Spectroscopy of compact star clusters in NGC 4038/4039
The large populations of young star clusters observed in interacting galaxies like NGC4038 4039 ("The Antennae") are widely believed to be the progenitors of part of the globular cluster systems seen in local elliptical galaxies. For a comprehensive study of the young clusters in the Anten...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Conference item |
| Published: |
2001
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| Summary: | The large populations of young star clusters observed in interacting galaxies like NGC4038 4039 ("The Antennae") are widely believed to be the progenitors of part of the globular cluster systems seen in local elliptical galaxies. For a comprehensive study of the young clusters in the Antennae we have obtained near infrared broad and narrow band images (SOFI on the NTT). integral field spectroscopy (MPE-3D at the AAT) and medium and high resolution spectroscopy (ISAAC VLT-UT1 and UVES VLT-UT2). We find that all of the bright star clusters are young (< 20 Myr), with the interaction region hosting the youngest clusters (similar to 5 Myr). The nuclear starbursts are older (similar to 65 Myr), but also show snore recent star formation activity. Age variations on small spatial scales are seen throughout the merger. Cluster masses range from 10(5) to a few x 10(6) M-circle dot. A comparison between dynamically determined masses and those estimated from photometry in combination with starburst models suggests variations in the IMF from cluster to cluster. |
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