The Birth of Super Star Clusters

Super star clusters (SSCs) are the most extreme star forming environments in the local universe. Packed with massive stars, these clusters have a major impact on the energetics and morphology of galaxies. Massive stars ionize the interstellar medium and power the infrared radiation of dust, and their stellar winds and supernovae release mechanical energy that can trigger further star formation. In addition, the most massive and dense SSCs are the likely progenitors of ancient globular clusters. For all of these reasons, there is wide-spread interest in the birth and evolution of SSCs. The goal of my research is to improve the current understanding of SSC formation and early evolution by combining observations of starburst galaxies spanning the radio to ultraviolet wavelength regimes. This work capitalizes on the unique capabilities of the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes and the Very Large Array to probe the gaseous and dusty sites of star formation at high resolution.