Metal-rich Globular Clusters Research Articles

Young globular clusters in an old S0: clues to the formation history of NGC 4570

We here present our first attempt to use Globular Clusters as tracers of their parent galaxy’s formation history. Globular Cluster Systems of most early-type galaxies feature two peaks in their optical colour distributions. Blue-peak Globular Clusters are generally believed to be old and metal-poor. The ages, metallicities, and the origin of the red-peak Globular Clusters are being debated. We here present our analysis of the ages and metallicities of the red peak Globular Clusters in the Virgo S0 NGC 4570 using deep Ks-band photometry from NTT/SOFI (ESO program ID 079.B-0511) for the red-peak Globular Clusters in combination with HST-ACS archival data to break the age-metallicity degeneracy. We analyze the combined g, z, and Ks spectral energy distribution by comparison with a large grid of GALEV evolutionary synthesis models for star clusters with different ages and metallicities. This analysis reveals a substantial population of intermediate-age (1–3 Gyr) and metal-rich (� solar metallicity) Globular Clusters. We discuss their age and metallicity distributions together with information on the parent galaxy from the literature to gain insight into the formation history of this galaxy.

A NEW ABUNDANCE SCALE FOR THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER 47 Tuc

We present chemical abundances for O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, and Fe in eight red giants and one turnoff star in the metal-rich globular cluster 47 Tuc, based on spectroscopy with the Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle high-resolution spectrograph on the Magellan 6.5 m Clay telescope. A robust line by a line differential abundance analysis technique, relative to the K-giant Arcturus, was used to reduce systematic errors from atmospheric and atomic parameters. Our derived mean LTE [Fe/H] of −0.76 ± 0.01 ± 0.04 dex (random and systematic error, respectively) is more metal poor by about 0.1 dex than recent literature results. The chemical element ratios in this nearby globular cluster most closely resemble those of the Galactic bulge, although there is a non-negligible overlap with the composition of thick-disk stars. We find that the [Al/Fe] and [Na/Fe] ratios coincide with the upper boundary of the trends seen in the bulge and thick disk. There is only a small intrinsic scatter in the majority of the abundance ratios, indicating that 47 Tuc is mostly a rather chemically homogeneous system.

Wide‐Field Survey of Globular Clusters in M31. II. Kinematics of the Globular Cluster System

We present a kinematic analysis of the globular cluster (GC) system in M31, using the velocity data for 504 GCs including those for 150 GCs in our wide-field survey. The all GC system shows strong rotation, with rotation amplitude of -->vrot ~ 190 km s−1, and weak rotation persists even for the outermost samples at -->| Y| ≥ 5 kpc, where Y represents the projected distance from the major axis. The rotation-corrected velocity dispersion for the GC system is estimated to be -->σp,r ~ 130 km s−1, and it increases from -->σp,r ~ 120 km s−1 at -->| Y| σp,r ~ 150 km s−1 at -->| Y| ≥ 5 kpc. These results are very similar to those for the metal-poor GCs. This shows that there is a dynamically hot halo in M31 that is rotating but primarily pressure-supported. We have identified 50 friendless GCs, and they appear to rotate around the major axis of M31. Both metal-rich GCs and metal-poor GCs show strong rotation in the inner region. The rotation for the faint GCs is stronger than that for the bright GCs. We have identified 56 GCs and GC candidates with X-ray detection including 39 GCs with measured velocities. The majority of X-ray-emitting GCs follow the disk rotation. We have derived a rotation curve of M31 using the GCs at -->| Y| ≤ 0.6 kpc. We have estimated the dynamical mass of M31 using Projected Mass Estimator (PME) and Tracer Mass Estimator (TME) as -->MPME = 5.5+ 0.4−0.3 × 1011 M☉ out to a radius of ~55 kpc and -->MTME = 19.2+ 1.4−1.3 × 1011 M☉ for a radius of ~100 kpc, respectively. We finally discuss the implication of these results and compare the kinematics of GCs with that of planetary nebulae in M31.

