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K.E. Johnson (Univ. Virginia), B. Whitney (SSI), R. Indebetouw (Univ. Virginia)
The creation of super star clusters (SSCs) is among the most intense modes of star formation in the universe. During their early evolutionary stages, these clusters are embedded in natal material and not visible in optical light. However, they are luminous thermal infrared sources. We present the infrared spectral energy distributions and colors of embedded SSCs from 3-D radiation transfer models. One of the main differences from smooth (1-D) models is that more near-IR light (scattered and direct from the central source) can escape in a clumpy 3-D cocoon. The near- and mid-IR SED of the same object can vary significantly with viewing angle, depending on the exact morphology of clumpy structure in the dust cocoon. We also present the evolution of the spectral energy distributions using simulated evolutionary sequences for both the 1-D and 3-D models. The models are particularly relevant for interpreting Spitzer Space Telescope observations of young clusters, where applying the results of 1-D models could lead to significant misinterpretation of the data.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 5
© 2004. The American Astronomical Society.