Discrete star formation events in the central Bar of the Small
  Magellanic Cloud
  We present the results of the photometric analysis of a large part of the
main body of the Small Magellanic Cloud. Using the 6.5m Magellan Telescope at
the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, we have acquired deep B and I images in
four fields (0.44 degree each in diameter), yielding accurate photometry for
1,068,893 stars down to 24th magnitude, with a spatial resolution of 0.20
arcsec per pixel. Colour-magnitude diagrams and (completeness corrected)
luminosity functions have been constructed, yielding significant new results
that indicate at least two discrete star formation events over a period from
2.7 to 4 Gyr ago. Also, we have derived star formation rates as a function of
look back time and have found enhancements of SF between 4-6 Gyr and at younger
ages.
