On the formation of trapezium-like systems

TL;DR

This study uses N-body simulations to explore how trapezium-like massive star systems form, evolve, and decay in young star clusters, highlighting their transient and dynamic nature.

Contribution

It demonstrates that trapezium-like systems frequently form early in cool, clumpy clusters and are highly dynamic, with their appearance and membership changing over time.

Findings

Trapezium-like systems form within the first 2 Myr in certain cluster conditions.

These systems are highly dynamical and frequently interact with their environment.

They can eventually decay and disrupt the host cluster.

Abstract

We investigate the formation and evolution of high-order massive star multiples similar to the Trapezium in the Orion Nebula Cluster. We perform ensembles of N-body simulations of the evolution of N=1000 Orion-like clusters with initial conditions ranging from cool and clumpy to relatively smooth and relaxed. We find that trapezium-like systems are frequently formed in the first 2 Myr in initially cool and clumpy clusters and can survive for significant amounts of time in such clusters. We also find that these systems are highly dynamical entities, constantly interacting with the surrounding cluster, changing their appearance and membership regularly. The eventual decay of trapezium-like systems can even destroy the host cluster. We argue that the current state of any trapezium-like system is transient and care should be taken when analysing and drawing conclusions from a single snapshot in the life of a highly dynamic object.