The spin, expansion, and contraction of open star clusters

¹ Helmholtz-Institut für Strahlen- und Kernphysik, Universität Bonn, Nussallee 14-16, 53115 Bonn, Germany
e-mail: vjadhav@uni-bonn.de
² Astronomical Institute, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, V Holešovčkách 2, 180 00 Praha 8, Czech Republic

Received: 28 December 2023
Accepted: 5 April 2024

Abstract

Context. Empirical constraints on the internal dynamics of open clusters are important for understanding their evolution and evaporation. High-precision astrometry from Gaia DR3 is thus useful to observe aspects of the cluster dynamics.

Aims. This work aims to identify dynamically peculiar clusters such as spinning and expanding clusters. We also quantify the spin frequency and expansion rate and compare them with N-body models to identify the origins of the peculiarities.

Methods. We used the latest Gaia DR3 and archival spectroscopic surveys to analyse the radial velocities and proper motions of the cluster members in 1379 open clusters. A systematic analysis of synthetic clusters was performed to demonstrate the observability of the cluster spin along with effects of observational uncertainties. N-body simulations were used to understand the evolution of cluster spin and expansion for initially non-rotating clusters.

Results. We identified spin signatures in ten clusters (and 16 candidates). Additionally, we detected expansion in 18 clusters and contraction in three clusters. The expansion rate is compatible with previous theoretical estimates based on the expulsion of residual gas. The orientation of the spin axis is independent of the orbital angular momentum.

Conclusions. The spin frequencies are much larger than what was expected from simulated, initially non-rotating clusters. This indicates that > 1% of the clusters are born rotating and/or they have undergone strong interactions. Higher precision observations are required to increase the sample of such dynamically peculiar clusters and to characterise them.