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arXiv 1206.4237astro-ph.GA
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星团族群的相似性

Similarities in Populations of Star Clusters

S. Michael Fall, Rupali Chandar

摘要:

我们比较了观测到的质量函数和年龄分布的星团在六个研究得很好的星系:银河系,麦哲伦云,M83,M51,和银河系。结合起来,这些分布跨越广泛的质量和年龄范围:$10^2\lea M/M_{\odot}\lea10^6$和$10^6\leaτ/yr \lea10^9$。我们确认,分布是很好地表示的幂律:$dN/dM\propto M^β$与$β\approx-1.9$和$dN/dτ\proptoτ^γ$与$γ\approx -0.8$。质量和年龄分布是近似相互独立的,排除了简单的模型质量依赖的破坏。正如预期的那样,指数之间存在微小差异,接近真实不确定度水平,$ε_β\simε_γ\sim$ ~0.1--0.2。然而,压倒性的印象是这些不同星系中星系团的质量函数和年龄分布的相似性,包括巨星系和矮星系,静止星系和相互作用星系。这是一个重要的经验结果,证明了诸如“普遍”或“准普遍”等术语的合理性。“我们对这些观测结果提供了部分理论解释,这些解释是在星团形成和破坏过程中的物理过程,包括恒星形成和反馈,随后的恒星质量损失,以及潮汐与经过的分子云的相互作用。一个完整的解释将需要更多关于银河系以外星系中分子团和星团的信息。

英文摘要:

We compare the observed mass functions and age distributions of star clusters in six well-studied galaxies: the Milky Way, Magellanic Clouds, M83, M51, and Antennae. In combination, these distributions span wide ranges of mass and age: $10^2\lea M/M_{\odot}\lea10^6$ and $10^6\leaτ/yr \lea10^9$. We confirm that the distributions are well represented by power laws: $dN/dM\propto M^β$ with $β\approx-1.9$ and $dN/dτ\proptoτ^γ$ with $γ\approx -0.8$. The mass and age distributions are approximately independent of each other, ruling out simple models of mass-dependent disruption. As expected, there are minor differences among the exponents, at a level close to the true uncertainties, $ε_β\simε_γ\sim$~0.1--0.2. However, the overwhelming impression is the similarity of the mass functions and age distributions of clusters in these different galaxies, including giant and dwarf, quiescent and interacting galaxies. This is an important empirical result, justifying terms such as "universal" or "quasi-universal." We provide a partial theoretical explanation for these observations in terms of physical processes operating during the formation and disruption of the clusters, including star formation and feedback, subsequent stellar mass loss, and tidal interactions with passing molecular clouds. A full explanation will require additional information about the molecular clumps and star clusters in galaxies beyond the Milky Way.

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