Main-sequence luminosity and initial mass functions of six Magellanic Cloud star clusters ranging in age from 10 megayears to 2. 5 gigayears

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166552· OSTI ID:6741049

Mateo, M

Deep mass functions (MFs) are presented for six star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. The procedures used to construct these mass functions are described, including their shortcomings and possible troublesome aspects. It is found that the mass function that range in age from 10 Myr to 2.5 Gyr and for 0.9 to 11 solar masses are remarkably similar. The observed MFs of the six program clusters can be adequately fit to a single power law. There is some indication that the observed global MF for the six clusters is steeper for lower mass stars than for higher mass stars. The observed MFs probably correspond closely to their initial MFs. The global MF of the program clusters is remarkably similar to the initial MF presented by Scalo (1986) for field stars in the solar neighborhood. 134 references.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., Seattle (USA); Mount Wilson and Las Campanas Observatories, Pasadena, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6741049
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 331
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
STAR CLUSTERS
MASS
AGE ESTIMATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
LUMINOSITY
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
STAR EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
STARS
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies
640102 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources