Multiple kinematical populations in Vela OB2 from Gaia DR1 data

Abstract

Context. Recent results using radial-velocity measurements from the Gaia-ESO Survey have led to the discovery of multiple kinematic populations across the Vela OB2 association. We present here a proper-motion study of the same region. Aims. Our aim is to test whether or not the radial-velocity populations have a counterpart in proper-motion space, and if so, how the two sets of kinematical data complement each other. Methods. This work is based on parallaxes and proper motions from the TGAS catalogue, as part of Gaia DR1. Results. Two distinct proper-motion populations are found dispersed across ~5 degrees (or ~30 pc at their likely distances). Their detailed correspondence to the radial-velocity populations could not be tested because of the paucity of common objects. However, compelling indications are found that one of the new proper-motion populations consists mostly of members of the young cluster NGC 2547, and the other is related to the γ2 Vel cluster. Constraints on the age of the two populations, both of which appear to be only 10-35 Myr old, and their possible mutual interactions within the last 1.5 Myr are discussed.