scholarly journals Evolution of Globular Cluster Systems in Elliptical Galaxies

2002 ◽  
Vol 207 ◽  
pp. 664-672
Author(s):  
Enrico Vesperini
Keyword(s):  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Total Mass ◽  
Mass Function ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Host Galaxies ◽  
Evolutionary Processes ◽  
Cluster Systems ◽  
Massive Galaxies

We study the evolution of the main properties of globular cluster systems in elliptical galaxies. In particular, we focus our attention on the evolution of the mass function of globular cluster systems (GCMF), on the fraction of surviving clusters and on the ratio of the final to initial total mass in clusters and we explore the dependence of these properties on the structure of the host galaxy and on the initial GCMF. We show that the observed universality of the GCMF parameters in galaxies with different structures can be reconciled with the effects of evolutionary processes and with the significant differences in the efficiency of evolutionary processes in different host galaxies; the final mean masses of globular cluster systems in massive galaxies can be very similar to each other with a small galaxy-to-galaxy dispersion in spite of large differences in the fraction of surviving clusters.

scholarly journals Dynamical Evolution of Globular Cluster Systems

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 193-194
Author(s):  
E. Vesperini
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Evolution ◽  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Mass Function ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Dynamical Friction ◽  
Evolutionary Processes ◽  
Merging Galaxies ◽  
Cluster Systems

AbstractI present the results of a number of simulations of the dynamical evolution of globular cluster systems (GCS) in elliptical galaxies including the effects of two-body relaxation, dynamical friction, stellar evolution and the effects of the tidal field of the host galaxy. The results of detailed models for the evolution of the M87 GCS are also presented. A significant number of clusters are disrupted by evolutionary processes and the properties of many of the clusters which survive are effected by dynamical evolution. In spite of large differences in the efficiency of evolutionary processes in different galaxies, the final galaxy-to-galaxy variation of the GCS mean mass and its radial variation within individual galaxies in my simulations are small and consistent with observations. The effects of dissolution of low-concentration clusters due to mass loss through stellar evolution are also discussed and are shown to play an important role in the evolution of a power-law GCS mass function (GCMF), similar to that observed in young cluster systems in merging galaxies, towards a final GCMF with properties consistent with observations.

scholarly journals Observational Constraints on the Formation and Evolution of Globular Cluster Systems

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S246) ◽  
pp. 394-402
Author(s):  
Stephen E. Zepf
Keyword(s):  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Mass Function ◽  
Cluster System ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Cluster Systems ◽  
Cluster Mass ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
Globular Cluster System

AbstractThis paper reviews some of the observational properties of globular cluster systems, with a particular focus on those that constrain and inform models of the formation and dynamical evolution of globular cluster systems. I first discuss the observational determination of the globular cluster luminosity and mass function. I show results from new very deep HST data on the M87 globular cluster system, and discuss how these constrain models of evaporation and the dynamical evolution of globular clusters. The second subject of this review is the question of how to account for the observed constancy of the globular cluster mass function with distance from the center of the host galaxy. The problem is that a radial trend is expected for isotropic cluster orbits, and while the orbits are observed to be roughly isotropic, no radial trend in the globular cluster system is observed. I review three extant proposals to account for this, and discuss observations and calculations that might determine which of these is most correct. The final subject is the origin of the very weak mass-radius relation observed for globular clusters. I discuss how this strongly constrains how globular clusters form and evolve. I also note that the only viable current proposal to account for the observed weak mass-radius relation naturally effects the globular cluster mass function, and that these two problems may be closely related.

scholarly journals A star cluster view of the life of massive galaxies

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S295) ◽  
pp. 315-315
Author(s):  
Myung Gyoon Lee ◽  
Hong Soo Park
Keyword(s):  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Star Cluster ◽  
Cluster Systems ◽  
Massive Galaxies ◽  
Cluster View

AbstractWe present an overview of recent findings on the kinematics, age, and metallicity of globular cluster systems in nearby giant elliptical galaxies and their implications for understanding how giant elliptical galaxies formed and evolved.

scholarly journals Formation Scenarios for Globular Clusters and Their Host Galaxies

2002 ◽  
Vol 207 ◽  
pp. 653-663
Author(s):  
Stephen E. Zepf
Keyword(s):  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Morphological Type ◽  
Elliptical Galaxies ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Galaxy Mergers ◽  
Host Galaxies ◽  
Cluster Systems ◽  
The Future ◽  
Type Studies

This review focuses on how galaxies and their globular cluster systems form. I first discuss the now fairly convincing evidence that some globular clusters form in galaxy starbursts/mergers. One way these observations are valuable is they place important constraints on the physics of the formation of globular clusters. Moreover, it is natural to associate the typically metal-rich clusters forming in mergers with the substantial metal-rich population of globulars around ellipticals, thereby implying an important role for galaxy mergers in the evolution of elliptical galaxies. I also highlight some new observational efforts aimed at constraining how and when elliptical galaxies and their globular cluster systems formed. These include systematic studies of the number of globular clusters around galaxies as a function of morphological type, studies of the kinematics of globular cluster populations in elliptical galaxies, and a variety of observational programs aimed at constraining the relative ages of globular clusters within galaxies as a function of cluster metallicity. The understanding of the formation of globular cluster systems and their host galaxies has grown dramatically in recent years, and the future looks equally promising.

scholarly journals The Globular Cluster Systems of Ellipticals and Spirals

2002 ◽  
Vol 207 ◽  
pp. 238-244
Author(s):  
Duncan A. Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Globular Cluster ◽  
Host Galaxies ◽  
Cluster Systems

In this overview of the key properties of globular cluster (GC) systems I show that the GCs in elliptical and spiral host galaxies have more in common than previously thought. After contrasting these properties I briefly comment on GC formation.

scholarly journals Open, Massive and Globular Clusters — Part of the Same Family?

2002 ◽  
Vol 207 ◽  
pp. 421-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren S. Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Cluster Formation ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Young Star ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Host Galaxies ◽  
Cluster Systems ◽  
Physical Description ◽  
Super Star Clusters

Populations of young star clusters show significant differences even among “normal” disk galaxies. In this contribution I discuss how properties of young cluster systems are related to those of their host galaxies, based on a recent study of clusters in a sample of 22 nearby spiral galaxies. Luminous young clusters similar to the “super” star clusters observed in starbursts and mergers exist in several of these galaxies, and it is found that the luminosity of the brightest star cluster as well as the specific luminosity of the cluster systems both correlate well with the host galaxy star formation rate. When considering star clusters in different environments the traditional distinction between “open”, “massive” and “globular” clusters breaks down, underscoring the need for a universal physical description of cluster formation.

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