Supermassive stars have been proposed as the solution to a number of longstanding problems in globular cluster formation. The hypothetical stars have been suggested as potential polluters responsible for the observed chemical peculiarities within those clusters. In recent hydrodynamic simulations, we have demonstrated that accretion discs around such stars are stable even with large stellar accretion and flyby rates and produce H2O kilomasers. We propose that the W1 kilomaser, associated with a super star cluster in the starburst galaxy NGC 253, may arise in an accretion disc around a supermassive star with a mass of around 4000 Mʘ.

We have made a lot of progress in the study of the MW. In spite of this, much of our Galaxy remains unknown, and amazing breakthroughs await to be made in the exploration of the far side of the Galaxy. Focussing on the Galactic extinction horizon problem with current surveys like the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) and the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea Survey (VVV) and its extension VVVX, the extinction horizon is a fundamental difficulty, and it is my intention here to reveal how profound is our ignorance, and also to try to suggest ways for improvement with future near-IR Galactic surveys.

. We present a significantly improved version of our numerical code JASMINE, that can now solve the Jeans equations for axisymmetric models of stellar systems, composed of an arbitrary number of stellar populations, a Dark Matter halo, and a central Black Hole. The stellar components can have different structural (density profile, flattening, mass, scale length), dynamical (rotational support, velocity dispersion anisotropy), and population (age, metallicity, Initial Mass Function, mass-to-light ratio) properties. These models, when combined with observations, will allow to investigate important issues, such as quantifying the systematic effects of IMF variations, of mass-to-light ratio gradients, and of different stellar kinematic components (e.g. counter rotating disks, kinematically decoupled cores) on luminosity-weighted properties. The developed analytical and numerical framework aims at modeling Early-Type Galaxies, but it can also be applied to dwarf Spheroidal galaxies and Globular Clusters.

We present a scenario for the formation of super star clusters (with masses larger than 105 M⊙) in which multiple generations of star formation will occur. We stress that the gas left over (∼50%) from first generation (1G) star formation should be retained in such massive clusters (thanks to their deep potential wells, with escape speeds larger than 10 km/s) and be available for a second or even third generation of stars, with the basic HeCNONaMgAl chemical anomalies observed in globular clusters, the latter assumed to be the descendents of these super star clusters. One new feature of this model is the role of C+ cooling of the dense warm trapped neutral or ionized gas which defines a characteristic temperature of ∼100 K, leading to a second generation (2G) of stars with a top-heavy IMF (M > 5 M⊙). The ashes of the 2G very massive stars (VMS, M > 100 M⊙) sampled in this IMF quickly pollute and dilute the left-over pristine gas with their slow winds (that cannot escape the cluster), while the majority of massive stars develop fast winds (that actually can escape from the cluster). Meanwhile, much of the remaining dense T = 100 K gas contracts gravitationally in the massive cluster and may reach densities of the order of 109 cm−3, in which case the Jeans mass drops to about 0.2 M⊙ and leads to a substantial low-mass pre-MS 3G population (most likely on a very short timescale). In this way, we may solve both the mass budget and the excess Helium problem in proto-globular clusters, while also explaining the Na-O and Mg-Al anti-correlations resulting from hot H-burning of very massive stars at 45MK and 75MK, respectively.

The origin of the chemical anomalies in star clusters is still an open question, although much effort has been employed both from a theoretical and observational point of view. The exploration of the dependence of such multiple stellar populations based on certain cluster properties (e.g. mass, age, metallicity) has represented a compelling line of investigation so far. Here I report an overview of the results obtained from our latest surveys aimed at characterising the phenomenon of chemical variations in star clusters that are much younger with respect to the ancient globular clusters. The fundamental question we are asking is whether these abundance patterns are only restricted to the old massive clusters; and if not, is there a difference between young and old objects?

Several observational and theoretical studies suggest that the initial mass function (IMF) slope for massive stars in globular clusters (GCs) depends on the initial cloud density and metallicity, such that the IMF becomes increasingly top-heavy with decreasing metallicity and increasing the gas density of the forming object. Using N-body simulations of GCs starting with a top-heavy IMF and undergo early gas expulsion within a Milky Way-like potential, we show how such a cluster would evolve. By varying the degree of top-heaviness, we calculate the dissolution time and the minimum cluster mass needed for the cluster to survive after 12 Gyr of evolution.

