A dense micro-cluster of Class 0 protostars in NGC 2264 D-MM1

TL;DR

This paper reports high-resolution observations revealing a micro-cluster of seven Class 0 protostars in NGC 2264 D-MM1, providing insights into early star formation and hierarchical fragmentation.

Contribution

It presents the first high-resolution imaging of a dense micro-cluster of Class 0 protostars, highlighting hierarchical thermal fragmentation in star formation.

Findings

Seven Class 0 sources detected within 20" region

Sources have masses between 0.4 and 1.2 solar masses

Mean separation suggests hierarchical fragmentation

Abstract

We present sensitive and high angular resolution (~1") 1.3 mm continuum observations of the dusty core D-MM1 in the Spokes cluster in NGC 2264 using the Submillimeter Array. A dense micro-cluster of seven Class 0 sources was detected in a 20" x 20" region with masses between 0.4 to 1.2 solar masses and deconvolved sizes of about 600 AU. We interpret the 1.3 mm emission as arising from the envelopes of the Class 0 protostellar sources. The mean separation of the 11 known sources (SMA Class 0 and previously known infrared sources) within D-MM1 is considerably smaller than the characteristic spacing between sources in the larger Spokes cluster and is consistent with hierarchical thermal fragmentation of the dense molecular gas in this region.