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Paper: Orbit Orientations and Eccentricities in Triples: Implications on Their Formation and Evolution
Volume: 287, Galactic Star Formation Across the Stellar Mass Spectrum
Page: 403
Authors: Sterzik, M. F.; Tokovinin, A. A.; Shatsky, N. I.
Abstract: Observations of the relative alignment of inner and outer orbits in visual multiple stars suggest a moderate, but significant, correlation. The distribution of the relative angle Φ between the orbital planes of triple stars that are formed by dynamical decay from realistic initial conditions agrees quantitatively with the latest observational data, as recently shown by Sterzik & Tokovinin (2002). The eccentricity distribution f(e) of outer orbits for a sub-sample of long-term stable triple systems is also consistent with the observed distribution. The statistics of Φ and e are important fossil records of star formation that allow to sensitively constrain physical processes and properties of initial clusters.
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