Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2005-05-02
Astrophys.J. 628 (2005) 210-230
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
25 pages, 6 figures, 7 tables; accepted, to appear ApJ 2005, vol. 628
Scientific paper
10.1086/430592
We investigate the nature of the diffuse intra-cluster ultraviolet light seen in twelve local starburst galaxies, using long-slit ultraviolet spectroscopy obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We take this faint intra-cluster light to be the field in each galaxy, and compare its spectroscopic signature with STARBURST99 evolutionary synthesis models and with neighboring star clusters. Our main result is that the diffuse ultraviolet light in eleven of the twelve starbursts lacks the strong O-star wind features that are clearly visible in spectra of luminous clusters in the same galaxies. The difference in stellar features dominating cluster and field spectra indicate that the field light originates primarily from a different stellar population, and not from scattering of UV photons leaking out of the massive clusters. We consider several scenarios to understand the lack of observed O stars in the field, and their implications for the origin of the field stellar population. If the field stellar populations formed in situ, the field must either have an IMF which is steeper than Salpeter (3.0-3.5) or a Salpeter slope with an upper mass cutoff of 30-50 solar masses. If star formation occurs primarily in star clusters, the field could be composed of older, faded clusters, and/or a population which is coeval with the luminous clusters but lower in mass. If the field is composed of older, dissolving clusters, we estimate that star clusters (regardless of mass) need to dissolve on timescales 7-10 Myr to create the field (abridged).
Aloisi Alessandra
Calzetti Daniela
Chandar Rupali
de Mello Duilia
Leitherer Claus
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