Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/10/2014
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Title: Star Clusters and High Mass X-ray Binaries: New Perspectives from Space Telescopes

Speaker: Rupali Chandar

Institute: University of Toledo

Location: ABB 102

Description:

There is now strong evidence that many and possibly most stars form in groups and clusters, rather than individually. Observations at optical wavelengths taken with the Hubble Space Telescope have radically altered our view of the types of star clusters that can form in galaxies today. I will discuss recent results on the properties of star clusters in nearby spiral, merging, and starburst galaxies, and present some unexpected patterns in the masses and ages of clusters across different galaxy types. X-ray observations of nearby galaxies taken with the Chandra X-ray Observatory have revealed many high mass x-ray binaries (HMXBs) â?? objects with either a black hole or neutron star orbited closely by a massive star. HMXBs are known to trace recent star formation, and are often found close to, but not coincident with, star clusters, leaving open the question of their origin. I will summarize our current understanding of the relationship between HMXBs and star clusters.