Spectroscopic Constraints on the Form of the Stellar Cluster Mass Function
- Bastian, N
- Konstantopoulos, IS
- Trancho, G
- Weisz, DR
- Larsen, SS
- Fouesneau, M
- Kaschinski, CB
- Gieles, M
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. If a truncation is present, a generic prediction (nearly independent of the cluster disruption law adopted) is that the median age of bright clusters should be younger than that of fainter clusters. In the case of an non-truncated ICMF, the median age should be independent of cluster luminosity. Here, we p...
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