The Birth and Evolution of Stellar Clusters

• Applicant: Dr. Stefan Schmeja
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2006 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 35612827

Stars are born in groups and clusters, and even though a large fraction of them may dissolve at an early stage, star clusters are important constituents of galaxies, holding crucial clues to star formation, stellar evolution and galactic dynamics. The main goal of the proposed extension of the project is to expand the analysis of young star clusters from low-mass star-forming regions in the solar neighbourhood to massive complexes on one hand and to extragalactic clusters on the other. Massive complexes such as the Carina nebula allow to study the star formation process in the presence of massive OB stars, which can hamper and trigger star formation at the same time. Local Group galaxies such as the Magellanic Clouds not only enable us to study star formation at its full lengthscale, but also offer an environment that is significantly different from the Milky Way. Studying clusters under these conditions is vital to complete our picture of star formation, which is usually modelled on the conditions in the solar vicinity. In particular the spatial structures of clusters will be studied using well-established statistical methods. Several other open issues of star cluster formation and evolution that arose in the current project will be addressed, such as the fraction of clustered versus distributed star formation and the quantification of the turbulent energy in molecular clouds.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants