Stellar Content of the Galactic Starburst Template NGC 3603 from Adaptive Optics Observations
Abstract
We present near-infrared adaptive optics imaging of the Galactic starburst template NGC 3603 and its stellar center HD 97950. There is clear evidence for the presence of stars down to 1 \Mscrsolar or less. No cutoff or turnover in the initial mass function is evident. Applying theoretical models of the pre-main-sequence evolution of intermediate-mass stars to the observed color-color diagram, the color-magnitude diagram, and the luminosity function, we constrain both the age distribution and the initial mass function. Within the systematic errors, this initial mass function follows a Salpeter power law with index Γ <= -0.73 down to the observational limit of less than 1 \Mscrsolar. The stars with less than 4 \Mscrsolar appear to be younger than 106 yr, in contrast to previous age determinations of the high-mass content of HD 97950.
Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile, ESO 54.E-1000, ESO 56.D-0573, ESO 57.D-0354.- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 1998
- DOI:
- 10.1086/305552
- Bibcode:
- 1998ApJ...498..278E
- Keywords:
-
- STARS: HERTZSPRUNG-RUSSELL DIAGRAM;
- ISM: H II REGIONS;
- ISM: INDIVIDUAL NGC NUMBER: NGC 3603;
- STARS: FORMATION;
- STARS: LUMINOSITY FUNCTION;
- MASS FUNCTION;
- Stars: Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram;
- ISM: H II Regions;
- ISM: Individual: NGC Number: NGC 3603;
- Stars: Formation;
- Stars: Luminosity Function;
- Mass Function