Studies of binary star cluster candidates in the bar of the LMC I. SL 353 and SL 349

We present a detailed study of the cluster pair SL 353 & SL 349. This candi date binary cluster is located at the northwestern rim of the LMC bar. Base d on photometric data we find that both clusters are coeval with an age of 550 +/- 100 Myr. We use the Call triplet in the spectra of individual red g iants to derive radial velocities. Both components of the binary cluster ca ndidate show very similar mean velocities (approximate to 274+/-10 km s(-1) fur SL 349 and approximate to 279 +/- 4kms(-1) for SL353) while the field stars show lower velocities (approximate to 240 +/- 19 km s(-1)). These fin dings suggest a common origin of the two clusters from the same CMC. In thi s sense the cluster pair may constitute a true binary cluster. We furthermo re investigate the stellar densities in and around the star clusters and co mpare them with isopleths created from artificial, interacting as well as n on-interacting star clusters. Gravitational interaction leads to a distorti on which can also be found in the observed pair.