We analyse the cluster luminosity functions (CLFs) of the youngest star clusters in two galaxies exhibiting prominent circumnuclear starburst rings. We focus specifically on NGC 1512 and NGC 6951, for which we have access to Ha data that allow us to unambiguously identify the youngest sample clusters. To place our results on a firm statistical footing, we first explore in detail a number of important technical issues affecting the process from converting the observational data into the spectral energy distributions of the objects in our final catalogues. The CLFs of the young clusters in both galaxies exhibit approximate power-law behaviour down to the 90 per cent observational completeness limits, thus showing that star cluster formation in the violent environments of starburst rings appears to proceed similarly as that elsewhere in the local Universe. We discuss this result in the context of the density of the interstellar medium in our starburst-ring galaxies.

Using high-resolution, multiple-passband Hubble Space Telescope images spanning the entire optical/near-infrared wavelength range, we obtained a statistically complete U-band-selected sample of 846 extended star clusters across the disk of the nearby starburst galaxy M82. Based on a careful analysis of the clusters' spectral energy distributions, we determined their galaxy-wide age and mass distributions. The M82 clusters exhibit three clear peaks in their age distribution, thus defining relatively young, log(t yr(-1)) <= 7.5, intermediate-age, log(t yr(-1)) is an element of[7.5, 8.5], and old samples, log(t yr(-1)) >= 8.5. Comparison of the completeness-corrected mass distributions offers a firm handle on the galaxy's star cluster disruption history. The most massive star clusters in the young and old samples are (almost) all concentrated in the most densely populated central region, while the intermediate-age sample's most massive clusters are more spatially dispersed, which may reflect the distribution of the highest-density gas throughout the galaxy's evolutionary history, combined with the solid-body nature of the galaxy's central region.

Globular clusters (GCs) are generally treated as natural validators of simple stellar population (SSP) models. However, there are still some differences between real GCs and SSPs. In this work, we use a direct N-body simulation code NBODY6 to study the influences of dynamical interactions, metallicity and primordial binaries on Milky Way GCs' integrated properties. Our models start with N = 100 000 stars, covering a metallicity range Z = 0.0001 similar to 0.02, a subset of our models contain primordial binaries, resulting in a binary fraction as currently observed at a model age of GCs. Stellar evolution and external tidal field representative for an average Milky Way GC are taken into consideration. The integrated colours and Lick indices are calculated using BaSeL and Bluered stellar spectral libraries separately. By including dynamical interactions, our model clusters show integrated features (i.e. colours up to 0.01 mag bluer, H beta up to 0.1 angstrom greater and [MgFe]' 0.05 angstrom smaller) making the clusters appear slightly younger than the model clusters without dynamical interactions. This effect is caused mainly by the preferential loss of low-mass stars which have a stronger contribution to redder passbands as well as different spectral features compared to higher mass stars. In addition, this effect is larger at lower metallicities. On the contrary, the incorporation of primordial binaries reduces this effect.

The VISTA near-infrared YJKs survey of the Magellanic Clouds system (VMC) has entered its core phase: about 40% of the observations across the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC, SMC), the Magellanic Bridge and Stream have already been secured and the data are processed and analysed regularly. The initial analyses, concentrated in the first two completed tiles in the LMC (6_6 including 30 Doradus and 8_8 including the South Ecliptic Pole), show the superior quality of the data. The depth of the VMC survey allows the derivation of the star formation history (SFH) with unprecedented quality compared to previous wide-area surveys while reddening maps of high angular resolution are constructed using red clump stars. The multi-epoch Ks-band data reveal tight period-luminosity relations for variable stars and they permit the measurement of accurate proper motions of the stellar populations. The VMC survey continues to acquire data that will address many issues in the field of star and galaxy evolution.

Stellar clusters are regularly used to study the evolution of their host galaxy. Except for a few nearby galaxies, these studies rely on the interpretation of integrated cluster properties, especially integrated photometry observed using multiple filters (i.e. the Spectral Energy Distribution SED). To allow interpretation of such observations, we present a large set of GALEV cluster models using the realistic approach of adopting stochastically-sampled stellar IMFs. We provide models for a wide range of cluster masses (10^3 - 2 * 10^5$ Msun), metallicities (-2.3 <= [Fe/H] <= +0.18 dex), foreground extinction, and 184 regularly used filters. We analyze various sets of stochastic cluster SEDs by fitting them with non-stochastic models, which is the procedure commonly used in this field. We identify caveats and quantify the fitting uncertainties associated with this standard procedure. We show that this can yield highly unreliable fitting results, especially for low-mass clusters.

