Clusters In M31 Research Articles

Variable Stars in M31 Stellar Clusters from the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury

Variable stars in stellar clusters can offer key constraints on stellar evolution and pulsation models, utilizing estimates of host cluster properties to constrain stellar physical parameters. We present a catalog of 86 luminous (F814W < 19) variable stars in M31 clusters identified by mining the archival Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) survey using a combination of statistical analysis of sparse PHAT light curves and difference imaging. We determine the evolutionary phases and initial masses of these variable stars by matching them with theoretical isochrones generated using host cluster properties from the literature. We calculate the probability of PHAT photometry being blended due to the highly crowded nature of cluster environments for each cluster-variable star, using these probabilities to inform our level of confidence in the derived properties of each star. Our 86 cluster-variable stars have initial masses between 0.8 and 67 M ⊙. Their evolutionary phases span the main sequence, more evolved hydrogen- and helium-burning phases, and the post–asymptotic giant branch. We identify numerous candidate variable star types: RV Tauri variables, red supergiants, and slowly pulsating B-type supergiants, along with Wolf–Rayet stars, α Cygni and Mira variables, a classical Cepheid, and a possible superasymptotic giant. We characterize 12 cluster-variable stars at higher confidence based on their difference image quality and lower blending probability. Ours is the first systematic study of variable stars in extragalactic stellar clusters leveraging the superior resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope and demonstrating the unique power of stellar clusters in constraining the fundamental properties of variable stars.

Measuring M31 globular cluster ages and metallicities using both photometry and spectroscopy

ABSTRACT The ages and metallicities of globular clusters play an important role not just in testing models for their formation and evolution but also in understanding the assembly history of their host galaxies. Here, we use a combination of imaging and spectroscopy to measure the ages and metallicities of globular clusters in M31, the closest massive galaxy to our own. We use the strength of the near-infrared calcium triplet spectral feature to provide a relatively age-insensitive prior on the metallicity when fitting stellar population models to the observed photometry. While the age–extinction degeneracy is an issue for globular clusters projected on to the disc of M31, we find generally old ages for globular clusters in the halo of M31 and in its satellite galaxy NGC 205 in line with previous studies. We measure ages for a number of outer halo globular clusters for the first time, finding that globular clusters associated with halo substructure extend to younger ages and higher metallicities than those associated with the smooth halo. This is in line with the expectation that the smooth halo was accreted earlier than the substructured halo.

Catalogue of model star clusters in the Milky Way and M31 galaxies

ABSTRACT Detailed understanding of the formation and evolution of globular clusters (GCs) has been recently advanced through a combination of numerical simulations and analytical models. We employ a state-of-the-art model to create a comprehensive catalogue of simulated clusters in three Milky Way (MW) and three Andromeda (M31) analogue galaxies. Our catalogue aims to connect the chemical and kinematic properties of GCs to the assembly histories of their host galaxies. We apply the model to a selected sample of simulated galaxies that closely match the virial mass, circular velocity profile, and defining assembly events of the MW and M31. The resulting catalogue has been calibrated to successfully reproduce key characteristics of the observed GC systems, including total cluster mass, mass function, metallicity distribution, radial profile, and velocity dispersion. We find that clusters in M31 span a wider range of age and metallicity, relative to the MW, possibly due to M31’s recent major merger. Such a merger also heated up the in-situ GC population to higher orbital energy and introduced a large number of ex-situ clusters at large radii. Understanding the impacts of galaxy mergers and accretion on the GC populations is crucial for uncovering the galaxy assembly histories.

