Preprint typeset using LATEX style emulateapj v. 10/09/06 A YOUNG SUPER STAR CLUSTER IN THE NUCLEAR REGION OF NGC 253 (902)
BibTeX
@MISC{Kornei902preprinttypeset,
author = {Katherine A. Kornei and Nate Mccrady},
title = {Preprint typeset using LATEX style emulateapj v. 10/09/06 A YOUNG SUPER STAR CLUSTER IN THE NUCLEAR REGION OF NGC 253},
year = {902}
}
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Abstract
We present observations of a massive star cluster near the nuclear region of the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253. The peak of near-infrared emission, which is spatially separated by 4 ′ ′ from the kinematic center of the galaxy, is coincident with a super star cluster whose properties we examine with low-resolution (R ∼ 1,200) infrared CTIO spectroscopy and optical/near-infrared HST imaging. Extinction, measured from [Fe II] lines, is estimated at AV = 17.7±2.6. The age of the cluster is estimated at 5.7 Myr, based on Brγ equivalent width for an instantaneous burst using Starburst99 modeling. However, a complex star formation history is inferred from the presence of both recombination emission and photospheric CO absorption. The ionizing photon flux has a lower limit of 7.3±2.5 × 10 53 s −1, corrected for extinction. Assuming a Kroupa IMF, we estimate a cluster mass of ∼ 1.4 +0.4 −0.5 × 107 M⊙. We observe a strong Wolf-Rayet signature at 2.06 µm and report a weak feature at 2.19 µm which may be due to a massive stellar population, consistent with the derived mass and age of this cluster.
Keyphrases
latex style emulateapj preprint typeset present observation ctio spectroscopy br equivalent width optical near-infrared hst imaging massive star cluster kroupa imf cluster mass super star cluster strong wolf-rayet signature complex star formation history nearby starburst galaxy ngc nuclear region near-infrared emission instantaneous burst kinematic center photon flux weak feature photospheric co absorption recombination emission starburst99 modeling massive stellar population derived mass fe ii line