Using high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope data, we re-examine the fundamental properties (ages, masses and extinction values) of the rich star cluster population in the dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 5253. The gain in resolution compared to previous studies is of order a factor of 2 in both spatial dimensions, while our accessible wavelength range transcends previous studies by incorporation of both near-ultraviolet and near-infrared (IR) passbands. We apply spectral synthesis treatments based on two different simple stellar population model suites to our set of medium-, broad-band and H alpha images to gain an improved physical understanding of the IR-excess flux found for a subset of young clusters (30 of 149). With the caveat that our models are based on fully sampled stellar mass functions, the NGC 5253 cluster population is dominated by a significant number of relatively low-mass (M-cl less than or similar to a few x 10(4) M-circle dot) objects with ages ranging from a few x 10(6) to a few x 10(7) yr, which is in excellent agreement with the starburst age of the host galaxy. The IR-excess clusters are almost all found in this young age range and have masses of up to a few x 10(4) M-circle dot. The IR excess in the relatively low-mass NGC 5253 clusters is most likely caused by a combination of stochastic sampling effects and colour variations due to the presence of either luminous red or pre-main-sequence stars. We also find a small number of intermediate-age (similar to 1 Gyr old), similar to 10(5) M-circle dot clusters, as well as up to a dozen massive, similar to 10 Gyr old globular clusters. Their presence supports the notion that NGC 5253 is a very active galaxy that has undergone multiple episodes of star cluster formation.

Whether or not the rich star cluster population in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is affected by significant disruption during the first few x 10^8 yr of its evolution is an open question and the subject of significant current debate. Here, we revisit the problem, adopting a homogeneous data set of broad-band imaging observations. We base our analysis mainly on two sets of self-consistently determined LMC cluster ages and masses, one using standard modelling and one which takes into account the effects of stochasticity in the clusters' stellar mass functions. On their own, the results based on any of the three complementary analysis approaches applied here are merely indicative of the physical conditions governing the cluster population. However, the combination of our results from all three different diagnostics leaves little room for any conclusion other than that the optically selected LMC star cluster population exhibits no compelling evidence of significant disruption -- for clusters with masses, M_cl, of log(M_cl/M_sun) >= 3.0-3.5 -- between the age ranges of [3-10] Myr and [30-100] Myr, either "infant mortality" or otherwise. In fact, there is no evidence of any destruction beyond that expected from simple models just including stellar dynamics and stellar evolution for ages up to 1 Gyr. It seems, therefore, that the difference in environmental conditions in the Magellanic Clouds on the one hand and significantly more massive galaxies on the other may be the key to understanding the apparent variations in cluster disruption behaviour at early times.

Stellar clusters are regularly used to study the evolution of their host galaxy. Except for a few nearby galaxies, these studies rely on the interpretation of integrated cluster properties, especially integrated photometry observed using multiple filters (i.e., the spectral energy distribution, SED). To allow interpretation of such observations, we present a large set of GALEV cluster models using the realistic approach of adopting stochastically sampled stellar initial mass functions. We provide models for a wide range of cluster masses (10(3)-2 x 10(5) M-circle dot), metallicities (-2.3 <= [Fe/H] <= + 0.18 dex), foreground extinction, and 184 regularly used filters. We analyze various sets of stochastic cluster SEDs by fitting them with non-stochastic models, which is the procedure commonly used in this field. We identify caveats and quantify the fitting uncertainties associated with this standard procedure. We show that this can yield highly unreliable fitting results, especially for low-mass clusters.

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is one of the nearest galaxies to us and is one of only few galaxies where the star formation history can be determined from studying resolved stellar populations. We have compiled a new catalogue of ages, luminosities and masses of LMC star clusters and used it to determine the age distribution and dissolution rate of LMC star clusters. We find that the frequency of massive clusters with masses M > 5000 M-circle dot is almost constant between 10 and 200 Myr, showing that the influence of residual gas expulsion is limited to the first 10 Myr of cluster evolution or clusters less massive than 5000 M-circle dot. Comparing the cluster frequency in that interval with the absolute star formation rate, we find that about 15 per cent of all stars in the LMC were formed in long-lived star clusters that survive for more than 10 Myr. We also find that the mass function of LMC clusters younger than 10(9) Gyr can be fitted by a power-law mass function N(m) similar to m(-alpha) with slope alpha = 2.3, while older clusters follow a significantly shallower slope and interpret that this is a sign of either incompleteness or the ongoing dissolution of low-mass clusters. Our data show that for ages older than 200 Myr, about 90 per cent of all clusters are lost per dex of lifetime. The implied cluster dissolution rate is significantly faster than that based on analytic estimates and N-body simulations. Our cluster age data finally show evidence for a burst in cluster formation about 10(9) yr ago, but little evidence for bursts at other ages.