Initial mass function variability from the integrated light of diverse stellar systems

ABSTRACT We present a uniform analysis of the stellar initial mass function (IMF) from integrated light spectroscopy of 15 compact stellar systems (11 globular clusters in M31 and 4 ultra compact dwarfs in the Virgo cluster, UCDs) and two brightest Coma cluster galaxies (BCGs), covering a wide range of metallicities (−1.7 &amp;lt; [Fe/H] &amp;lt; 0.01) and velocity dispersions (7.4 km s−1 &amp;lt;σ &amp;lt; 275 km s−1). The S/N ∼100 Å−1 Keck LRIS spectra are fitted over the range 4000 &amp;lt; λ/Å &amp;lt; 10 000 with flexible full-spectrum stellar population synthesis models. We use the models to fit simultaneously for ages, metallicities, and individual elemental abundances of the population, allowing us to decouple abundance variations from variations in IMF slope. We show that compact stellar systems do not follow the same trends with physical parameters that have been found for early-type galaxies. Most globular clusters in our sample have an IMF consistent with that of the Milky Way, over a wide range of [Fe/H] and [Mg/Fe]. There is more diversity among the UCDs, with some showing evidence for a bottom-heavy IMF, but with no clear correlation with metallicity, abundance, or velocity dispersion. The two Coma BCGs have similar velocity dispersion and metallicity, but we find the IMF of NGC 4874 is consistent with that of the Milky Way while NGC 4889 presents evidence for a significantly bottom-heavy IMF. For this sample, the IMF appears to vary between objects in a way that is not explained by a single metallicity-dependent prescription.

Searching for New Globular Clusters in M31 with Gaia EDR3

We have found 50 new globular cluster (GC) candidates around M31 with Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3), with the help of Pan-STARRS1 DR1 magnitudes and Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey (PAndAS) images. Based on the latest Revised Bologna Catalog and simbad, we trained two random forest (RF) classifiers, the first one to distinguish extended sources from point sources and the second one to further select GCs from extended sources. From 1.85 million sources of 16 m < g < 19.5 m and within a large area of ∼392 deg2 around M31, we selected 20,658 extended sources and 1934 initial GC candidates. After visual inspection of the PAndAS images, to eliminate the contamination from noncluster sources, particularly galaxies, we finally got 50 candidates. These candidates are divided into three types (a, b, and c), according to their projected distance D to the center of M31 and their probability of being a true GC, P GC, which is calculated by our second RF classifier. Among these candidates, 14 are found to be associated (in projection) with the large-scale structures within the halo of M31. We also provide several simple parameter criteria for selecting extended sources effectively from Gaia EDR3, which can reach a completeness of 92.1% with a contamination fraction lower than 10%.

Clusters, clouds, and correlations: relating young clusters to giant molecular clouds in M33 and M31

ABSTRACT We use young clusters and giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in the galaxies M33 and M31 to constrain temporal and spatial scales in the star formation process. In M33, we compare the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury: Triangulum Extended Region (PHATTER) catalogue of 1214 clusters with ages measured via colour–magnitude diagram (CMD) fitting to 444 GMCs identified from a new 35 pc resolution Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 12CO(2–1) survey. In M31, we compare the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) catalogue of 1249 clusters to 251 GMCs measured from a Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) 12CO(1–0) survey with 20 pc resolution. Through two-point correlation analysis, we find that young clusters have a high probability of being near other young clusters, but correlation between GMCs is suppressed by the cloud identification algorithm. By comparing the positions, we find that younger clusters are closer to GMCs than older clusters. Through cross-correlation analysis of the M33 cluster data, we find that clusters are statistically associated when they are ≤10 Myr old. Utilizing the high precision ages of the clusters, we find that clusters older than ≈18 Myr are uncorrelated with the molecular interstellar medium (ISM). Using the spatial coincidence of the youngest clusters and GMCs in M33, we estimate that clusters spend ≈4–6 Myr inside their parent GMC. Through similar analysis, we find that the GMCs in M33 have a total lifetime of ≈11–15 Myr. We also develop a drift model and show that the above correlations can be explained if the clusters in M33 have a 5–10 km s−1 velocity dispersion relative to the molecular ISM.

