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Paper: Density Profiles of Star Clusters in the Magellanic Clouds
Volume: 424, Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the Hellenic Astronomical Society
Page: 236
Authors: Nikolov, G.; Dapergolas, A.; Kontizas, M.; Golev, V.; Belcheva, M.
Abstract: The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) provide the unique opportunity to study young and populous star clusters, some of them elliptical in shape, or members of a multiple system, which are almost absent in the Milky Way. We have selected a sample of Magellanic Clouds’ star clusters, some of them candidates for being components of a multiple system, with the purpose of investigating by means of their number density profiles. This approach allows us to determine the radial distribution of the stars of different magnitude. Since the brighter stars have larger masses than the fainter stars, the profiles can be used to trace mass-segregation in the clusters. We have fitted a theoretical model by Elson, Fall & Freeman (1987) to determine the core radius and the concentration of the stars for each magnitude range. We present the density profiles and the derived structural parameters for the selected cluster sample. Some of the clusters show indication of mass segregation.
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