Abstract We explore the relative percentages of binary systems and higher-order multiples that are formed by pure stellar dynamics, within a small subcluster of N stars. The subcluster is intended to represent the fragmentation products of a single isolated core, after most of the residual gas of the natal core has dispersed. Initially the stars have random positions, and masses drawn from a log-normal distribution. For low-mass cores spawning multiple systems with Sun-like primaries, the best fit to the observed percentages of singles, binaries, triples and higher-order systems is obtained if a typical core spawns on average between N = 4.3 and 5.2 stars, specifically a distribution of N with mean $\mu _{_{N}}\sim 4.8$ and standard deviation $\sigma _{_N}\sim 2.4$. This fit is obtained when $\sim 50\%$ of the subcluster’s internal kinetic energy is invested in ordered rotation and $\sim 50\%$ in isotropic Maxwellian velocities. There is little dependence on other factors, for example mass segregation or the rotation law. Whilst such high values of N are at variance with the lower values often quoted (i.e. N = 1 or 2), very similar values (N = 4.3 ± 0.4 and N = 4.5 ± 1.9) have been derived previously by completely independent routes, and seem inescapable when the observed distribution of multiplicities is taken into account.
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