The NGC 7742 star cluster luminosity function: a population analysis revisited. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Grijs, Richard; Ma, Chao
• Is Part Of: Research in astronomy and astrophysics. Volume 18:Number 2(2018:Feb.)
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: globular clusters: general -- galaxies: evolution -- galaxies: individual (NGC 7742) -- galaxies: star clusters: general -- galaxies: star formation; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Astrophysics -- Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1674-4527/18/2/13
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1674-4527

Abstract

Abstract: We re-examine the properties of the star cluster population in the circumnuclear starburst ring in the face-on spiral galaxy NGC 7742, whose young cluster mass function has been reported to exhibit significant deviations from the canonical power law. We base our reassessment on the clusters' luminosities (an observational quantity) rather than their masses (a derived quantity), and confirm conclusively that the galaxy's starburst-ring clusters—and particularly the youngest subsample, log ( t yr − 1 ) ≤ 7.2 —show evidence of a turnover in the cluster luminosity function well above the 90% completeness limit adopted to ensure the reliability of our results. This confirmation emphasizes the unique conundrum posed by this unusual cluster population.