de Grijs, R. and Goodwin, S.P. (2008) Star cluster evolution in the Magellanic Clouds revisited. Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 4 (S256). pp. 311-316. ISSN 1743-9213
Abstract
The evolution of star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds has been the subject of significant recent controversy, particularly regarding the importance and length of the earliest, largely mass-independent disruption phase (referred to as “infant mortality”). Here, we take a fresh approach to the problem, using a large, independent, and homogeneous data set of UBVR imaging observations, from which we obtain the cluster age and mass distributions in both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC, SMC) in a self-consistent manner. We conclude that the (optically selected) SMC star cluster population has undergone at most ~30% (1σ) infant mortality between the age range from about 3–10 Myr, to that of approximately 40–160 Myr. We rule out a 90% cluster mortality rate per decade of age (for the full age range up to 109 yr) at a > 6σ level. Using a simple approach, we derive a “characteristic” cluster disruption time-scale for the cluster population in the LMC that implies that we are observing the initial cluster mass function (CMF). Preliminary results suggest that the LMC cluster population may be affected by <10% infant mortality.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © International Astronomical Union 2009. This is an author-produced version of a paper accepted for publication in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Article available under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). |
Keywords: | globular clusters: general; open clusters and associations: general; galaxies: evolution; Magellanic Clouds; galaxies: star clusters |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Physics and Astronomy (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 16 Feb 2018 14:59 |
Last Modified: | 14 Mar 2023 15:03 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921308028639 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1017/S1743921308028639 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:127506 |