Bibcode
Dufton, P. L.; Smartt, S. J.; Lee, J. K.; Ryans, R. S. I.; Hunter, I.; Evans, C. J.; Herrero, A.; Trundle, C.; Lennon, D. J.; Irwin, M. J.; Kaufer, A.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 457, Issue 1, October I 2006, pp.265-280
Advertised on:
10
2006
Journal
Citations
101
Refereed citations
88
Description
An analysis is presented of VLT-FLAMES spectroscopy for three Galactic
clusters, NGC 3293, NGC 4755 and NGC 6611. Non-LTE model atmosphere
calculations have been used to estimate effective temperatures (from
either the helium spectrum or the silicon ionization equilibrium) and
gravities (from the hydrogen spectrum). Projected rotational velocities
have been deduced from the helium spectrum (for fast and moderate
rotators) or the metal line spectrum (for slow rotators). The origin of
the low gravity estimates for apparently near main sequence objects is
discussed and is related to the stellar rotational velocity. The
atmospheric parameters have been used to estimate cluster distances
(which are generally in good agreement with previous determinations) and
these have been used to estimate stellar luminosities and evolutionary
masses. The observed Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams are compared with
theoretical predictions and some discrepancies including differences in
the main sequence luminosities are discussed. Cluster ages have been
deduced and evidence for non-coeval star formation is found for all
three of the clusters. Projected rotational velocities for targets in
the older clusters, NGC 3293 and NGC 4755, have been found to be
systematically larger than those for the field, confirming recent
results in other similar age clusters. The distribution of projected
rotational velocities are consistent with a Gaussian distribution of
intrinsic rotational velocities. For the relatively unevolved targets in
the older clusters, NGC 3293 and NGC 4755, the peak of the velocity
distribution would be 250 km s-1 with a
full-width-half-maximum of approximately 180 km s-1. For NGC
6611, the sample size is relatively small but implies a lower mean
rotational velocity. This may be evidence for the spin-down effect due
to angular momentum loss through stellar winds, although our results are
consistent with those found for very young high mass stars. For all
three clusters we deduce present day mass functions with Γ-values
in the range of -1.5 to -1.8, which are similar to other young stellar
clusters in the Milky Way.