Globular Cluster Systems of Early-Type Galaxies
Abstract
Properties of 53 globular cluster systems are investigated. Strong correlations are found between parent galaxy luminosity and both the slope of the radial density profile for clusters and the width of the cluster color (metallicity) distribution. These correlations are in the sense that the most luminous early-type galaxies are embedded in cluster systems that have the shallowest radial gradients and exhibit the broadest color distributions. The data suggest a scenario in which luminous early-type galaxies have a more complex evolutionary history than fainter ones. A problem with the interpretation of the present data is that it is difficult (or impossible) to disentangle the strongly correlated effects of high parent galaxy luminosity, presence of a core or boxy isophotes, and shallow radial cluster density gradients.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9709042,
title = {Globular Cluster Systems of Early-Type Galaxies},
author = {Sidney van den Bergh},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9709042},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
Contains complete Table 1 which had been truncated. To appear in the Astrophysical Journal. Also available at http://www.hia.nrc.ca/eprints.html