Kernel Density Estimation in the Study of Star Clusters

Abstract

The kernel estimator method is used to evaluate the surface and spatial star number density in star clusters. Both density maps and radial density profiles are plotted. These estimates are used to derive the cluster size, the number of cluster stars and the cluster mass, and to study the cluster structure. The kernel estimator is also used to plot the luminosity function, mass function, the velocity distribution, and Hess diagrams for star clusters. The advantages of the kernel estimator method and technical details of its use are illustrated by modern results for the open cluster NGC 4337.

Keywords

• methods: statistical
• globular clusters: general
• open clusters and associations: general