Binary Disruption and Ejected Stars from Hierarchical Star Cluster Assembly
Abstract
We simulate mergers between star clusters embedded within their natal giant
molecular cloud. We extract initial conditions from cloud-scale simulations of
cluster formation and introduce different prescriptions for primordial
binaries. We find that simulations that do not include primordial binaries
result in a larger fraction of unbound stars than simulations which include a
prescription for binaries based on observations. We also find a preferred
direction of motion for stars that become unbound during the merger.
Sub-cluster mergers within realistic gas environments promote binary disruption
while mergers between idealized, gas-rich spherical clusters do not produce the
same disruption. Binary systems with smaller semi-major axes are disrupted in
simulations of sub-cluster mergers within their natal environment compared to
simulations that do not include the realistic gas environment. We conclude that
binary disruption and the production of an anisotropic distribution of unbound
stars are the natural consequences of sub-cluster mergers during star cluster
assembly.
Authors
Cournoyer-Cloutier C; Karam J; Sills A; Zwart SP; Wilhelm M