{
  "id": "1105.1953",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2011-05-10T14:10:11.000Z",
  "updated": "2011-05-10T14:10:11.000Z",
  "title": "Formation rates of star clusters in the hierarchical merging scenario",
  "authors": [
    "R. Smith",
    "R. Slater",
    "M. Fellhauer",
    "S. Goodwin",
    "P. Assmann"
  ],
  "comment": "9 pages, 5 figures",
  "categories": [
    "astro-ph.GA",
    "astro-ph.SR"
  ],
  "abstract": "Stars form with a complex and highly structured distribution. For a smooth star cluster to form from these initial conditions, the star cluster must erase this substructure. We study how substructure is removed using N-body simulations that realistically handle two-body relaxation. In contrast to previous studies, we find that hierarchical cluster formation occurs chiefly as a result of scattering of stars out of clumps, and not through clump merging. Two-body relaxation, in particular within the body of a clump, can significantly increase the rate at which substructure is erased beyond that of clump-merging alone. Hence the relaxation time of individual clumps is a key parameter controlling the rate at which smooth, spherical star clusters can form. The initial virial ratio of the clumps is an additional key parameter controlling the formation rate of a cluster. Reducing the initial virial ratio causes a star cluster to lose its substructure more rapidly.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2011-05-10T14:10:11.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "hierarchical merging scenario",
      "formation rate",
      "cluster formation occurs",
      "initial virial ratio",
      "two-body relaxation"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "journal article"
    ],
    "publication": {
      "doi": "10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19039.x",
      "journal": "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",
      "year": 2011,
      "month": "Sep",
      "volume": 416,
      "number": 1,
      "pages": 383
    },
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 9,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "inspire": 899073,
      "adsabs": "2011MNRAS.416..383S"
    }
  }
}