Star Cluster Formation and Evolution in Galactic Contexts
Summary
Star clusters arise within the densest cores of molecular clouds, where gravity drives the collapse of gas and dust to form stars nearly simultaneously. Their formation is regulated by the complex interplay of turbulence, magnetic fields and radiative feedback, which clears the natal material and determines the early survival of the emerging cluster. Over time, clusters migrate through galactic discs, experiencing tidal forces, encounters with interstellar clouds and internal relaxation processes that reshape their mass and size distributions. Young massive clusters can disperse or survive to become long‐lived globular clusters, thus preserving a fossil record of star formation and chemical enrichment in their host galaxies. The spatial and temporal patterns of cluster formation trace large‐scale structures such as spiral arms, bars and rings, offering insights into the baryon cycle, the efficiency of star formation across environments and the assembly history of galaxies from the local Universe to high redshift.
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Star Cluster Formation and Evolution in Galactic Contexts publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in star cluster formation and evolution in galactic contexts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Star cluster: A gravitationally bound assembly of stars formed from the same molecular cloud.
Young massive cluster (YMC): A cluster with mass exceeding 10^4 solar masses and an age typically below 100 million years.
Globular cluster: An ancient, roughly spherical, long-lived stellar system with ages often exceeding ten billion years.
Embedded cluster: A nascent star cluster still enshrouded in its natal gas and dust, visible primarily at infrared wavelengths.
H II region: A volume of ionised hydrogen gas surrounding young, massive stars that emit copious ultraviolet radiation.
References
- PHANGS–JWST First Results: Massive Young Star Clusters and New Insights from JWST Observations of NGC 1365. The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2023).
- PHANGS-HST Catalogs for ∼100,000 Star Clusters and Compact Associations in 38 Galaxies. I. Observed Properties. The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series (2024).
- Hidden Gems on a Ring: Infant Massive Clusters and Their Formation Timeline Unveiled by ALMA, HST, and JWST in NGC 3351. The Astrophysical Journal (2024).
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