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The initial luminosity and mass functions of Galactic open clusters
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 June 2008
Abstract
We have derived a complete magnitude-limited sample of 440 Galactic open clusters in the solar neighborhood, with integrated V-magnitude brighter than 8 mag. This sample can be used to infer the present-day luminosity and mass functions of open clusters up to a given age; it can even be used to construct the initial mass and luminosity function (IMF, ILF) of clusters (defined as visible clusters with age 4 – 8 Myr). The high-mass end of the cluster IMF is a power-law with a slope of −2 or slightly shallower (−1.7) while the luminous cluster ILF has a power-slope of −1, in agreement with what is found for extragalactic clusters. Both distribution functions show a turnover, starting at 300 M⊙ and integrated magnitude −3 mag, respectively. The overall birthrate of clusters is 0.4 clusters per kpc2 and per Myr. The average present-day cluster mass is 700 M⊙, while the average initial cluster mass is 4500 M⊙. The difference of these two average masses indicates the high infant mortality and/or weight loss of Galactic open clusters (due to dynamical evolution).
- Type
- Contributed Papers
- Information
- Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 4 , Issue S254: The Galaxy Disk in Cosmological Context , June 2008 , pp. 221 - 226
- Copyright
- Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2009
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