paper

On the origin of the Schechter-like mass function of young star clusters in disk galaxies

arXiv:1611.07990 · doi:10.1093/mnras/stw2953

Abstract

The mass function of freshly formed star clusters is empirically often described as a power law. However the cluster mass function of populations of young clusters over the scale of a galaxy has been found to be described by a Schechter-function. Here we address this apparent discrepancy. We assume that in an annulus of an isolated self- regulated radially-exponential axially-symmetric disk galaxy, the local mass function of very young (embedded) clusters is a power law with an upper mass limit which depends on the local star formation rate density. Radial integration of this mass function yields a galaxy-wide embedded cluster mass function. This integrated embedded cluster mass function has a Schechter-type form, which results from the addition of many low mass clusters forming at all galactocentric distances and rarer massive clusters only forming close to the center of the galaxy.

arXiv comment11 pages 11 figures 1 table to be published in MNRAS

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