Simulations of star formation in Ophiuchus, II: Multiplicity

TL;DR

This study uses SPH simulations to analyze star formation and multiplicity in Ophiuchus, revealing that episodic radiative feedback produces results consistent with observations, unlike continuous feedback.

Contribution

It demonstrates that episodic radiative feedback in simulations aligns better with observed multiplicity statistics in star-forming regions.

Findings

Multiplicity frequency is ~60% higher with episodic feedback.

Multiplicity and semi-major axis increase with primary mass.

Hierarchical systems often have inner pairs with a few au separation.

Abstract

Lomax et al. have constructed an ensemble of 60 prestellar cores having masses, sizes, projected shapes, temperatures and non-thermal radial velocity dispersions that match, statistically, the cores in Ophiuchus; and have simulated the evolution of these cores using SPH. Each core has been evolved once with no radiative feedback from stars, once with continuous radiative feedback, and once with episodic radiative feedback. Here we analyse the multiplicity statistics from these simulations. With episodic radiative feedback, (i) the multiplicity frequency is ~60% higher than in the field; (ii) the multiplicity frequency and the mean semi-major axis both increase with primary mass; (iii) one third of multiple systems are hierarchical systems with more than two components; (iv) in these hierarchical systems the inner pairings typically have separations of a few au and mass ratios concentrated towards unity, whereas the outer pairings have separations of order 100 au and a flatter distribution of mass ratios. The binary statistics are compatible with observations of young embedded populations, and -- if wider orbits are disrupted preferentially by external perturbations -- with observations of mature field populations. With no radiative feedback, the results are similar to those from simulations with episodic feedback. With continuous radiative feedback, brown dwarfs are under-produced, the number of multiple systems is too low, and the statistical properties of multiple systems are at variance with observation. This suggests that star formation in Ophiuchus may only be representative of global star formation if accretion onto protostars, and hence radiative feedback, is episodic.