How do binary clusters form?

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through N-body simulations that velocity substructure in star-forming regions can lead to the stochastic formation of binary star clusters, with formation likelihood influenced by virial ratio and initial substructure.

Contribution

It introduces a new mechanism for binary cluster formation driven by velocity substructure, highlighting the roles of virial ratio and initial spatial substructure.

Findings

Binary clusters form due to velocity substructure in star-forming regions.

Higher virial ratios increase the probability of binary formation.

Initial spatial substructure influences the mass ratio of resulting clusters.

Abstract

Approximately 10 per cent of star clusters are found in pairs, known as binary clusters. We propose a mechanism for binary cluster formation; we use N-body simulations to show that velocity substructure in a single (even fairly smooth) region can cause binary clusters to form. This process is highly stochastic and it is not obvious from a region's initial conditions whether a binary will form and, if it does, which stars will end up in which cluster. We find the probability that a region will divide is mainly determined by its virial ratio, and a virial ratio above 'equilibrium' is generally necessary for binary formation. We also find that the mass ratio of the two clusters is strongly influenced by the initial degree of spatial substructure in the region.