Seeing deconvolution of globular clusters in M31

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (21) References (64) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Seeing Deconvolution of Globular Clusters in M31 Bendinelli, O. ; Parmeggiani, G. ; Zavatti, F. ; Djorgovski, S. Abstract Seeing deconvolution of surface-brightness profiles using the regularized multi-Gaussian method is potentially a powerful method for extraction of morphological information from digital images. Here we illustrate this method by applying it to CCD images of six globular clusters in M31. We demonstrate that it is possible to make some judgments about the dynamical structure of M31 globulars, using good-seeing, deconvolved CCD images obtained from the ground; for example, whether they have post-core-collapse morphology or not. The effective resolution limit of the method is about 0.1-0.3 arcsec, for the CCD images obtained in FWHM ~ 1 arcsec seeing, and sampling of 0.3 arcsec/pixel. We also demonstrate the robustness of the method, i.e., its insensivity to the exact choices of the functional representation of the point-spread function, details of the deconvolution technique, etc. The situation is equivalent in terms of angular resolution and sampling to observing globular clusters in the Virgo Cluster (e.g., around M87) with the Hubble Space Telescope, and the methods demonstrated here may be applied to HST data in the future. Dynamical structure of globular clusters, e.g., propensity for the post-core-collapse morphology as a function of position in the host galaxy, reflects the global dynamical evolution of a globular cluster system, as was already demonstrated for our galaxy. Similar studies of large samples of globulars in M31 and other Local Group galaxies from the ground, and out to Virgo with the HST, can provide valuable insights about the mass distribution in galaxies, and the formation and evolution of their globular cluster systems. This pilot study is a step in this direction. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: March 1990 DOI: 10.1086/115373 Bibcode: 1990AJ.....99..774B Keywords: Andromeda Galaxy; Globular Clusters; Seeing (Astronomy); Brightness Distribution; Charge Coupled Devices; Hubble Space Telescope; Sky Surveys (Astronomy); Astronomy; CLUSTERS: GLOBULAR full text sources ADS | data products NED (7) SIMBAD (4)