EPoS Contribution
EPoS Contribution
The early phases of star cluster formation

Leonardo Testi
ESO Garching, Germany
Both Galactic and extragalactic star formation mainly occurs in clusters, but the cluster properties are very different even within the Milky Way. In the extragalactic context, the super star clusters (SSCs), seen in starbursts and merging systems, show that Nature is capable of forming clusters with mass up to 106 solar masses. Such mass is of the same order of the Galactic giant molecular clouds but the dimensions of SScs are smaller by an order of magnitude and thus densities and pressures are much larger. Compared to high mass star formation regions in our Galaxy the properties of these clusters are extreme and suggest that also the associated molecular clouds should be extremely dense and compact. We will present the results of a project aimed at comparing at the same linear resolution the physical properties of the molecular clouds and cores of mini-starburst regions in our Galaxy and nearby extragalactic starbursts, combining single dish and interferometric molecular line observations. Our initial results suggest that gas pressure may be one of the key parameters that define the properties of the formed clusters.
Collaborators:
G. Santangelo, ESO-Bologna, Germany
C.M. Walmsley, Arcetri, Italy
Key publication

Suggested Session: Massive Stars, Molecular Clouds