On the formation of runaway stars BN and x in the Orion Nebula Cluster
Journal article, 2018

We explore scenarios for the dynamical ejection of stars BN and x from source I in the Kleinmann-Low nebula of the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC), which is important because it is the closest region of massive star formation. This ejection would cause source I to become a close binary or a merger product of two stars. We thus consider binary-binary encounters as the mechanism to produce this event. By running a large suite of N-body simulations, we find that it is nearly impossible to match the observations when using the commonly adopted masses for the participants, especially a source I mass of 7 M-circle dot. The only way to recreate the event is if source I is more massive, that is, similar to 20 M-circle dot. However, even in this case, the likelihood of reproducing the observed system is low. We discuss the implications of these results for understanding this important star-forming region.

methods: numerical

stars: formation

stars: kinematics and dynamics

Author

Juan Pablo Farias Osses

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

Jonathan Tan

University of Virginia

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 612 L7

Subject Categories

Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/201732472

More information

Latest update

5/7/2019 9