Nate Bastian (IoA Cambridge)
Star and cluster formation from quiescent to extreme environments
Abstract:
Merging and high star-formation rate galaxies are known to produce vast
amounts of young, globular cluster like, objects. Quiescent galaxies, and
areas like the solar neighborhood, also form clusters, however with much
lower masses. This difference has been long thought to represent at least
two different modes of star-formation, a "normal" and "starburst" mode.
However, recent observations have shown that this is most likely a
size-of-sample effect, where starburst galaxies are simply forming more
stars/clusters, and hence are able to sample further up in the cluster
mass function than low star-formation rate galaxies. Taking this into
account, the basic properties of clusters are independent of environment,
and the fraction of star-formation which happens in clusters is remarkably
universal, contrary to basic theoretical predictions.
Contact: Francois Schweizer
Star and cluster formation from quiescent to extreme environments
Abstract:
Merging and high star-formation rate galaxies are known to produce vast
amounts of young, globular cluster like, objects. Quiescent galaxies, and
areas like the solar neighborhood, also form clusters, however with much
lower masses. This difference has been long thought to represent at least
two different modes of star-formation, a "normal" and "starburst" mode.
However, recent observations have shown that this is most likely a
size-of-sample effect, where starburst galaxies are simply forming more
stars/clusters, and hence are able to sample further up in the cluster
mass function than low star-formation rate galaxies. Taking this into
account, the basic properties of clusters are independent of environment,
and the fraction of star-formation which happens in clusters is remarkably
universal, contrary to basic theoretical predictions.
Contact: Francois Schweizer
