The VMC survey -- XLVII. Turbulence-Controlled Hierarchical Star Formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Amy E. Miller,
Maria-Rosa L. Cioni,
Richard de Grijs
et al.
Abstract:We perform a statistical clustering analysis of upper main-sequence stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using data from the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy survey of the Magellanic Clouds. We map over 2500 young stellar structures at 15 significance levels across ∼120 square degrees centred on the LMC. The structures have sizes ranging from a few parsecs to over 1 kpc. We find that the young structures follow power-law size and mass distributions. From the perimeterarea relation, we d… Show more
“…At smaller scales where our analysis is relevant, turbulence is probably the main mechanism controlling the underlying structure where coherent star formation occurs. Our result is consistent with a recent detailed analysis of the distribution of ∼ 2500 young stellar structures in the Large Magellanic Cloud by Miller et al (2022), who derived a twodimensional fractal dimension of around 1.5 − 1.6 in the range of spatial scales from 10 pc to 700 pc. The value D c = 1.62 ± 0.05 implies that the corresponding threedimensional fractal dimension should be D f = 2.5 − 2.6 (see Table 1 in Sánchez & Alfaro 2008), which is similar to the range of values D f ∼ 2.5 − 2.7 obtained from emission maps of several spectral lines for different molecular clouds in the Milky Way (Sánchez et al 2005(Sánchez et al , 2007b) and for early-type stars in the GB (Sánchez et al 2007a).…”
Section: Fractal Dimension Of the Distribution Of Gaiasupporting
The accuracy in determining the spatial-kinematical parameters of open clusters makes them ideal tracers of the Galactic structure. Young open clusters (YOCs) are the main representative of the clustered star formation mode, which identifies how most of the stars in the Galaxy form. We apply the Kriging technique to a sample of Gaia YOCs within a 3.5 kpc radius around the Sun and log(age) ≤ 7.5, age in years, to obtain the Z(X, Y ) and V Z (X, Y ) maps. The previous work by Alfaro et al. (1991) showed that Kriging can provide reliable results even with small data samples (N ∼ 100). We approach the 3D spatial and vertical velocity field structure of the Galactic disk defined by YOCs and analyze the hierarchy of the stellar cluster formation, which shows a rich hierarchical structure, displaying complexes embedded within each other. We discuss the fundamental characteristics of the methodology used to perform the mapping and point out the main results obtained in phenomenological terms. Both the 3D spatial distribution and the vertical velocity field reveal a complex disk structure with a high degree of substructures. Their analysis provides clues about the main physical mechanisms that shape the phase space of the clustered star formation in this Galactic area. Warp, corrugations, and high local deviations in Z and V Z , appear intimately connected in a single but intricate scenario.
“…At smaller scales where our analysis is relevant, turbulence is probably the main mechanism controlling the underlying structure where coherent star formation occurs. Our result is consistent with a recent detailed analysis of the distribution of ∼ 2500 young stellar structures in the Large Magellanic Cloud by Miller et al (2022), who derived a twodimensional fractal dimension of around 1.5 − 1.6 in the range of spatial scales from 10 pc to 700 pc. The value D c = 1.62 ± 0.05 implies that the corresponding threedimensional fractal dimension should be D f = 2.5 − 2.6 (see Table 1 in Sánchez & Alfaro 2008), which is similar to the range of values D f ∼ 2.5 − 2.7 obtained from emission maps of several spectral lines for different molecular clouds in the Milky Way (Sánchez et al 2005(Sánchez et al , 2007b) and for early-type stars in the GB (Sánchez et al 2007a).…”
Section: Fractal Dimension Of the Distribution Of Gaiasupporting
The accuracy in determining the spatial-kinematical parameters of open clusters makes them ideal tracers of the Galactic structure. Young open clusters (YOCs) are the main representative of the clustered star formation mode, which identifies how most of the stars in the Galaxy form. We apply the Kriging technique to a sample of Gaia YOCs within a 3.5 kpc radius around the Sun and log(age) ≤ 7.5, age in years, to obtain the Z(X, Y ) and V Z (X, Y ) maps. The previous work by Alfaro et al. (1991) showed that Kriging can provide reliable results even with small data samples (N ∼ 100). We approach the 3D spatial and vertical velocity field structure of the Galactic disk defined by YOCs and analyze the hierarchy of the stellar cluster formation, which shows a rich hierarchical structure, displaying complexes embedded within each other. We discuss the fundamental characteristics of the methodology used to perform the mapping and point out the main results obtained in phenomenological terms. Both the 3D spatial distribution and the vertical velocity field reveal a complex disk structure with a high degree of substructures. Their analysis provides clues about the main physical mechanisms that shape the phase space of the clustered star formation in this Galactic area. Warp, corrugations, and high local deviations in Z and V Z , appear intimately connected in a single but intricate scenario.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.