The Age Distributions of Clusters and Field Stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud -- Implications for Star Formation Histories

TL;DR

This study uses a new population synthesis model to show that the observed differences in age distributions of clusters and field stars in the SMC can be explained by a single star formation history, challenging previous assumptions.

Contribution

The paper introduces the SPACE code that accounts for stellar evolution, infant mortality, and cluster dissolution to unify the star formation histories of clusters and field stars.

Findings

A single SFH explains both cluster and field star age distributions.

The model negates the need for separate star formation mechanisms.

Results support a unified view of star formation in the SMC.

Abstract

Differences between the inferred star formation histories (SFHs) of star clusters and field stars seem to suggest distinct star formation processes for the two. The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is an example of a galaxy where such a discrepancy is observed. We model the observed age distributions of the SMC clusters and field stars using a new population synthesis code, SPACE, that includes stellar evolution, infant mortality and cluster dissolution. We find that the two observed age distributions can be explained by a single SFH, thus eliminating the need to assume two separate mechanisms for star formation.