Fruits series: Star cluster formation through merger of sub-clusters

by Elena Gavagnin (University of Zurich, Cluster guest)

Thursday 30 Jul 2015, 12:30 → 13:00 Europe/Berlin

Lounge area, 1st floor (Excellence Cluster Universe)

Young star clusters (YSCs) are a keystone for star formation, because they are the nursery of stars and the building blocks of galaxy discs. YSCs are thought to form from the collapse of molecular cloud cores, but the details of this complex process are still an open question. The main models that have been proposed are the ‘monolithic scenario’ and the ‘sub-cluster merger scenario’. Whether a YSC forms monolithically or from the merger of sub-YSCs is crucial, because it might affect not only the mass segregation, but also the structural parameters, the morphology and the density profile of the SC. In her talk Elena will briefly review the two main theoretical models behind the formation of YSCs, present how the recent observations challenge some theoretical expectations and explain some results obtained through direct N-body simulations of YSCs mergers, including both an accurate integration of the dynamical processes and advanced stellar evolution models. She will discuss how the merger output properties depend on the different initial setting of the merging sub-clusters considered. The audience is cordially invited to discuss and comment. During this 30-minutes lunch event of the series "Fruits of the Universe", we will serve drinks and fingerfood.