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Two waves of massive stars running away from the young cluster R136.
Mitchel Stoop1, Alex de Koter2,3, Lex Kaper2
1Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.p.stoop@uva.nl.
Nature
|October 9, 2024
Summary
Massive stars ejected from young clusters are more common than previously thought, impacting galactic environments significantly. This study quantifies the ejection rate from R136, revealing higher runaway fractions than models predict.
Area of Science:
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Stellar Dynamics
Background:
- Massive stars form in clusters and significantly influence their surroundings through radiation, winds, and supernovae.
- Dynamical ejection of massive stars from clusters at high speeds is a known phenomenon, but its production rate is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the production rate of dynamically ejected runaway massive stars.
- To identify the ejection mechanisms and quantify the runaway fraction from the young cluster R136.
Main Methods:
- Astrometric analysis of Gaia data for a sample of 55 massive runaway stars.
- Identification of two distinct ejection channels for runaway stars.
Main Results:
- Two channels of dynamically ejected runaway stars were identified from the R136 cluster.
- 23-33% of the most luminous stars initially born in R136 were found to be runaways.
- The observed dynamical escape fraction significantly exceeds model predictions.
Conclusions:
- Dynamical interactions during and after cluster birth are responsible for massive star ejection.
- Cluster interactions may also contribute to launching stars in preferred directions.
- Massive runaway stars play a more crucial role in shaping galactic environments and driving outflows than previously estimated.
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