Mass segregation in very young open clusters -- A case study of NGC 2244 and NGC 6530

TL;DR

This study investigates mass segregation in two very young open clusters, NGC 2244 and NGC 6530, finding evidence of primordial mass segregation without velocity-mass dependence, and discusses their dynamical stability and potential dissolution.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed proper motion analysis of these clusters, revealing primordial mass segregation and offering insights into their dynamical evolution and stability.

Findings

Both clusters show clear mass segregation.

No significant velocity-mass dependence observed.

NGC 2244 is likely to dissolve quickly, while NGC 6530 may be more stable.

Abstract

We derive the proper motions, membership probabilities, and velocity dispersions of stars in the regions of the young (about 2-4 Myr-old) open clusters NGC 2244 (the central cluster in the Monoceros R2 association) and NGC 6530 (the dominant cluster in the Sgr OB1 association) from photographic plate material obtained at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, with time baselines of 34 and 87 years, respectively. Both clusters show clear evidence of mass segregation, but they do not exhibit any significant velocity-mass (or, equivalently, a velocity-luminosity) dependence. This provides strong support for the suggestion that the observed mass segregation is -- at least partially -- due to the way in which star formation has proceeded in these complex star-forming regions (``primordial'' mass segregation). Based on arguments related to the clusters' published initial mass functions, in conjunction with our new measurements of their internal velocity dispersions (35 and 8 km/s for NGC 2244 and NGC 6530, respectively), we provide strong arguments in favor of the dissolution of NGC 2244 on very short time-scales, while we speculate that NGC 6530 may be more stable against the effects of internal two-body relaxation. However, this latter object may well be destroyed by the strong tidal field prevalent at its location in the Galactic plane in the direction of the Galactic Center.