Influence of the cluster environment on the disc properties

Abstract

Most stars are not born in isolation, but in a cluster environment. This means that gravitational interactions might lead to chances in the disc properties. Numerically modelling the Orion Nebula Cluster, as an example, we investigate how the cluster environment influences through gravitational interactions disc properties like disc frequency, disc mass, angular momentum transport and accretion. We show that the massive stars in the cluster center are the engines driving these processes and that their discs are most effected. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.