Prospects for Detecting Fast Radio Bursts in the Globular Clusters of Nearby Galaxies

The recent detection of a repeating fast radio burst (FRB) in an old globular cluster in M81 challenges traditional FRB formation mechanisms based on the magnetic activity of young neutron stars formed in core-collapse supernovae. Furthermore, the detection of this repeater in such a nearby galaxy implies a high local universe rate of similar events in globular clusters. Building off the properties inferred from the M81 FRB, we predict the number of FRB sources in nearby (d ≲ 20 Mpc) galaxies with large globular cluster systems known. Incorporating the uncertain burst energy distribution, we estimate the rate of bursts detectable in these galaxies by radio instruments such as FAST and MeerKat. Of all local galaxies, we find M87 is the best candidate for FRB detections. We predict that M87's globular cluster system contains FRB sources at present and that a dedicated radio survey (by either FAST or MeerKat) of hr has a 90% probability of detecting a globular cluster FRB in M87. The detection of even a handful of additional globular cluster FRBs would provide invaluable constraints on FRB mechanisms and population properties. Previous studies have demonstrated young neutron stars formed following the collapse of dynamically formed massive white dwarf binary mergers may provide the most natural mechanism for these bursts. We explore the white dwarf merger scenario using a suite of N-body cluster models, focusing in particular on such mergers in M87's clusters. We describe a number of outstanding features of this scenario that in principle may be testable with an ensemble of observed FRBs in nearby globular clusters.

Investigating the UV-excess in Star Clusters with N-body Simulations: Predictions for Future CSST Observations* *Supported by the research grants from the China Manned Space Project with No. CMS-CSST-2021-A08.

We study the origin of the UV-excess in star clusters by performing N-body simulations of six clusters with N = 10 k and N = 100 k (single stars & binary systems) and metallicities of Z = 0.01, 0.001 and 0.0001, using petar. All models initially have a 50% primordial binary fraction. Using GalevNB we convert the simulated data into synthetic spectra and photometry for the China Space Station Telescope (CSST) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST). From the spectral energy distributions we identify three stellar populations that contribute to the UV-excess: (1) second asymptotic giant branch stars, which contribute to the UV flux at early times; (2) naked helium stars and (3) white dwarfs, which are long-term contributors to the FUV spectra. Binary stars consisting of a white dwarf and a main sequence star are cataclysmic variable (CV) candidates. The magnitude distribution of CV candidates is bimodal up to 2 Gyr. The bright CV population is particularly bright in FUV − NUV. The FUV − NUV color of our model clusters is 1–2 mag redder than the UV-excess globular clusters in M87 and in the Milky Way. This discrepancy may be induced by helium enrichment in observed clusters. Our simulations are based on simple stellar evolution; we do not include the effects of variations in helium and light elements or multiple stellar populations. A positive radial color gradient is present in CSST NUV − y for main sequence stars in all models with a color difference of 0.2–0.5 mag, up to 4 half-mass radii. The CSST NUV − g color correlates strongly with HST FUV − NUV for NUV − g > 1 mag, with the linear relation FUV − NUV =(1.09 ± 0.12) × (NUV − g) + (−1.01 ± 0.22). This allows for conversion of future CSST NUV − g colors into HST FUV − NUV colors, which are sensitive to UV-excess features. We find that CSST will be able to detect UV-excess in Galactic/extragalactic star clusters with ages >200 Myr.

Chemical composition and ages of four globular clusters in M31 from the analysis of their integrated-light spectra

