Numerical simulation of the formation of an OB association in a region of a spiral arm (right) which resembles Orion. Red points represent stars, and star symbols indicate massive (O) stars. The left panel shows an observational image of Orion, red points again represent stars, and the white points represent OB stars. The yellow / green / blue colour scheme represents the gas.

Numerical simulations of stellar cluster formation and evolution

Supervisor: Professor Clare Dobbs

There is still much we don’t understand about stellar clusters, including how they form, and how they evolve. So for example whilst we know stars form in molecular clouds, we don’t yet know what type of cluster or association will be produced in a given environment e.g. a young massive cluster, cluster, OB association, T association or simply isolated stars. We are also not clear how long clusters take to lose their gas, and how long they typically survive. Numerical simulations offer ways to test some of these questions, and recent work has shown that ionisation from massive stars appears to be the dominant process by which gas clouds are dispersed after clusters form. One option could be to use simulations of galaxies, which model clusters and clouds, to find statistical estimates of how long it takes clusters to separate from their natal clouds, cluster mass distributions, and compare these to observations. Simulations also have the advantage that the time evolution of both a cluster and its natal cloud can be followed over time, so the evolution could be compared for different types of clouds and clusters. Another possibility could be to try and model individual star forming regions, for example in the local Galaxy, to try an understand how they formed, and how they have evolved (see figure). 

This project will be primarily computational, so having experience of programming (e.g. in one of Python, C, Fortran) is essential. There will however also be opportunity to work with observers, including external collaborations and surveys.

For more information, please contact Clare Dobbs