Dynamics of Young Star Clusters and Associations

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Where do most stars and their planetary systems in the Milky Way form? What influences whether a young star cluster remains bound or disperses into the Galaxy's disc? These questions are crucial for understanding the origins of stars and planetary systems, including the potential for life, as well as galaxy formation and evolution over cosmic time. This volume provides insights into current views on these topics and sets the stage for new inquiries to be addressed by the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite, launched in late 2013. The book includes detailed notes from lectures at the 42nd Saas-Fee Advanced Course “Dynamics of Young Star Clusters & Associations,” featuring contributions from experts such as Cathie Clarke (University of Cambridge), who discusses star formation theory and stellar system dynamics; Robert Mathieu (University of Wisconsin), who covers the kinematics of star clusters and associations; and I. Neill Reid (Space Telescope Science Institute), who explores the Milky Way's stellar populations and speculates on the Sun's origins. As part of the Saas-Fee Advanced Course Series, this work serves as a comprehensive introduction to the field, ideal for Ph.D. research and as a reference for professional astrophysicists.