NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2004A-0247
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2004A-0247 |
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PI: Andrea Leistra, Steward Observatory, aleistra@as.arizona.edu
Address: 933 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
CoI: Angela Cotera, SETI
CoI: Jim Liebert, Steward Observatory
CoI: Phil Massey, Lowell Observatory
Title: The Stellar IMF of Massive Young Stellar Clusters
Abstract:
One of the central questions regarding star formation is how the
initial conditions, such as metallicity, ambient magnetic fields, and
velocity dispersions affect the production of stars, and in particular
whether the initial mass function (IMF) varies with environment, a
question which arises both within the Galaxy and in studies of distant
starburst galaxies. Recently, claims have been made that the extreme
conditions in the Galactic Center environment have resulted in
dramatically different IMFs for stellar clusters in that region. We are
requesting time using FLAMINGOS on the 4m to obtain spectra of the most
massive stars in four newly discovered young stellar clusters, spanning
a range of Galactic environments and stellar densities, for which we
have previously obtained NIR images. The combination of spectra of the
most massive cluster stars and the photometry already obtained for the
entire clusters will enable us to determine the IMF of these clusters,
giving us IMFs for infrared-selected clusters in different Galactic
environments and allowing us to test the claims of non-universality.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2004A-0247 |
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