We calculate the phase diagram of the Bose-Fermi Hubbard model on the 3d cubic lattice at fermionic half filling and bosonic unit filling by means of single-site dynamical mean-field theory. For fast bosons, this is equivalent to the Cooper problem in which the bosons can induce s-wave pairing between the fermions. We also find miscible superfluid and canted supersolid phases depending on the interspecies coupling strength. In contrast, slow bosons favor fermionic charge density wave structures for attractive fermionic interactions. These competing instabilities lead to a rich phase diagram within reach of cold gas experiments.

All known mass distributions of recently formed star cluster populations resemble a “universal” power-law function. Here we assess the impact of the extremely disruptive environment in NGC 7742's circumnuclear starburst ring on the early evolution of the galaxy's high-mass (∼105–107 M☉) star cluster population. Surprisingly, and contrary to expectations, at all ages—including the youngest, ≲ 15 Myr—the cluster mass functions are robustly and verifiably represented by lognormal distributions that resemble those commonly found only for old, evolved globular cluster systems in the local universe. This suggests that the high-shear conditions in the NGC 7742 starburst ring may significantly speed up dynamical star cluster destruction. This enhanced mass-dependent disruption rate at very young ages might be caused by a combination of the starburst ring's high density and the shear caused by the counterrotating gas disk.

Most recent progress in understanding the dynamical evolution of star clusters relies on direct N-body simulations. Owing to the computational demands, and the desire to model more complex and more massive star clusters, hardware calculational accelerators, such as GRAPE special-purpose hardware or, more recently, GPUs (i.e. graphics cards), are generally utilised. In addition, simulations can be accelerated by adjusting parameters determining the calculation accuracy (i.e. changing the internal simulation time step used for each star). We extend our previous thorough comparison (Anders et al. 2009) of basic quantities as derived from simulations performed either with STARLAB/KIRA or NBODY6. Here we focus on differences arising from using different hardware accelerations (including the increasingly popular graphic card accelerations/GPUs) and different calculation accuracy settings. We use the large number of star cluster models (for a fixed stellar mass function, without stellar/binary evolution, primordial binaries, external tidal fields etc) already used in the previous paper, evolve them with STARLAB/KIRA (and NBODY6, where required), analyse them in a consistent way and compare the averaged results quantitatively. For this quantitative comparison, we apply the bootstrap algorithm for functional dependencies developed in our previous study. In general we find very high comparability of the simulation results, independent of the used computer hardware (including the hardware accelerators) and the used N-body code. For the tested accuracy settings we find that for reduced accuracy (i.e. time step at least a factor 2.5 larger than the standard setting) most simulation results deviate significantly from the results using standard settings. The remaining deviations are comprehensible and explicable.

Context: Some photometric studies of extragalactic globular cluster (GC) systems using the optical and near-infrared colour combination have suggested the presence of a large fraction of intermediate-age (2-8 Gyrs) GCs. Aims: We investigate the age distributions of GC systems in 14 E/S0 galaxies. Methods: We carry out a differential comparison of the (g-z) vs. (g-K) two-colour diagrams for GC systems in the different galaxies in order to see whether there are indications of age differences. We also compare the different GC systems with a few simple stellar population models. Results: No significant difference is detected in the mean ages of GCs among elliptical galaxies. S0 galaxies on the other hand, show evidence for younger GCs. Surprisingly, this appears to be driven by the more metal-poor clusters. The age distribution of GCs in NGC4365 seems to be similar to that of other large ellipticals (e.g. NGC4486, NGC4649). Padova SSPs with recently released isochrones for old ages (14 Gyrs) show less of an offset with respect to the photometry than previously published models. Conclusions: We suggest that E type galaxies assembled most of their GCs in a shorter and earlier period than S0 type galaxies. The latter galaxy type, seems to have a more extended period of GC formation/assembly.

Context. Rotational mixing in massive stars is a widely applied concept, with far-reaching consequences for stellar evolution, nucleosynthesis, and stellar explosions. Aims. Nitrogen surface abundances for a large and homogeneous sample of massive B-type stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) have recently been obtained by the ESO VLT-FLAMES Survey of Massive Stars. This sample is the first to cover a broad range of projected stellar rotational velocities, with a large enough sample of high quality data to allow for a statistically significant analysis. Here we use the sample to provide the first rigorous and quantitative test of the theory of rotational mixing in massive stars. Methods. We calculated a grid of stellar evolution models, using the VLT-FLAMES sample to calibrate some of the uncertain mixing processes. We developed a new population-synthesis code, which uses this grid to simulate a large population of stars with masses, ages, and rotational velocity distributions consistent with those from the VLT-FLAMES sample. The synthesized population is then filtered by the selection effects in the observed sample, to enable a direct comparison between the empirical results and theoretical predictions. Results. Our simulations reproduce the fraction of stars without significant nitrogen enrichment. However, the predicted number of rapid rotators with enhanced nitrogen is about twice as large as found observationally. Furthermore, two groups of stars (one consisting of slowly rotating, nitrogen-enriched objects and another consisting of rapidly rotating un-enriched objects) cannot be reproduced by our single-star population synthesis. Conclusions. Physical processes in addition to rotational mixing appear to be required to understand the population of massive mainsequence stars from the VLT-FLAMES sample. We discuss the possible role of binary stars and magnetic fields in the interpretation of our results. We find that the population of slowly rotating nitrogen-enriched stars is unlikely to be produced via mass transfer and subsequent tidal spin-down in close binary systems. A conclusive assessment of the role of rotational mixing in massive stars requires a quantitative analysis that also accounts for the effects of binarity and magnetic fields.