Abstract We compare the results on the chemical composition of four globular clusters (GCs) in M31 (Bol 6, Bol 20, Bol 45, and Bol 50) (Maricheva M. 2021. Study of integrated spectra of four globular clusters in M 31. Astrophys. Bull. 76:389–404. doi: https://doi.org/10.1134/S199034132104009X) to the available literature data on integrated-light spectroscopy of GCs with similar ages and chemical abundances in our Galaxy and M31 and on the chemical abundances of stars in two galaxies. The clusters and their literature analogues are of moderate metallicity − 1.1 &lt; [ Fe/H ] &lt; − 0.75 -1.1\lt \left[\hspace{0.1em}\text{Fe/H}\hspace{0.1em}]\lt -0.75 dex and old (10 Gyr). Mg, Ca, and C abundances of four GCs are higher than literature estimates for the GCs in M31 with [ Fe/H ] ∼ − 1 \left[\hspace{0.1em}\text{Fe/H}\hspace{0.1em}] \sim -1 dex obtained using high-resolution integrated-light spectroscopy methods. Using literature data, we did not find complete analogues for the studied clusters in our Galaxy and M31 in terms of age, helium mass fraction ( Y Y ), and chemical composition. The alpha-element abundances in four clusters are about 0.2 dex higher than the average for stars in the Galactic field at [ Fe/H ] ∼ − 1 \left[\hspace{0.1em}\text{Fe/H}\hspace{0.1em}] \sim -1 dex. We suggest that these and M. Maricheva’s (Maricheva M. 2021) findings about lower metallicities of the studied objects than the average metallicity of red giants in the M31 halo and about the abundances of alpha-process elements in them corresponding to the average value for stars in the M31 inner halo likely indicate that the star formation process in the vicinity of M31 at the time of our sample cluster formation was complex with the inflow of fresh gas from the intergalactic medium and violent star forming events associated with SNe II bursts.

Inferring the helium abundance of extragalactic globular clusters using integrated spectra

ABSTRACT The leading method for the determination of relevant stellar population parameters of unresolved extragalactic Globular Clusters is through the study of their integrated spectroscopy, where Balmer line-strength indices are considered to be age sensitive. Previously, a splitting in the highly optimized spectral line-strength index H βo was observed in a sample of Galactic globular clusters at all metallicities resulting in an apparent ‘upper branch’ and ‘lower branch’ of globular clusters in the H βo–[MgFe] diagram. This was suggested to be caused by the presence of hot Blue straggler stars (BSSs), resulting in an underestimation of ‘spectroscopic’ ages in the upper branch. Over a decade on, we look to re-evaluate these findings. We make use of new, large Galactic Globular Cluster integrated spectroscopy data sets. To produce a large, homogeneously combined sample we have considered a number of factors including the radial dependence of Balmer and metal lines. Using this new sample, in disagreement with previous work, we find the splitting in H βo only occurs at intermediate to high metallicities ([M/H] &amp;gt; −1), and is not the result of an increased fraction of BSSs, but rather is due to an increased helium abundance. We explore the possible impact of varying helium on simple stellar population models to provide a theoretical basis for our hypothesis and then use the relationship between upper branch candidacy and enhanced helium to predict the helium content of three M31 clusters. We discuss what this can tell us about their mass and fraction of first generation stars.

Ages and Masses of Star Clusters in M33: a Multiwavelength Study

Abstract We combine archival images for the nearby galaxy M33 (Triangulum Galaxy) from the ultraviolet (UV) to the infrared to derive ages, masses, and extinctions for the young star cluster population, and compare our physical parameters with published ones. Our goal is to test the robustness of clusters ages and masses, and possibly improve on existing ones both by expanding the wavelength range of the spectral-energy distribution (SED) fits and by using more recent population synthesis models. The rationale for this experiment is to verify the sensitivity of the clusters physical parameters to observational setups and model choices that span those commonly found in the literature. We derive the physical parameters of 137 clusters, using SEDs measured in eight UV-to-I bands, including Hα, from GALEX and ground-based images. We also add the 24 μm image from the Spitzer Space Telescope to help break some age degeneracies. We find that our derived cluster ages show significant differences with earlier determinations, while the masses remain relatively insensitive to the fitting approach adopted. We also highlight an already known difficulty in recovering old, low-extinction clusters, as SED-fitting codes tend to prefer younger, higher extinction solutions when the extinction is a free parameter. We publish updated ages, masses, and extinctions, with uncertainties for all sample star clusters, together with their photometry. Given the proximity of M33, this represents an important population to secure for the study of star formation and cluster evolution in spirals.