Globular Clusters and X‐Ray Point Sources in Centaurus A (NGC 5128)

We detect 353 X-ray point sources, mostly low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), in four Chandra observations of Centaurus A (NGC 5128), the nearest giant early-type galaxy, and correlate this point-source population with the largest available ensemble of confirmed and likely globular clusters (GCs) associated with this galaxy. Of the X-ray sources, 31 are coincident with 30 GCs that are confirmed members of the galaxy by radial velocity measurement (two X-ray sources match one GC within our search radius), while one X-ray source coincides with a GC resolved by Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images. Another 36 X-ray point sources match probable, but spectroscopically unconfirmed, GC candidates. The color distribution of GCs and cluster candidates in Cen A is bimodal, and the probability that a red, metal-rich GC candidate contains an LMXB is at least 1.7 times that of a blue, metal-poor one. If we consider only spectroscopically confirmed GCs, this ratio increases to ~3. We find that LMXBs appear preferentially in more luminous (massive) GCs. These two effects are independent, and the latter is likely a consequence of enhanced dynamical encounter rates in more massive clusters which have, on average, denser cores. The X-ray luminosity functions of the LMXBs found in GCs and of those that are unmatched with GCs reveal similar underlying populations, although there is some indication that fewer X-ray-faint LMXBs are found in GCs than X-ray-bright ones. Our results agree with previous observations of the connection of GCs and LMXBs in early-type galaxies and extend previous work on Cen A.

GALEX Ultraviolet Photometry of Globular Clusters in M31: Three‐Year Results and a Catalog

We present ultraviolet (UV) photometry of M31 globular clusters (GCs) found in 23 Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) images covering the entirety of M31. We detect 485 and 273 GCs (and GC candidates) in the near-ultraviolet (NUV; 2267 A) and far-ultraviolet (FUV; 1516 A), respectively. Comparing M31 data with those of Galactic GCs in the UV with the aid of population models, we find that the age ranges of old GCs in M31 and the Galactic halo are similar. Three metal-rich ([Fe/H]>-1) GCs in M31 produce significant FUV flux making their FUV-V colors unusually blue for their metallicities. These are thought to be analogs of the two peculiar Galactic GCs NGC 6388 and NGC 6441 with extended blue HB stars. Based on the models incorporating helium enriched subpopulations in addition to the majority of the population that have a normal helium abundance, we suggest that even small fraction of super-helium-rich subpopulations in GCs can reproduce the observed UV bright metal-rich GCs. Young clusters in M31 show distinct UV and optical properties from GCs in Milky Way. Population models indicate that their typical age is less than ~ 2 Gyrs. A large fraction of young GCs have the kinematics of the thin, rapidly rotating disk component. However, a subset of the old GCs also shares the thin-disk kinematics of the younger clusters. The existence of young GCs on the outskirts of M31 disk suggests the occurrence of a significant recent star formation in the thin-disk of M31. Old thin-disk GCs may set constraints on the epoch of early formation of the M31 thin-disk. We detect 12 (10) intermediate-age GC candidates in NUV (FUV). We suggest that some of spectroscopically identified intermediate-age GCs may not be truly intermediate in age, but rather older GCs that possess developed HB.

Reddening, colour and metallicity of the M31 globular cluster system

Using metallicities from the literature, combined with the Revised Bologna Catalogue of photometric data for M31 clusters and cluster candidates [the latter of which is the most comprehensive catalogue of M31 clusters currently available, including 337 confirmed globular clusters (GCs) and 688 GC candidates], we determine 443 reddening values and intrinsic colours, and 209 metallicities for individual clusters without spectroscopic observations. This, the largest sample of M31 GCs presently available, is then used to analyse the metallicity distribution of M31 GCs, which is bimodal with peaks at [Fe/H] ≈− 1.7 and −0.7 dex. An exploration of metallicities as a function of radius from the M31 centre shows a metallicity gradient for the metal-poor GCs, but no such gradient for the metal-rich GCs. Our results show that the metal-rich clusters appear as a centrally concentrated spatial distribution; however, the metal-poor clusters tend to be less spatially concentrated. There is no correlation between luminosity and metallicity among the M31 sample clusters, which indicates that self-enrichment is indeed unimportant for cluster formation in M31. The reddening distribution shows that slightly more than half of the GCs are affected by a reddening of E(B − V) � 0.2 mag; the mean reddening value is E(B − V) = 0.28 +0.23 −0.14 mag. The spatial distribution of the reddening values indicates that the reddening on the north-western side of the M31 disc is more significant than that on the south-eastern side, which is consistent with the conclusion that the north-western side is nearer to us.

