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WHERE ARE MOST OF THE GLOBULAR CLUSTERS IN TODAY’S...
Journal article

WHERE ARE MOST OF THE GLOBULAR CLUSTERS IN TODAY’S UNIVERSE?

Abstract

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 functions gives the relative number of GCs contained by all galaxies at a given L. It is shown that GCs, in this universal sense, are most commonly found in galaxies within a narrow range around L⋆. In addition, blue (metal-poor) GCs outnumber the red (metal-richer) ones globally by 4 to 1 when all galaxies are added, pointing to the conclusion that the earliest stages of galaxy formation were especially favorable to forming massive, dense star clusters.

Authors

Harris WE

Journal

The Astronomical Journal, Vol. 151, No. 4,

Publisher

American Astronomical Society

Publication Date

April 1, 2016

DOI

10.3847/0004-6256/151/4/102

ISSN

0004-6256

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