The massive M31 cluster G1: detailed chemical abundances from integrated light spectroscopy★

ABSTRACT G1, also known as Mayall II, is one of the most massive star clusters in M31. Its mass, ellipticity, and location in the outer halo make it a compelling candidate for a former nuclear star cluster. This paper presents an integrated light abundance analysis of G1, based on a moderately high-resolution (R = 15 000) spectrum obtained with the high-resolution spectrograph on the Hobby–Eberly Telescope in 2007 and 2008. To independently determine the metallicity, a moderate-resolution (R ∼ 4000) spectrum of the Ca ii triplet lines in the near-infrared was also obtained with the Astrophysical Research Consortium’s 3.5-m telescope at Apache Point Observatory. From the high-resolution spectrum, G1 is found to be a moderately metal-poor cluster, with $[\rm {Fe/H}]~=~-0.98\pm 0.05$. G1 also shows signs of α-enhancement (based on Mg, Ca, and Ti) and lacks the s-process enhancements seen in dwarf galaxies (based on comparisons of Y, Ba, and Eu), indicating that it originated in a fairly massive galaxy. Intriguingly, G1 also exhibits signs of Na and Al enhancement, a unique signature of GCs – which suggests that G1’s formation is intimately connected with GC formation. G1’s high [Na/Fe] also extends previous trends with cluster velocity dispersion to an even higher mass regime, implying that higher mass clusters are more able to retain Na-enhanced ejecta. The effects of intracluster abundance spreads are discussed in a subsequent paper. Ultimately, G1’s chemical properties are found to resemble other M31 GCs, though it also shares some similarities with extragalactic nuclear star clusters.

Estimating ages and metallicities of M31 star clusters from LAMOST DR6

Context. Determining the metallicities and ages of M31 clusters is fundamental to the study of the formation and evolution of M31 itself. The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) has carried out a systematic spectroscopic campaign of clusters and candidates in M31. Aims. We constructed a catalogue of 346 M31 clusters observed by LAMOST. By combining the information of the LAMOST spectra and the multi-band photometry, we developed a new algorithm to estimate the metallicities and ages of these clusters. Methods. We distinguish young clusters from old using random forest classifiers based on a empirical training data set selected from the literature. Ages of young clusters are derived from the spectral energy distribution fits of their multi-band photometric measurements. Their metallicities are estimated by fitting their observed spectral principal components extracted from the LAMOST spectra with those from the young metal-rich single stellar population (SSP) models. For old clusters we built non-parameter random forest models between the spectral principal components and/or multi-band colours and the parameters of the clusters based on a training data set constructed from the SSP models. The ages and metallicities of the old clusters are then estimated by fitting their observed spectral principal components extracted from the LAMOST spectra and multi-band colours from the photometric measurements with the resultant random forest models. Results. We derived parameters of 53 young and 293 old clusters in our catalogue. Our resultant parameters are in good agreement with those from the literature. The ages of ∼30 catalogued clusters and metallicities of ∼40 sources are derived for the first time.

Gibbs point process model for young star clusters in M33

ABSTRACT We demonstrate the power of Gibbs point process models from the spatial statistics literature when applied to studies of resolved galaxies. We conduct a rigorous analysis of the spatial distributions of objects in the star formation complexes of M33, including giant molecular clouds (GMCs) and young stellar cluster candidates (YSCCs). We choose a hierarchical model structure from GMCs to YSCCs based on the natural formation hierarchy between them. This approach circumvents the limitations of the empirical two-point correlation function analysis by naturally accounting for the inhomogeneity present in the distribution of YSCCs. We also investigate the effects of GMCs’ properties on their spatial distributions. We confirm that the distribution of GMCs and YSCCs are highly correlated. We found that the spatial distributions of YSCCs reaches a peak of clustering pattern at ∼250 pc scale compared to a Poisson process. This clustering mainly occurs in regions where the galactocentric distance ≳4.5 kpc. Furthermore, the galactocentric distance of GMCs and their mass have strong positive effects on the correlation strength between GMCs and YSCCs. We outline some possible implications of these findings for our understanding of the cluster formation process.

