Dynamics of Star Cluster Formation: The Effects of Ongoing Star
Formation and Stellar Feedback
Abstract
We perform a high resolution zoom-in simulation of star cluster assembly
including the merger of two sub-clusters with initial conditions taken from
previous large scale giant molecular cloud (GMC) simulations. We couple
hydrodynamics to N-body dynamics to simulate the individual stars themselves,
and the gas-rich environment in which they evolve. We include prescriptions for
star formation and stellar feedback and compare directly to previous
simulations of the same region without these prescriptions to determine their
role in shaping the dynamics inherited from the cluster assembly process. The
stellar mass of the cluster grows through star formation within the cluster and
accretion of new stars and star forming gas from a nearby filament. This growth
results in an enhancement in the cluster's rotation and anisotropic expansion
compared to simulations without star formation. We also analyze the internal
kinematics of the cluster once it has lost most of its gas and find that the
rotational velocity and the velocity anisotropy profiles are qualitatively
similar to those expected of clusters that have undergone violent relaxation.
As well, rotation and anisotropic expansion are still present by the time of
gas removal. This implies that evolution within the GMC was unable to
completely erase the kinematics inherited by the merger.