Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009hst..prop12257g&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #12257. Cycle 18
Physics
Scientific paper
Recently, deep images from the ACS camera aboard HST provided conclusive evidence that several massive intermediate-age star clusters in the LMC and SMC present multiple main-sequence turn-offs {MMSTO}, and in some cases also dual red clumps. These observations challenge the notion that star clusters are simple stellar populations, and pose serious questions regarding the mechanisms responsible for star cluster formation. In this project, we propose to collect WFC3 imaging that should lead to an understanding of the nature of the MMSTO phenomenon. We will perform deep F475W and F814W imaging for a complete sample of star clusters covering well-defined intervals of age and total mass. The sample comprises star clusters spanning a wide variety of concentrations and locations within the LMC and SMC, so as to allow a study of the physical properties causing the MMSTO phenomenon. The data will allow us to derive detailed star formation histories via CMD reconstruction methods, and locate the targets in the robust absolute age scale provided by clusters with dual red clumps. The underlying field population will be characterized by means of ACS images of nearby areas obtained in parallel. For all sample clusters more massive than 10^5 solar masses {including those with previous ACS/WFC imaging} we will also obtain high-S/N F336W imaging to probe star-to-star abundance variations in C and N along the RGB. Such variations are expected from self-enrichment from intermediate-mass stars within the clusters, in analogy with what is observed in the most massive old globular clusters. Thanks to its photometric depth and accuracy, the resulting dataset will constitute an invaluable resource for studies of stellar evolution and dynamics in star clusters.;
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