Multiple star formation in Taurus-Auriga

Our survey identified 16 new binary companions to primary stars with masses of 0.25-2.5M_{sun}_, raising the total number of binary pairs (including components of high-order multiples) with separations of 3-5000AU to 90.

We find that ~2/3-3/4 of all Taurus members are multiple systems of two or more stars, while the other ~1/4-1/3 appear to have formed as single stars; the distribution of high-order multiplicity suggests that fragmentation into a wide binary has no impact on the subsequent probability that either component will fragment again. The separation distribution for solar-type stars (0.7-2.5M_{sun}_) is nearly log-flat over separations of 3-5000AU, but lower-mass stars (0.25-0.7M_{sun}_) show a paucity of binary companions with separations of >~200AU.