Interstellar Objects Follow the Collapse of Molecular Clouds

Abstract Interstellar objects (ISOs), the parent population of 1 i /‘Oumuamua and 2 /Borisov, are abundant in interstellar medium Milky Way. This means that medium, including molecular-cloud regions, has three components: gas, dust, ISOs. From observational constraints field density ISOs drifting solar neighborhood, we infer a typical molecular cloud 10 pc diameter contains some 18 At sizes ranging from hundreds meters to tens kilometers, entirely decoupled gas dynamics these clouds. Here address question whether can follow collapse We perform low-resolution simulations clouds containing initially static ISO populations toward point where stars form. In this proof-of-principle study, find definitely gas—and many become bound new-forming numerical approximations future (sinks). minimum, 40% all sinks have one or more test particles gravitationally them for initial distributions tested here. value corresponds at least actual being after freefall times. Thus, relevant component star formation. massive bind disproportionately large fractions population, implying competitive capture Sinks also be solitary, as their unbound again—particularly if ejected system. Emerging planetary systems will thus develop remarkably varied environments, solitary richly populated with