The VMC Survey. XXII. Hierarchical star formation in the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 star-forming Complex

Ning-Chen Sun; Richard De Grijs; Smitha Subramanian; Maria-Rosa L. Cioni; Stefano Rubele; Kenji Bekki; Valentin D. Ivanov; Andrés E. Piatti; Vincenzo Ripepi

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/835/2/171

The VMC Survey. XXII. Hierarchical star formation in the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 star-forming Complex

Ning-Chen Sun, Richard De Grijs, Smitha Subramanian, Maria-Rosa L. Cioni, Stefano Rubele, Kenji Bekki, Valentin D. Ivanov, Andrés E. Piatti, Vincenzo Ripepi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We study the hierarchical stellar structures in a ∼1.5 deg² area covering the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 star-forming complex with the VISTA Survey of Magellanic Clouds. Based on the young upper main-sequence stars, we find that the surface densities cover a wide range of values, from log(Σ•pc²) ≲ -2.0 to log(Σ•pc²) ≳ 0.0. Their distributions are highly non-uniform, showing groups that frequently have subgroups inside. The sizes of the stellar groups do not exhibit characteristic values, and range continuously from several parsecs to more than 100 pc; the cumulative size distribution can be well described by a single power law, with the power-law index indicating a projected fractal dimension D₂ = 1.6 ± 0.3. We suggest that the phenomena revealed here support a scenario of hierarchical star formation. Comparisons with other star-forming regions and galaxies are also discussed.

Original language	English
Article number	171
Number of pages	10
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	835
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/835/2/171
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2017
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

galaxies: clusters: general
infrared: stars
Magellanic Clouds
stars: formation

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title = "The VMC Survey. XXII. Hierarchical star formation in the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 star-forming Complex",

abstract = "We study the hierarchical stellar structures in a ∼1.5 deg2 area covering the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 star-forming complex with the VISTA Survey of Magellanic Clouds. Based on the young upper main-sequence stars, we find that the surface densities cover a wide range of values, from log(Σ•pc2) ≲ -2.0 to log(Σ•pc2) ≳ 0.0. Their distributions are highly non-uniform, showing groups that frequently have subgroups inside. The sizes of the stellar groups do not exhibit characteristic values, and range continuously from several parsecs to more than 100 pc; the cumulative size distribution can be well described by a single power law, with the power-law index indicating a projected fractal dimension D2 = 1.6 ± 0.3. We suggest that the phenomena revealed here support a scenario of hierarchical star formation. Comparisons with other star-forming regions and galaxies are also discussed.",

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author = "Ning-Chen Sun and Grijs, {Richard De} and Smitha Subramanian and Cioni, {Maria-Rosa L.} and Stefano Rubele and Kenji Bekki and Ivanov, {Valentin D.} and Piatti, {Andr{\'e}s E.} and Vincenzo Ripepi",

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doi = "10.3847/1538-4357/835/2/171",

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AU - Sun, Ning-Chen

AU - Grijs, Richard De

AU - Subramanian, Smitha

AU - Cioni, Maria-Rosa L.

AU - Rubele, Stefano

AU - Bekki, Kenji

AU - Ivanov, Valentin D.

AU - Piatti, Andrés E.

AU - Ripepi, Vincenzo

PY - 2017/2/1

Y1 - 2017/2/1

N2 - We study the hierarchical stellar structures in a ∼1.5 deg2 area covering the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 star-forming complex with the VISTA Survey of Magellanic Clouds. Based on the young upper main-sequence stars, we find that the surface densities cover a wide range of values, from log(Σ•pc2) ≲ -2.0 to log(Σ•pc2) ≳ 0.0. Their distributions are highly non-uniform, showing groups that frequently have subgroups inside. The sizes of the stellar groups do not exhibit characteristic values, and range continuously from several parsecs to more than 100 pc; the cumulative size distribution can be well described by a single power law, with the power-law index indicating a projected fractal dimension D2 = 1.6 ± 0.3. We suggest that the phenomena revealed here support a scenario of hierarchical star formation. Comparisons with other star-forming regions and galaxies are also discussed.

AB - We study the hierarchical stellar structures in a ∼1.5 deg2 area covering the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 star-forming complex with the VISTA Survey of Magellanic Clouds. Based on the young upper main-sequence stars, we find that the surface densities cover a wide range of values, from log(Σ•pc2) ≲ -2.0 to log(Σ•pc2) ≳ 0.0. Their distributions are highly non-uniform, showing groups that frequently have subgroups inside. The sizes of the stellar groups do not exhibit characteristic values, and range continuously from several parsecs to more than 100 pc; the cumulative size distribution can be well described by a single power law, with the power-law index indicating a projected fractal dimension D2 = 1.6 ± 0.3. We suggest that the phenomena revealed here support a scenario of hierarchical star formation. Comparisons with other star-forming regions and galaxies are also discussed.

KW - galaxies: clusters: general

KW - infrared: stars

KW - Magellanic Clouds

KW - stars: formation

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SN - 0004-637X

VL - 835

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

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ER -

The VMC Survey. XXII. Hierarchical star formation in the 30 Doradus-N158-N159-N160 star-forming Complex

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Keywords

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