New aspects of star cluster physics [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Jan Pflamm-Altenburg

New aspects ofstar cluster physicsDissertationzurErlangung des Doktorgrades (Dr. rer. nat)derMathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakult¨atderRheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat¨ Bonnvorgelegt vonJan Pflamm-AltenburgausKielBonnNovember, 2009Angefertigt mit Genehmigung der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultat¨ derRheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat¨ Bonn1. Gutachter Prof. Dr. Pavel Kroupa2. Gutachter Prof. Dr. Norbert LangerTag der Promotion: 09. Juni 2010Erscheinungsjahr 2010SummaryStar clusters are the birth-sites of both low- and high-mass stars and can be consideredto be the building blocks of galaxies. Therefore, the understanding of the formation,evolution, and death of star clusters is of fundamental importance for the understandingof galaxy evolution. This thesis focuses on several new aspects of star cluster physics:For a long time the stellar populations of star clusters were believed to be single agedpopulations. But recent observations have cast a doubt on this simple picture. Basedon these observations this thesis shows that i) the capture of older field stars duringstar cluster formation can mimic apparently prolonged star formation, and that ii) gasaccretion by massive star clusters can account for multiple stellar populations.