Binary star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud

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Abstract
We have surveyed the LMC cluster system and have identified 69 double clusters with a centre-to-centre separation of less than ∼1.3 arcmin (∼18 pc). We infer that a considerable fraction of these double clusters must be binaries since the calculated projection effects can account for only 31 of them. This inference is strongly supported by the fact that the ages available for some of the clusters of our sample (as determined from UBV photometry) are less than the computed times of merger or disruption of the binary cluster system. Furthermore, the space distribution of these pairs indicates that these clusters belong to a very young or young population.

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