We discuss the recently developed bosonic dynamical mean-field theory (B-DMFT) framework, which maps a bosonic lattice model onto the self-consistent solution of a bosonic impurity model with coupling to a reservoir of normal and condensed bosons. The effective impurity action is derived in several ways: (i) as an approximation to the kinetic energy functional of the lattice problem, (ii) using a cavity approach and (iii) using an effective medium approach based on adding a one-loop correction to the self-consistently defined condensate. To solve the impurity problem, we use a continuous-time Monte Carlo algorithm based on the sampling of a perturbation expansion in the hybridization functions and the condensate wave function. As applications of the formalism, we present finite-temperature B-DMFT phase diagrams for the bosonic Hubbard model on a three-dimensional (3D) cubic and a 2D square lattice, the condensate order parameter as a function of chemical potential, critical exponents for the condensate, the approach to the weakly interacting Bose gas regime for weak repulsions and the kinetic energy as a function of temperature.

In recent years, a series of papers (Kroupa & Weidner 2003, Weidner & Kroupa 2004, Weidner & Kroupa 2005 and Weidner & Kroupa 2006, WK06 from now on) have proposed that the stellar content of an entire galaxy may not be well described by the same initial mass function (IMF) that describes the distribution of stellar masses in the star clusters, where these stars form. The reason is that star clusters also form with a cluster mass function (CMF), which is a power law with a power law index of ~−2. If the lowest mass clusters are of masses smaller than the physical upper mass limit for stars they will be deficient in high mass stars. Therefore, if the stellar content of all clusters is added together, making up the Integrated Galactic Initial Mass Function (IGIMF), the distribution of stellar masses may be steeper at the high mass end, depending on the exact shape of the CMF.

AbstractIf all stars form in clusters and both stars and clusters follow a power-law distribution which favours the creation of low-mass objects, the numerous low-mass clusters will be deficient in high-mass stars. Therefore, the stellar mass function integrated over the entire galaxy (the integrated galactic initial mass function; IGIMF) will be steeper at the high-mass end than the underlying stellar IMF. We show how the steepness of the IGIMF depends on the sampling method and on the assumptions made regarding the star cluster mass function. We also investigate the O-star content, integrated photometry and chemical enrichment of galaxies that result from several IGIMFs compared to more standard IMFs.

We present the effective action and self-consistency equations for the bosonic dynamical mean field approximation to the bosonic Hubbard model and show that it provides remarkably accurate phase diagrams and correlation functions. To solve the bosonic dynamical mean field equations, we use a continuous-time Monte Carlo method for bosonic impurity models based on a diagrammatic expansion in the hybridization and condensate coupling. This method is readily generalized to bosonic mixtures, spinful bosons, and Bose-Fermi mixtures.

[abridged] Stars are thought to be formed predominantly in clusters. The clusters are formed following a cluster initial mass function (CMF) similar to the stellar initial mass function (IMF). Both the IMF and the CMF favour low-mass objects. The numerous low-mass clusters will lack high mass stars. If the integrated galactic initial mass function originates from stars formed in clusters, the IGIMF could be steeper than the IMF. We investigate how well constrained this steepening is and how it depends on the choice of sampling method and CMF. We compare analytic sampling to several implementations of random sampling of the IMF, and different CMFs. We implement different IGIMFs into GALEV to obtain colours and metallicities for galaxies. Choosing different ways of sampling the IMF results in different IGIMFs. Depending on the lower cluster mass limit and the slope of the cluster mass function, the steepening varies between very strong and negligible. We find the size of the effect is continuous as a function of the power-law slope of the CMF, if the CMF extends to masses smaller than the maximum stellarmass. The number of O-stars detected by GAIA might help in judging on the importance of the IGIMF effect. The impact of different IGIMFs on integrated galaxy photometry is small, within the intrinsic scatter of observed galaxies. Observations of gas fractions and metallicities could rule out at least the most extreme sampling methods. As we still do not understand the details of star formation, one sampling method cannot be favoured over another. Also, the CMF at very low cluster masses is not well constrained observationally. These uncertainties need to be taken into account when using an IGIMF, with severe implications for galaxy evolution models and interpretations of galaxy observations.