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Star Cluster Populations in the Spiral Galaxy M101

Simanton, Lesley Ann
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1437587267

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Physics.
Most stars form in groups and clusters. Stars clusters range in age from very young (< 3 Myr, embedded in gas clouds) to some of the most ancient objects in the universe (>13 Gyr), providing clues to the formation and evolution of their host galaxies. Our knowledge of the diversity of star cluster populations has expanded over the last few decades, especially by being able to examine star clusters outside of the Milky Way (MW). In this dissertation, we continue this expansion of extragalactic star cluster studies by examining the star cluster system of the nearby spiral galaxy M101. We utilize photometry from Hubble Space Telescope images to assess luminosity, color, size, and spatial distributions of old star clusters, and spectroscopy from the Gemini-North telescope to determine ages, metallicities, and velocities of a subset of both young and old clusters in M101. We find that the range of cluster luminosities, ages, and metallicities in M101 is nearly continuous. We discover a population of fairly massive, old disk clusters, and conclude that the disk of M101 may have had a higher rate of cluster formation in the past than in the MW, and that it may be better suited to cluster survival. We find evidence that some clusters in M101 have intermediate ages of several Gyr, whereas the MW has few such clusters. Our analysis of the velocities of young clusters suggests that they rotate with the HI gas disk, while the old globular clusters appear to be in the halo.
Rupali Chandar (Committee Chair)
John-David Smith (Committee Member)
Steven Federman (Committee Member)
Bo Gao (Committee Member)
Bradley Whitmore (Committee Member)
133 p.
Astronomy; Astrophysics; Physics
M101; spiral galaxies; star clusters; galaxy formation; galaxy evolution

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Simanton, L. A. (2015). Star Cluster Populations in the Spiral Galaxy M101 [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1437587267

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Simanton, Lesley. Star Cluster Populations in the Spiral Galaxy M101. 2015. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1437587267.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Simanton, Lesley. "Star Cluster Populations in the Spiral Galaxy M101." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1437587267

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1437587267
445
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This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.