  We study the evolution and observability of young compact star clusters
within about 200pc of the Galactic center. Calculations are performed using
direct N-body integration on the GRAPE-4, including the effects of both stellar
and binary evolution and the external influence of the Galaxy. The results of
these detailed calculations are used to calibrate a simplified model applicable
over a wider range of cluster initial conditions. We find that clusters within
200 pc from the Galactic center dissolve within about 70 Myr. However, their
projected densities drop below the background density in the direction of the
Galactic center within 20 Myr, effectively making these clusters undetectable
after that time. Clusters farther from the Galactic center but at the same
projected distance are more strongly affected by this selection effect, and may
go undetected for their entire lifetimes. Based on these findings, we conclude
that the region within 200 pc of the Galactic center could easily harbor some
50 clusters with properties similar to those of the Arches or the Quintuplet
systems.
