The VMC survey - XV. The Small Magellanic Cloud-Bridge connection history as traced by their star cluster populations
- We present results based on YJK(s) photometry of star clusters located in the outermost, eastern region of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We analysed a total of 51 catalogued clusters whose colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs), having been cleaned from field-star contamination, were used to assess the clusters' reality and estimate ages of the genuine systems. Based on CMD analysis, 15 catalogued clusters were found to be possible non-genuine aggregates. We investigated the properties of 80 per cent of the catalogued clusters in this part of the SMC by enlarging our sample with previously obtained cluster ages, adopting a homogeneous scale for all. Their spatial distribution suggests that the oldest clusters, log(t yr(-1)) >= 9.6, are in general located at greater distances to the galaxy's centre than their younger counterparts - 9.0 <= log(t yr(-1)) <= 9.4 - while two excesses of clusters are seen at log(t yr(-1)) similar to 9.2 and log(t yr(-1)) similar to 9.7. We found a trail of younger clusters which follow the wing/bridgeWe present results based on YJK(s) photometry of star clusters located in the outermost, eastern region of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We analysed a total of 51 catalogued clusters whose colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs), having been cleaned from field-star contamination, were used to assess the clusters' reality and estimate ages of the genuine systems. Based on CMD analysis, 15 catalogued clusters were found to be possible non-genuine aggregates. We investigated the properties of 80 per cent of the catalogued clusters in this part of the SMC by enlarging our sample with previously obtained cluster ages, adopting a homogeneous scale for all. Their spatial distribution suggests that the oldest clusters, log(t yr(-1)) >= 9.6, are in general located at greater distances to the galaxy's centre than their younger counterparts - 9.0 <= log(t yr(-1)) <= 9.4 - while two excesses of clusters are seen at log(t yr(-1)) similar to 9.2 and log(t yr(-1)) similar to 9.7. We found a trail of younger clusters which follow the wing/bridge components. This long spatial sequence does not only harbour very young clusters, log(t yr(-1)) similar to 7.3, but it also hosts some of intermediate ages, log(t yr(-1)) similar to 9.1. The derived cluster and field-star formation frequencies as a function of age are different. The most surprising feature is an observed excess of clusters with ages of log(t yr(-1)) <9.0, which could have been induced by interactions with the LMC.…
Verfasserangaben: | Andres E. Piatti, Richard de GrijsORCiDGND, Stefano Rubele, Maria-Rosa L. CioniORCiD, Vincenzo RipepiORCiD, Leandro Kerber |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv635 |
ISSN: | 0035-8711 |
ISSN: | 1365-2966 |
Titel des übergeordneten Werks (Englisch): | Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
Verlag: | Oxford Univ. Press |
Verlagsort: | Oxford |
Publikationstyp: | Wissenschaftlicher Artikel |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2015 |
Erscheinungsjahr: | 2015 |
Datum der Freischaltung: | 27.03.2017 |
Freies Schlagwort / Tag: | Magellanic Clouds; galaxies: individual: SMC; techniques: photometric |
Band: | 450 |
Ausgabe: | 1 |
Seitenanzahl: | 12 |
Erste Seite: | 552 |
Letzte Seite: | 563 |
Fördernde Institution: | Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in the UK; Argentinian institutions CONICET; Agencia Nacional de Promocion Cientifica y Tecnologica (ANPCyT); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [11373010] |
Organisationseinheiten: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Physik und Astronomie |
Peer Review: | Referiert |