A DOUBLE CLUSTER AT THE CORE OF 30 DORADUS

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/754/2/L37· OSTI ID:22047637

Sabbi, E; De Mink, S E; Walborn, N R; Anderson, J; Bellini, A; Panagia, N; Van der Marel, R ^[1]; Lennon, D J ^[2]; Gieles, M ^[3]

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1. Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)
2. ESA/STScI, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)
3. Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA (United Kingdom)

Based on an analysis of data obtained with the Wide Field Camera 3 on the Hubble Space Telescope we report the identification of two distinct stellar populations in the core of the giant H II region 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The most compact and richest component coincides with the center of R136 and is {approx}1 Myr younger than a second more diffuse clump, located {approx}5.4 pc toward the northeast. We note that published spectral types of massive stars in these two clumps lend support to the proposed age difference. The morphology and age difference between the two sub-clusters suggests that an ongoing merger may be occurring within the core of 30 Doradus. This finding is consistent with the predictions of models of hierarchical fragmentation of turbulent giant molecular clouds, according to which star clusters would be the final products of merging smaller sub-structures.

• OSTI ID: 22047637
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 754; ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
CAMERAS
DATA ANALYSIS
FRAGMENTATION
GIANT STARS
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
MORPHOLOGY
SPACE
STAR CLUSTERS
TELESCOPES