Related papers: The Efficiency of Globular Cluster Formation
Dwarf galaxies are known to exhibit an unusual richness in numbers of globular clusters (GCs), property quantified by the specific frequency ($S_N$), which is high for dwarf and giant elliptical galaxies, but with a minimum for…
Based on a new large, homogeneous photometric database of 35 Galactic globular clusters (GGCs), a set of distance and reddening independent relative age indicators has been measured. The observed D(V-I)_2.5 and D(V)(HB-TO) vs. metallicity…
Most old globular clusters (GCs) in the Galaxy are observed to have internal chemical abundance spreads in light elements. We discuss a new GC formation scenario based on hierarchical star formation within fractal molecular clouds. In the…
The fraction of stars forming in compact, gravitationally bound clusters (the `cluster formation efficiency' or CFE) is an important quantity for deriving the spatial clustering of stellar feedback and for tracing star formation using…
The process of radiative feedback in Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs) is an important mechanism for limiting star cluster formation through the heating and ionization of the surrounding gas. We explore the degree to which radiative feedback…
The formation of galaxy clusters in hierarchically clustering universes is investigated by means of high resolution N-body simulations. The simulations are performed using a newly developed multi-mass scheme which combines a PM code with a…
Using a new method to estimate total galaxy mass (M$_{\rm T}$) and two samples of low luminosity galaxies containing measurements of the number of globular clusters (GCs) per galaxy (N$_{\rm GC}$), we revisit the N$_{\rm GC}-$M$_{\rm T}$…
We have studied globular cluster systems (GCSs) around elliptical galaxies in Hickson compact groups using multi-band deep, high quality images from Keck, VLT and CFHT. Analyzing the luminosity functions, specific frequencies, color and…
Internal chemical abundance spreads are one of fundamental properties of globular clusters (GCs) in the Galaxy. In order to understand the origin of such abundance spreads, we numerically investigate GC formation from massive molecular…
[Abridged] Evidence favouring a Gaussian initial globular cluster mass function has accumulated over recent years. We show that an approximately Gaussian mass function is naturally generated from a power-law mass distribution of…
All globular clusters (GCs) studied to date show evidence for internal variation in their light element abundances. These variations have been interpreted as evidence for multiple star formation episodes within GCs, with secondary episodes…
Globular Cluster (GC) systems of most early-type galaxies show bimodal optical color distributions, yet their Luminosity Functions (LFs) look like simple Gaussians with turn-over magnitudes used for determination of distances and the Hubble…
The total number of globular clusters (GCs) in a galaxy rises continuously with the galaxy luminosity L, while the relative number of galaxies decreases with L following the Schechter function. The product of these two very nonlinear…
The formation of massive stellar clusters is intricately linked to star formation on local and global scales. All actively star forming galaxies are forming clusters, and the local initial conditions likely determine whether bound massive…
Shells in Elliptical Galaxies are faint, sharp-edged features, believed to provide evidence of a recent ($\sim 0.5 - 2 \times 10^9$ years ago) merger event. We analyse the Globular Cluster (GC) systems of six shell elliptical galaxies, to…
In the past decade, the notion that globular clusters (GCs) are composed of coeval stars with homogeneous initial chemical compositions has been challenged by growing evidence that they host an intricate stellar population mix, likely…
We first discuss recent progress in using the Milky Way globular cluster (GC) system as a `test-bed' for properties derived from integrated spectra and stellar population models. Standard techniques may give rise to spuriously high…
The mass distribution and chemical composition of globular cluster (GC) systems preserve fossil record of the early stages of galaxy formation. The observed distribution of GC colors within massive early-type galaxies in the ACS Virgo…
We present the results of our detailed WFPC2-based photometric study of the globular cluster systems (GCS) of over 60 elliptical and S0 galaxies. Approximately 50\% of the GCSs of ellipticals, and at least 15-20\% of S0s reveal bimodality…
As ancient, gravitationally bound stellar populations, globular clusters are abundant, vibrant laboratories characterized by high frequencies of dynamical interactions coupled to complex stellar evolution. Using surface brightness and…