A new method to derive star formation histories of galaxies from their star cluster distributions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method that uses the age distribution of the most massive star clusters in a galaxy to reconstruct its star formation history, accounting for observational uncertainties.

Contribution

The paper presents a new probabilistic approach linking the most massive star cluster's properties to galaxy star formation history, including uncertainty analysis.

Findings

Method effectively constrains star formation histories

Accounts for evolutionary effects on observable clusters

Provides a framework for applying to multiple galaxies

Abstract

Star formation happens in a clustered way which is why the star cluster population of a particular galaxy is closely related to the star formation history of this galaxy. From the probabilistic nature of a mass function follows that the mass of the most-massive cluster of a complete population, M_max, has a distribution with the total mass of the population as a parameter. The total mass of the population is connected to the star formation rate (SFR) by the length of a formation epoch. Since due to evolutionary effects only massive star clusters are observable up to high ages it is convenient to use this M_max(SFR) relation for the reconstruction of a star formation history. The age-distribution of the most-massive clusters can therefore be used to constrain the star formation history of a galaxy. The method, including an assessment of the inherent uncertainties, is introduced with this contribution, while following papers will apply this method to a number of galaxies.