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 }}\cdot pc2) ≲ -2.0 to log({{Σ }}\cdot 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.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- February 2017
- DOI:
- 10.3847/1538-4357/835/2/171
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1611.06508
- Bibcode:
- 2017ApJ...835..171S
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: clusters: general;
- infrared: stars;
- Magellanic Clouds;
- stars: formation;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 11 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