Abstract
AbstractHigh resolution studies reveal that luminous young stellar clusters and their associations are ubiquitous within 1 kpc of ULIRGs, and could be the precursors to globular clusters. We have undertaken a study of the ages, masses, extinction, and dust properties of the clusters found in the brightest ULIRG in the extended IRAS BGS Sample, IRAS 17208–0014, using it as a unique system in which to study the formation and evolution of clusters in gas-rich mergers. Using NICMOS JHK and WFPC2 I–band images, we have compared the near-IR colors of the clusters with those expected from a Bruzual & Chariot model. There are a few clusters whose colors can be explained by moderate values of extinction (1 – 3 mag), but others require some contribution from hot (400 – 1000 K) dust. We derive ages of a few tens of Myr and masses from 106 to 107 M⊙. These clusters may be supermassive compared to globular clusters, or could be unresolved associations of clusters.
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