A vast number of observed galactic nuclei are known to harbour a central supermassive black hole (SMBH). In their early lifetime, these systems might have witnessed the strong interaction between the SMBH and massive star clusters formed in the inner galactic regions. Due to the strong tidal field exerted from the SMBH, clusters are likely to undergo tidal disruption, releasing their stars all around the SMBH, and possibly driving the formation of a nuclear cluster (NC). This mechanism can contribute to populate galactic nuclei with intermediate-mass black holes (IMBH). Interactions with the central SMBH can lead to the formation of tight massive BH binaries (MBBH) that undergo coalescence via gravitational waves (GW) emission. We discuss this mechanism in the context of the Milky Way centre, exploring the possibility that SgrA*, the Galactic SMBH, has an IMBH companion.

The identification of young massive star clusters (YMCs) at high redshift is becoming a real fact. We present recent results from Hubble deep imaging and VLT/ MUSE - X-Shooter observations boosted by strong gravitational lensing. We report on two parsec-scale star-forming systems at z = 6.145 and 2.37 (>10 Gyrs of look back time) currently representing the best candidate high-z YMCs. All of this also implies that the search for globular cluster precursors has already begun.

An outline is given of the main research programs currently in progress at the Carter Observatory. These include: the establishment of a set of standard star magnitudes and colours in the Vilnius seven-colour photometric system; the study of galactic and extragalactic star clusters using Vilnius and broadband photometries; binary stars and the development of APTs; and the history of Australasian astronomy. The role of Carter Observatory Honorary Research Associates is described and mention is made of the joint New Zealand/Japan program to observe gravitational microlensing effects, discover variable stars and patrol selected clusters of galaxies for supernovae.

The stellar content of young massive star clusters emit large amounts of Lyman continuum photons and inject momentum into the inter stellar medium (ISM) by the strong stellar winds of the most massive stars in the cluster. When the most massive stars explode as supernovae, large amounts of mechanical energy are injected in the ISM. A detailed study of the ISM around these massive cluster provides insights on the effect of cluster feedback.

We present high quality integral field spectroscopy taken with VLT/MUSE of two starburst galaxies: ESO 338-IG04 and Haro 11. Both galaxies contain a significant number of super star clusters. The MUSE data provide us with an unprecedented view of the state and kinematics of the ionized gas in the galaxy allowing us to study the effect of stellar feedback on small and large spatial scales. We present our recent results on studying the ISM state of these two galaxies. The data of both galaxies show that the mechanical and ionization feedback of the super star clusters in the galaxy modify the state and kinematics of the ISM substancially by creating highly ionized bubbles around the cluster, making the central part of the galaxy highly ionized. This shows that the HII regions around the individual clusters are density bounded, allowing the ionizing photons to escape and ionize the ISM further out.

The Herschel/HOBYS key program allows to statistically study the formation of 10−20 M⊙ stars. The IRAM/W43-HERO large program is itself dedicated to the much more extreme W43 molecular complex, which forms stars up to 50 M⊙. Both reveal high-density cloud filaments of several pc3, which are forming clusters of OB-type stars. Given their activity, these so-called mini-starburst cloud ridges could be seen as “miniature and instant models” of starburst galaxies. Both surveys also strongly suggest that high-mass prestellar cores do not exist, in agreement with the dynamical formation of cloud ridges. The HOBYS and W43 surveys are necessary steps towards Galaxy-wide studies of high-mass star formation.

Herschel revealed high-density cloud filaments of several pc3, which are forming clusters of OB-type stars. Counting Herschel protostars gives a direct measure of the mass of stars forming in a period of ~105 yrs, the “instantaneous” star formation activity. Given their activity, these so-called mini-starburst cloud ridges could be seen as “miniature and instant models” of starburst galaxies. Their characteristics could shed light on the origin of massive clusters.

We investigate the formation of young massive clusters near the nuclei in NGC 6946, IC 342, Maffei II, and NGC 7714, using ground-based mid-infrared [NeII] imaging. We derive the cluster formation efficiency and cluster mass function, and the results suggest that environmental effects on YMC formation may not be significant.

