Hierarchically Clustered Star Formation in the Magellanic Clouds

TL;DR

This study analyzes the hierarchical clustering of young stars in the NGC 346/N66 region of the Small Magellanic Cloud, revealing that star formation occurs in a complex, multi-scale structure similar to other regions in the Magellanic Clouds.

Contribution

The paper applies advanced clustering and structural analysis techniques to characterize the hierarchical organization of young stars in a specific Magellanic Cloud region, extending previous studies.

Findings

Young stellar populations are hierarchically clustered.

Star formation in the region exhibits multi-scale structuring.

Results align with clustering patterns observed in other Magellanic Cloud regions.

Abstract

We present a cluster analysis of the bright main-sequence and faint pre--main-sequence stellar populations of a field ~ 90 x 90 pc centered on the HII region NGC 346/N66 in the Small Magellanic Cloud, from imaging with HST/ACS. We extend our earlier analysis on the stellar cluster population in the region to characterize the structuring behavior of young stars in the region as a whole with the use of stellar density maps interpreted through techniques designed for the study of the ISM structuring. In particular, we demonstrate with Cartwrigth & Whitworth's Q parameter, dendrograms, and the Delta-variance wavelet transform technique that the young stellar populations in the region NGC 346/N66 are hierarchically clustered, in agreement with other regions in the Magellanic Clouds observed with HST. The origin of this hierarchy is currently under investigation.