles, M., Bastian, N., Ercolano, B.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.  391, L93 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Gieles, M., Portegies Zwart, S.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.  410, L6 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gomez, M., Hartmann, L., Kenyon, S.J., Hewett, R.: Astron. J.  105, 1927 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gutermuth, R.A., et al.: Astrophys. J.  632, 397 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Gutermuth, R.A., et al.: Astrophys. J. Suppl.  184, 18 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Haisch, K.E. Jr., Lada, E.A., Lada, C.J.: Astrophys. J. Lett. 553, L153 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Heiderman, A., Evans, N.J. II, Allen, L.E., Huard, T., Heyer, M.: Astrophys. J.  723, 1019 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hernández, J., et al.: Astrophys. J.  671, 1784 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Jørgensen, J.K., Johnstone, D., Kirk, H., Myers, P.C., Allen, L.E., Shirley, Y.L.: Astrophys. J.  683, 822 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Johnstone, D., Di Francesco, J., Kirk, H.: Astrophys. J. Lett. 611, L45 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Lada, C., Lada, E.: Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys.  41, 57 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Megeath, T., et al.: (in preparation)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Moeckel, N., Bate, M.R.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 404, 721 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Porras, A., Christopher, M., Allen, L., Di Francesco, J., Megeath, T., Myers, P.: Astron. J. 126, 1916 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Rebull L.M., et al.: Astrophys. J. Suppl. 186, 259 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Scalo, J.M.: Protostars and Planets II, 201 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Strom, K.M., Strom, S.E., Merrill, K.M.: Astrophys. J.  412, 233 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Wang, J., Feigelson, E., Townsley, L., Román-Zúñiga, C., Lada, E., Garmire, G.: Astrophys. J. 696, 47 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Weidner, C., Kroupa, P. & Larsen, S.S.: Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.  350, 1503 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. Werner, M.W., et al.: Astrophys. J. Suppl. 154, 1 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the organisers of the JENAM Star Clusters in the Era of Large Surveys meeting for arranging the program and inviting us to contribute our work. Additionally, Eli Bressert’s trip to the meeting was possible due to the CONSTELLATION network and funds.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK

    Eli Bressert & Nate Bastian

  2. University of Massachusetts, Smith College, Northampton, MA, 01063, USA

    Robert Gutermuth

Authors
  1. Eli Bressert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nate Bastian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robert Gutermuth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eli Bressert .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Fac. de Ciências da Univ. de Lisboa, SIM, Campo Grande, Edifício C8, Lisbon, 1749-016, Portugal

    André Moitinho

  2. Institute of Astronomy, Türkenschanzstrasse 17, Vienna, 1180, Austria

    João Alves

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Bressert, E., Bastian, N., Gutermuth, R. (2012). Do All Stars in the Solar Neighbourhood Form in Clusters?. In: Moitinho, A., Alves, J. (eds) Star Clusters in the Era of Large Surveys. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22113-2_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22113-2_21

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-22112-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-22113-2

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation