The Low-Mass Luminosity Function in Globular Clusters
Abstract
We present a novel technique for self-consistently constraining the full luminosity function of globular clusters by measuring the cumulative fraction of light from resolved stars as a function of the total integrated cluster light. Using HST WFPC2 observations of a sample of six metal-poor clusters in the Large Magellanic Clouds (NGC 1754, 1835, 1898, 1916, 2006, and 2019), we have resolved stars down to the main sequence turn-off. Color-magnitude diagrams for each cluster show well-developed horizontal branches, and the luminosity functions display the expected power law of 0.3 along the red giant branch. Using the ratio of resolved to unresolved light, we then smoothly extrapolate the luminosity function below the (currently unresolved) main sequence turn-off. This technique allows for new and independent constraints on the initial mass function for globular clusters.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #223
- Pub Date:
- January 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014AAS...22344229D