Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2002-03-20
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
21 pages, 3 figures accepted for publication by AJ
Scientific paper
10.1086/340807
We present a statistical system that can be used in the study of cluster populations. The basis of our approach is the construction of synthetic cluster color-magnitude-radius diagrams (CMRDs), which we compare with the observed data using a maximum likelihood calculation. This approach permits a relatively easy incorporation of incompleteness (a function of not only magnitude and color, but also radius), photometry errors and biases, and a variety of other complex effects into the calculation, instead of the more common procedure of attempting to correct for those effects. We then apply this procedure to our NGC 3627 data from Paper I. We find that we are able to successfully model the observed CMRD and constrain a number of parameters of the cluster population. We measure a power law mass function slope of alpha = -1.50 +/- 0.07, and a distribution of core radii centered at r_c = 1.53 +/- 0.15 pc. Although the extinction distribution is less constrained, we measured a value for the mean extinction consistent with that determined in Paper I from the Cepheids.
Jr.
Dolphin Andrew E.
Kennicutt Robert C.
No associations
LandOfFree
HST Survey of Clusters in Nearby Galaxies. II. Statistical Analysis of Cluster Populations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with HST Survey of Clusters in Nearby Galaxies. II. Statistical Analysis of Cluster Populations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and HST Survey of Clusters in Nearby Galaxies. II. Statistical Analysis of Cluster Populations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-665481