Resolved Massive Stellar Clusters in Nearby Starburst Galaxies
Abstract
Starbursts in nearby galaxies are often resolved into super star clusters (SSCs) that may be progenitors of globular clusters if they are compact enough to survive mass loss and dynamical processes. In order to study the formation, feedback, early evolution, and fate of SSCs, we obtained high-resolution images of a sample of SSCs and their surrounding stellar populations in NGC 5253, He 2-10, NGC 4449, IC 4662, and NGC 1156, using ACS/HRC on HST in filters that are similar to U, B, V, I, and H-alpha, and using NICMOS in filters similar to J, H, and Ks. We discuss cluster sizes, shapes, and light profiles as a function of wavelength to search for evidence of mass segregation, and employ population synthesis models to estimate SSC age and mass distributions as well as star-formation histories in these galaxies.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006AAS...20910005G