Comparisons of Different Fitting Methods for the Physical Parameters of a Star Cluster Sample of M33 with Spectroscopy and Photometry

Star clusters are good tracers for formation and evolution of galaxies. We compared different fitting methods by using spectra (or by combining photometry) to determine the physical parameters. We choose a sample of 17 star clusters in M33, which previously lacked spectroscopic observations. The low-resolution spectra were taken with the Xinglong 2.16-m reflector of NAOC. The photometry used in the fitting includes $\rm u_{SC}$ and $\rm v_{SAGE}$ bands from the SAGE survey, as well as the published $UBVRI$ and $ugriz$ photometry. We firstly derived ages and metallicities with the {\sc ULySS} (Vazdekis et al. and {\sc pegase-hr}) SSP model and the Bruzual \& Charlot (2003) (BC03) stellar population synthesis models for the full-spectrum fitting. The fitting results of both the BC03 and {\sc ULySS} models seem consistent with those of previous works as well. Then we add the SAGE $\rm u_{SC}$ and $\rm v_{SAGE}$ photometry in the spectroscopic fitting with the BC03 models. It seems the results become much better, especially for the Padova 2000+Chabrier IMF set. Finally we add more photometry data, $UBVRI$ and $ugriz$, in the fitting and we found that the results do not improve significantly. Therefore, we conclude that the photometry is useful for improving the fitting results, especially for the blue bands ($\lambda <4000$ {\AA}), e.g., $\rm u_{SC}$ and $\rm v_{SAGE}$ band. At last, we discuss the "UV-excess" for the star clusters and we find five star clusters have UV-excess, based on the $GALEX$ FUV, NUV photometry.

AstroSat UVIT Detections of Chandra X-Ray Sources in M31

Abstract An ultraviolet (UV) survey of M31 has been carried out during 2017–19 with the Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) instrument on board the AstroSat Observatory. Here we match the M31 UVIT source catalog with the Chandra source catalog. We find 67 UVIT/Chandra sources detected in a varying number of UV and X-ray bands. The UV and X-ray photometry is analyzed using power-law and blackbody models. The X-ray types include 15 low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) and five active galactic nuclei. Crossmatches with catalogs of stars, clusters, and other source types yield the following: 20 of the UVIT/Chandra sources match with M31 globular clusters, and nine with foreground stars. Three more globular clusters and two more foreground stars are consistent with the UVIT source positions although outside the Chandra match radius of 1″. The UV emission of the UVIT/Chandra sources associated with globular clusters is consistent with emission from blue horizontal branch stars rather than from the X-ray source. The LMXBs in globular clusters are among the most luminous globular clusters in M31. Comparison with stellar evolutionary tracks shows that the UVIT/Chandra sources with high UV blackbody temperatures are consistent with massive (10–30 M ⊙) stars in M31.

New Constraints on Early-type Galaxy Assembly from Spectroscopic Metallicities of Globular Clusters in M87

Abstract The observed characteristics of globular cluster (GC) systems, such as metallicity distributions, are commonly used to place constraints on galaxy formation models. However, obtaining reliable metallicity values is particularly difficult because of our limited means to obtain high quality spectroscopy of extragalactic GCs. Often, “color–metallicity relations” are invoked to convert easier-to-obtain photometric measurements into metallicities, but there is no consensus on what form these relations should take. In this paper we make use of multiple photometric data sets and iron metallicity values derived from applying full-spectrum stellar population synthesis models to deep Keck/LRIS spectra of 177 GCs centrally located around M87 to obtain a new color–metallicity relation. Our new relation differs substantially from previous relations in the blue, and we present evidence that the M87 relation differs from that of the Milky Way GCs, suggesting environmental dependence of GC properties. We use our color–metallicity relation to derive a new GC metallicity-host galaxy luminosity relation for red and blue GCs and find a shallower relation for the blue GCs than what previous work has found and that the metal-poor GCs are more enriched than what was previously found. This could indicate that the progenitor satellite galaxies that now make up the stellar halos of early-type galaxies are more massive and formed later than previously thought, or that the properties of metal-poor GCs are less dependent on their present-day host, indicating a common origin.

