Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Star Clusters in Merging Galaxies

  • Conference paper
Book cover Starburst Galaxies: Near and Far

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Physics ((SPPHY,volume 88))

Abstract

Many of the most active starburst galaxies are mergers. Observations with the Hubble Space Telescope have revealed the presence of large numbers of young (typically 1 – 500 Myr), massive (103 – 107 M⊙), compact (Reff ≈ 3 pc) star clusters in merging galaxies. The brightest of these clusters have all the attributes expected of protoglobular clusters, hence allowing us to study the formation of globular clusters in the local universe rather than trying to ascertain how they formed ≈ 14 Gyr ago. Similar clusters are also found in non-merging starbursts, barred galaxies, and even normal spiral galaxies. A compilation of the literature indicates that all these systems have similar cluster luminosity functions, with the primary difference being the normalization (i.e., roughly a tenfold increase in the number of clusters in mergers). Hence, the fact that the brightest clusters are in mergers may be largely a statistical result.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. A. Alonso-Herero, G. H. Rieke, M. J. Rieke, N. Z. Scoville: astroph/9911534 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  2. P. Barmby, J. Huchra: ApJ 531, L29 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. A. J. Barth, L. C. Ho, A. V. Filippenko, W. L. W. Sargent: AJ 110, 1009 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. J. P. Brodie, L. L. Schroder, J. P. Huchra, A. C. Phillips, M. Kissler-Patig, D. F. Forbes: AJ 116, 691 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. R. Buta, D. A. Crocker, G. G. Byrd: AJ 118, 2071 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. M. N. Carlson, the WFPC2 team: AJ 115, 1778 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. R. Chandar, L. Bianchi, H. C. Ford, B. Salasnich: PASP 111, 794 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. R. de Grijs, R. W. O’Connell, J. S. Gallagher: AJ 119, 681 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. N. Dinshaw, A. S. Evans, H. Epps, N. Z. Scoville, M. Rieke: ApJ 525, 702 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. B. G. Elmegreen, Y. N. Efremov: ApJ 480, 235 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. S. M. Fall, Q. Zhang: in preparation (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  12. D. A. Forbes, G. K. T. Hau: MNRAS 312, 703 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. J. S. Gallagher, C. J. Homeier, C. J. Conselice: preprint (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  14. A. E. Georgakakis, D. A. Forbes, J. P. Brodie: astroph/0011275 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  15. A. Gilbert, J. R. Graham, I. S. McLean, E. E. Becklin, J. Larkin, M. K. Wilcox, D. F. Figer, N. A. Levenson, H. I. Teplitz: this volume (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  16. P. Goudfrooij, J. Mack, M. Kissler-Patig, G. Meylan, D. Minniti: MNRAS, in press (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  17. W. E. Harris, R. E. Pudritz: ApJ 429, 177 (1994)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. M. Hilker, M. Kissler-Patig: A&A 314, 357 (1996)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. J. A. Holtzman, et al. (the WFPC team): AJ 103, 691 (1992)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. J. A. Holtzman, et al. (the WFPC2 team): AJ 112, 416 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. C. Jog P. Solomon ApJ 387, 152 (1992)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. K. E. Johnson, C. Leitherer, W. D. Vacca, P. S. Conti: AJ 117, 1708 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. K. E. Johnson, P. Conti: AJ 119, 2146 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. K. Knierman, S. C. Hunsberger, S. D. Gallagher, J. C. Charlton, B. C. Whitmore, A. Kundu, J. E. Hibbard, D. Zaritsky: in preparation (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  25. S. S. Larsen, T. Richtler: A&A 345, 59 (1999)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. S. S. Larsen, T. Richtler: A&A 354, 836 (2000)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. D. Lutz: A&A 245, 31 (1991)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. G. Mandushev, N. Spassova, A. Staneva: A&A 252, 94 (1991)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. P. Massey, D. Hunter: ApJ 493, 180 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. S. Mengel, M. D. Lehnert, N. Thatte, R. Genzel: this volume (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  31. G. R. Meurer, T. M. Heckman, D. Leitherer, A. Kinney, C. Robert, D. R. Garnett: AJ 110, 2665 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. J. C. Mihos, G. D. Bothun, D. O. Richstone: ApJ 418, 82 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. B. W. Miller, B. C. Whitmore, F. Schweizer, S. M. Fall: AJ 114, 2381 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. R. W. O’Connell, J. S. Gallagher, D. A. Hunter, W. N. Colley: ApJ 446, L1 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. D. B. Sanders, et al.: ApJ 325, 74 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. F. Schweizer: ApJ 252, 455 (1982)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. F. Schweizer, B. Miller, B. C. Whitmore, S. M. Fall: AJ 112, 1839 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. F. Schweizer, P. Seitzer: AJ 116, 2206 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. M. Stiavelli, N. Panagia, M. Carollo, M. Romaniello, I. Heyer, S. Gonzaga: ApJ 492, L135 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. A. Toomre: In: The Evolution of Galaxies and Stellar Populations ed. by B. M. Tinsley, R. B. Larson (Yale, New Haven 1977) pp. 401

    Google Scholar 

  41. L. Vigroux, et al.: A&A 315, L93 (1996)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. B. C. Whitmore: In: A Decade of HST Science, ed. by M. Livio (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2001), in press.

    Google Scholar 

  43. B. C. Whitmore, B. W. Miller, F. Schweizer, S. M. Fall: AJ 114, 1797 (1997)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. B. C. Whitmore, F. Schweizer: AJ 109, 960 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. B. C. Whitmore, F. Schweizer, C. Leitherer, K. Borne, C. Robert: AJ 106, 1354 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. B. C. Whitmore, Q. Zhang, C. Leitherer, S. M. Fall, F. Schweizer, B. W. Miller: AJ 118, 1551 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. C. D. Wilson, N. Scoville, S. C. Madden, V. Charmandaris: ApJ 542, 120 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. S. E. Zepf, D. Carter, R. M. Sharpies, K. M. Ashman: ApJ 445, L19 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. S. E. Zepf, K. M. Ashman, J. English, K. C. Freeman, R. M. Sharpies: AJ 118, 752 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  50. Q. Zhang, S. M. Fall: ApJ 527, L81 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. Q. Zhang, S. M. Fall, B. C. Whitmore: submitted (2000)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr., Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA

    Bradley C. Whitmore

Authors
  1. Bradley C. Whitmore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Postfach 1312, 85741, Garching, Germany

    Linda Tacconi  & Dieter Lutz  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Whitmore, B.C. (2001). Star Clusters in Merging Galaxies. In: Tacconi, L., Lutz, D. (eds) Starburst Galaxies: Near and Far. Springer Proceedings in Physics, vol 88. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56538-0_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56538-0_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62562-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-56538-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation