A Census of the Stellar Populations in the Sco-Cen Complex

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Abstract

I have used high-precision photometry and astrometry from the early installment of the third data release of Gaia (EDR3) to perform a survey for members of the stellar populations within the Sco-Cen complex, which consist of Upper Sco, UCL/LCC, the V1062 Sco group, Ophiuchus, and Lupus. Among Gaia sources with σ π < 1 mas, I have identified 10,509 candidate members of those populations. I have compiled previous measurements of spectral types, Li equivalent widths, and radial velocities for the candidates, which are available for 3169, 1420, and 1740 objects, respectively. In a subset of candidates selected to minimize field star contamination, I estimate that the contamination is ≲1% and the completeness is ∼90% at spectral types of ≲M6-M7 for the populations with low extinction (Upper Sco, V1062 Sco, UCL/LCC). I have used that cleaner sample to characterize the stellar populations in Sco-Cen in terms of their initial mass functions, ages, and space velocities. For instance, all of the populations in Sco-Cen have histograms of spectral types that peak near M4-M5, which indicates that they share similar characteristic masses for their initial mass functions (∼0.15-0.2 M o˙). After accounting for incompleteness, I estimate that the Sco-Cen complex contains nearly 10,000 members with masses above ∼0.01 M o˙. Finally, I also present new estimates for the intrinsic colors of young stars and brown dwarfs (≲20 Myr) in bands from Gaia EDR3, the Two Micron All Sky Survey, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, and the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number24
JournalAstronomical Journal
Volume163
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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