A Hubble Space Telescope Survey for Novae in the Globular Clusters of M87∗

Abstract The giant elliptical galaxy M87 has been imaged over 30 consecutive days in 2001, 60 consecutive days in 2005–2006, and every 5 days over a 265-day span in 2016–2017 with the Hubble Space Telescope, leading to the detection of 137 classical novae throughout M87. We have identified 2134 globular clusters (GC) in M87 in these images and carried out searches of the clusters for classical novae erupting in or near them. One GC CN was detected in the 2001 data, while zero novae were found during the 2005–2006 observations. Four candidate GC novae were (barely) detected in visible light during the 2016–2017 observations, but none of the four were seen in near-ultraviolet light, leading us to reject them. Combining these results with our detection of one M87 GC nova out of a total of 137 detected CN, we conclude that such novae may be overabundant relative to the field, but small number statistics dominate this and all other searches. A definitive determination of GC CN overabundance (or not) will require much larger samples, which LSST should provide in the coming decade.

Hubble Space Telescope FUV observations of M31’s globular clusters suggest a spatially homogeneous helium-enriched subpopulation

We present high spatial resolution, far ultraviolet (FUV) F140LP observations of 12 massive globular clusters in M 31 obtained using the ACS/SBC on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). These observations resolve the cluster profiles to scales similar to their core radii and enable the study of the spatial distribution of blue and extreme horizontal branch (HB) stars, which dominate the emission in the F140LP images. We confirm that some of these clusters have excess FUV emission, suggesting additional hot populations beyond those expected by canonical single stellar populations models. We find no evidence that the hot populations are spatially distinct from the majority populations in these clusters, as would be expected if the excess FUV emission is a result of a dynamically enhanced population of extreme-HB stars. We conclude that a second population of stars with significantly enhanced helium abundance is a viable explanation for the observed FUV emission which is both bright and distributed similarly to the rest of the cluster light. Our results support the use of FUV observations as a path to characterising helium enhanced sub populations in extragalactic clusters. These M31 clusters also show a correlation such that more massive and denser clusters are relatively FUV bright. Similar to extant Milky Way results, this may indicate the degree of helium enrichment, or second population fraction increases with cluster mass.

The young star cluster population of M51 with LEGUS – I. A comprehensive study of cluster formation and evolution

Recently acquired WFC3 UV (F275W and F336W) imaging mosaics under the Legacy Extragalactic UV Survey (LEGUS) combined with archival ACS data of M51 are used to study the young star cluster (YSC) population of this interacting system. Our newly extracted source catalogue contains 2834 cluster candidates, morphologically classified to be compact and uniform in colour, for which ages, masses and extinction are derived. In this first work we study the main properties of the YSC population of the whole galaxy, considering a mass-limited sample. Both luminosity and mass functions follow a power law shape with slope -2, but at high luminosities and masses a dearth of sources is observed. The analysis of the mass function suggests that it is best fitted by a Schechter function with slope -2 and a truncation mass at $1.00\pm0.12\times10^5\ M_\odot$. Through Monte Carlo simulations we confirm this result and link the shape of the luminosity function to the presence of a truncation in the mass function. A mass limited age function analysis, between 10 and 200 Myr, suggests that the cluster population is undergoing only moderate disruption. We observe little variation in the shape of the mass function at masses above $1\times10^4\ M_\odot$, over this age range. The fraction of star formation happening in the form of bound clusters in M51 is $\sim20\%$ in the age range 10 to 100 Myr and little variation is observed over the whole range from 1 to 200 Myr.