Formation of massive multiple-star systems: early migration and mergers
大质量多星系统的形成:早期迁移与并合
Massive stars are often found in multiple systems, yet how binary-star systems with very close separations (<inline-formula><tex-math>$\lesssim$</tex-math></inline-formula> au) assemble remains unresolved. We investigate the formation and inward migration of massive-star binaries in solar-metallicity environments using the star-cluster formation simulation that forms a <inline-formula><tex-math>$1200\, \mathrm{ M}_\odot$</tex-math></inline-formula> stellar cluster and resolves binaries down to 1 au separation. Our results indicate that stars more massive than <inline-formula><tex-math>$2\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$</tex-math></inline-formula> predominantly assemble in binary or triple configurations, in agreement with observations, with member stars forming nearly coevally. In most of these systems, the inner binary hardens by one to three orders of magnitude and reaches a steady-state within the first <inline-formula><tex-math>$0.1\,$</tex-math></inline-formula>Myr. Notably, all binaries whose final separations are below 10 au are hardened with the aid of circumbinary discs, highlighting disc-driven migration as a key to produce tight massive binaries. We further find that binaries form with random inclinations relative to the initial rotation axis of the cloud, and that mutual inclinations in triple systems follow an isotropic distribution, implying that stochastic interactions driven by turbulence and few-body dynamics are crucial during assembly and migration. Finally, stars with <inline-formula><tex-math>$M\gt 2\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$</tex-math></inline-formula> often undergo repeated merger events during cluster evolution, yielding extreme mass ratios (<inline-formula><tex-math>$q\lt 0.1$</tex-math></inline-formula>). Some of these products may evolve into compact-object binaries containing a black hole or neutron star, including X-ray binaries and systems detectable by Gaia.
展开 ▾首次系统证认了太阳金属丰度下大质量双星的硬化机制:所有最终间距<10 au 的双星均经历了环双星盘演化阶段;发现双星轨道倾角呈各向同性分布,提示湍流与少体动力学在组装过程中起决定作用。
大质量恒星的高多重性比例及不同分离度分布Sana+2012, Moe+2017,使得其形成与早期演化成为恒星天体物理的前沿课题Offner+2023。本文采用高分辨率辐射流体星团形成模拟Chon+2024,揭示了早期盘驱动迁移、环双星盘硬化和频繁并合是产生紧密大质量双星的核心路径,并量化了形成通道与最终间距的关系。未来研究需融合非理想磁流体效应、更高数值分辨率以及不同金属丰度环境Bate 2019,以构建从分子云坍缩到致密天体并合前身星形成的大质量双星完整演化图景。
预印本 2026-01-09 · 刊出 2026-06-30 · 收录 2026-07-22