Investigating the Upper Scorpius OB association with HERMES - I. The spectroscopic sample and 6D kinematics

Journal article, 2025

OB associations are large, unbound groups of young stars, which typically exhibit great complexity in spatial, kinematic and age structure, hinting at formation scenarios involving an intricate interplay of molecular cloud turbulent kinematics and stellar feedback over extended periods. The kinematic properties of the numerous low-mass populations within OB associations can provide valuable constraints on their initial configurations, and thus the dominant mechanisms driving star formation and their dispersal into the field. We present results from a large spectroscopic survey of the nearest young association to the Sun, Upper Scorpius, conducted using 2dF/HERMES on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. We use spectroscopic youth criteria such as Li-equivalent widths to identify >1000 pre-main sequence (PMS) members across the region and measure radial velocities, combining these with Gaia EDR3 5-parameter astrometry to obtain 6D kinematic information. We separate confirmed PMS association members into distinct kinematic groups and measure expansion and rotation trends in each. We also trace the past motion of these groups using an epicycle approximation and estimate the time since their most compact configuration. These kinematic properties are compared to literature ages and the star formation history of Upper Scorpius is discussed. We find evidence that a scenario in which star formation in the subgroups of Upper Scorpius proceeded independently, either by self-instability or external feedback from Upper Centaurus-Lupus, is more likely than a recently proposed 'cluster chain' scenario in which these subgroups have triggered each other.