We simulate the formation and evolution of young star clusters from turbulent molecular clouds using smoothed-particle hydrodynamics and direct N-body methods. We find that the shape of the cluster mass function that originates from an individual molecular cloud is consistent with a Schechter function with power-law slopes of β = −1.73. The superposition of mass functions turn out to have a power-law slope of < −2. The mass of the most massive cluster formed from a single molecular cloud with mass Mg scales with 6.1 M0.51g. The molecular clouds that tend to form massive clusters are much denser than those typical found in the Milky Way. The velocity dispersion of such molecular clouds reaches 20km s−1 and it is consistent with the relative velocity of the molecular clouds observed near NGC 3603 and Westerlund 2, for which a triggered star formation by cloud-cloud collisions is suggested.

Recent progress is reviewed in describing the physical processes of star cluster formation, from the viewpoint of theoretical models and numerical simulations. In many studies, supersonic turbulent flows structure the gas into a network of clumps, filaments, and cores. Self-gravity drives star formation, moderated by turbulence, magnetic fields, and stellar feedback. Recent models and simulations describe the core mass function, the protostar mass function, and the star-formation rate. Several simulations indicate similar protostar birthrates, a mass advantage for firstborn protostars, and accretion rates that are superthermal and nearly constant. Recently observed core-filament systems with sonic line widths and parsec lengths present challenges for turbulent models.

We compute the expected spectral energy distribution of stellar populations of mass characteristic of star clusters taking into account stochastic fluctuations in the number of stars populating the IMF, and the presence of interacting binary stars in the cluster population. We evaluate under what circumstances the UV excess phenomenon is expected to appear in star clusters of different mass, and which is its most likely source: the stochastic fluctuations, the result of binary interactions, or a mixture of both.

The centers of galaxies host two distinct, compact components: massive black holes and nuclear star clusters. Nuclear star clusters are the densest stellar systems in the universe, with masses of ~ 107M⊙ and sizes of ~ 5pc. They are almost ubiquitous at the centres of nearby galaxies with masses similar to, or lower than the Milky Way. Their occurrence both in spirals and dwarf elliptical galaxies appears to be a strong function of total galaxy light or mass. Nucleation fractions are up to 100% for total galaxy magnitudes of MB = −19mag or total galaxy luminosities of about LB = 1010L⊙ and falling nucleation fractions for both smaller and higher galaxy masses. Although nuclear star clusters are so common, their formation mechanisms are still under debate. The two main formation scenarios proposed are the infall and subsequent merging of star clusters and the in-situ formation of stars at the center of a galaxy. Here, I review the state-of-the-art of nuclear star cluster observations concerning their structure, stellar populations and kinematics. These observations are used to constrain the proposed formation scenarios for nuclear star clusters. Constraints from observations show, that likely both cluster infall and in-situ star formation are at work. The relative importance of these two mechanisms is still subject of investigation.

We discuss constraints on the formation of multiple populations in globular clusters (GCs) imposed by their present-day kinematics (velocity dispersion and anisotropy) and spatial distribution. We argue that the observational evidence collected so far in the outer parts of clusters is generally consistent with an enriched population forming more centrally concentrated compared to the primordial population, in agreement with all the scenarios proposed to date (in some cases by design), but not sufficient to favour a particular scenario. We highlight that the differential rotation of subpopulations is a signature that may provide crucial new constraints and allow us to distinguish between various scenarios. Finally, we discuss the spatial distribution of subpopulations in the central regions of GCs and speculate that mass segregation between subpopulations may be due to a difference in their binary fraction.

The Antennae galaxies are a spectacular example of a burst of star formation triggered by the encounter of two galaxies, being an ideal source to understand how the dynamics of galaxy mergers drives star formation. We present archive ALMA CO(3−2) and VLT near-IR H2 spectro-imaging observations, and new ALMA 13CO(2−1) and dust continuum observations, at ~50 pc resolution. Combining tracers of density and velocity structure of the gas and its energetics, we demonstrate that star formation involves a complex interplay of merger-driven gas dynamics and turbulence, and the dissipation of the gas kinetic energy. We focus on a compact, bright H2 source, associated with cold molecular gas and dust continuum emission, located where the velocity gradient in the interaction region is observed to be the largest. The characteristics of this source suggest that we are witnessing the formation, initiated by turbulent dissipation, of a cloud massive enough (~4×106M⊙) to form a super star cluster within 1 Myr.

Binary stars possibly exists in most galaxies and star clusters. Their evolution can lead to significant change in stellar population studies. Binary star to fit group (BS2fit: ∞) has built up a binary star stellar population synthesis model and used it in a few works. This page is to introduce the model and its possible applications.