The possible origin of the faint fuzzy star clusters in NGC 1023
Abstract
In the lenticular galaxy NGC 1023 a new population of star clusters (``faint fuzzies'') was recently discovered by Larsen & Brodie. These clusters are found inside the disc and are faint (23 < V < 24 mag) and extended with effective radii of reff approx. 7 to 15 pc. We present here N-body calculations of a likely formation-scenario through merging star clusters in clusters of star clusters (super-clusters). Such super-clusters are observed to form in interacting galaxies. The resulting merger objects have masses comparable to the ``faint fuzzies'' and show large effective radii (reff > 7 pc). Even though these objects are suffering from strong tidal forces they are able to survive and reach the estimated ages of the extended star clusters in NGC 1023.
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