Are the compact star clusters in M82 evolving towards globular clusters?

TL;DR

This study analyzes over 650 star clusters in M82 using HST data to assess their evolution and potential to become globular clusters, focusing on their properties and survival prospects.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of young and intermediate-age clusters in M82, exploring their evolutionary paths towards globular cluster status.

Findings

Many clusters have properties consistent with future globular clusters.

The survival rate of clusters depends on their mass and environment.

Some clusters show signs of long-term stability and evolution.

Abstract

Recent HST/ACS images of M82 covering the entire galaxy have been used to detect star clusters. The galaxy is known to contain a young population (age < 10 Myr) in its starburst nucleus, surrounded by a post-starburst disk of age < 1 Gyr. We detect more than 650 star clusters in this galaxy, nearly 400 of them in the post-starburst disk. These data have been used to derive the luminosity, mass and size functions separately for the young nuclear, and intermediate-age disk clusters. In this contribution, we discuss the evolutionary status of these clusters, especially, on the chances of some of these clusters surviving to become old globular clusters.