Spectroscopic constraints on the form of the stellar cluster mass function
- N. Bastian
- I. S. Konstantopoulos
- G. Trancho
- D. R. Weisz
- S. S. Larsen
- M. Fouesneau
- C. B. Kaschinski
- M. Gieles
DOIAbstract
This contribution addresses the question of whether the initial cluster mass function (ICMF) has a fundamental limit (or truncation) at high masses. The shape of the ICMF at high masses can be studied using the most massive young (<10 Myr) clusters, however this has proven difficult due to low-number statistics. In this contribution we use an alternative method based on the luminosities of the brightest clusters, combined with their ages. The advantages are that more clusters can be used and that the ICMF leaves a distinct pattern on the global relation between the cluster luminosity and median age within a population. If a truncation is present, a generic prediction (nearly independent of the cluster disruption law adopted) is that the med...
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