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| Paper: |
Binary multiplication: the formation of close binaries from wide ones |
| Volume: |
132, Star Formation with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) |
| Page: |
430 |
| Authors: |
Watkins, S. J.; Boffin, H. M. J.; Francis, N.; Whitworth, A. P. |
| Abstract: |
We hypothesize that the final masses of stars, and also the statistics of binary systems, are largely determined by interactions between massive extended protostellar discs in proto-clusters. We present simulations of such interactions, which show that they are very effective at forming binary and higher multiple systems. We envisage an hierarchical cascade, which starts with a small-N cluster of massive extended protostellar discs in relatively wide orbits, and then by stages spawns lower-mass less-extended discs in closer orbits. Our simulations indicate that each generation in this cascade can approximately double the number of protostellar discs, and produce binaries with periods about an order of magnitude shorter than their parents. |
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