Sizes of Confirmed Globular Clusters in NGC 5128: A Wide-Field High-Resolution Study

Using Magellan/IMACS images covering a 1.2 × 1.2 deg2 field of view with seeing of 0.4''-0.6'', we have applied convolution techniques to analyze the light distribution of 364 confirmed globular clusters in the field of NGC 5128 and to obtain their structural parameters. Combining these parameters with existing Washington photometry from Harris et al., we are able to examine the size difference between metal-poor (blue) and metal-rich (red) globular clusters. For the first time, this can be addressed on a sample of confirmed clusters that extends to galactocentric distances about 8 times the effective radius, Reff, of the galaxy. Within 1Reff, red clusters are about 30% smaller on average than blue clusters, in agreement with the vast majority of extragalactic globular cluster systems studied. As the galactocentric distance increases, however, this difference becomes negligible. Thus, our results indicate that the differences between the effective radii, re, of the clusters could be explained purely by projection effects, with red clusters being more centrally concentrated than blue ones, and by an intrinsic re-Rgc dependence, like the one observed for the galaxy.

Intra-cluster globular clusters around NGC 1399 in Fornax?

Aims. We investigate whether the globular clusters (GCs) in the recently published sample of GCs in the Fornax cluster by Bergond and coworkers are indeed intra-cluster objects.Methods. We combine their catalogue of radial velocity measurements with our CTIO MOSAIC photometry in the Washington system and analyse the relation of metal-poor and metal-rich GCs with their host galaxies. Results. The metal-rich GCs appear to be kinematically associated with their respective host galaxies. The vast majority of the metal-poor GCs found in between the galaxies of the Fornax cluster have velocities that are consistent with their being members of the very extended NGC 1399 GC system. We find that when the sample is restricted to the most accurate velocity measurements, the GC velocity dispersion profile can be described with a mass model derived for the NGC 1399 GC system within 80 kpc. We identify one “vagrant” GC whose radial velocity suggests that it is not bound to any galaxy unless its orbit has a very large apogalactic distance.

Clues to Globular Cluster Evolution from Multiwavelength Observations of Extragalactic Systems

AbstractWe present a study of the globular cluster (GC) systems of nearby elliptical and S0 galaxies at a variety of wavelengths from the X-ray to the infrared. Our analysis shows that roughly half of the low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), that are the luminous tracers of accreting neutron star or black hole systems, are in clusters. There is a surprisingly strong correlation between the LMXB frequency and the metallicity of the GCs, with metal-rich GCs hosting three times as many LMXBs as metal-poor ones, and no convincing evidence of a correlation with GC age so far. In some of the galaxies the LMXB formation rate varies with GC color even within the red peak of the typical bimodal cluster color distribution, providing some of the strongest evidence to date that there are metallicity variations within the metal-rich GC peak as is expected in a hierarchical galaxy formation scenario. We also note that any analysis of subtler variations in GC color distributions must carefully account for both statistical and systematic errors. We caution that some published GC correlations, such as the apparent ‘blue-tilt’ or mass-metallicity effect might not have a physical origin and may be caused by systematic observational biases.

Sizes of Confirmed NGC 5128 Globular Clusters

AbstractWe present results from a new wide-field study of the NGC 5128 globular cluster system. We have obtained new high resolution images with the Magellan 6.4m + IMACS camera. Our images cover an area of 1.2x1.2 sq. degrees and have a seeing of 0.45″. This allows us to not only resolve most of the globular clusters (GCs) but also derive their structural parameters. These are combined with existing Washington photometry in order to select by metallicity. We present here results for a subsample of 359 GCs which includes all currently confirmed GC members of the system. Our derived sizes are in very good agreement with those derived from ACS data. We find, as expected, that the metal-rich GCs in the inner regions (r < 10′) are 26% smaller than their metal-poor components, but in the outer region this normal trend is reversed. We compare our GCs to previous results for GCs, UCDs, etc. in the luminosity - size plane and find substantial overlap between different types of objects, indicating more of a continuum in these properties.

The formation and evolution of bulges as traced by globular cluster systems

AbstractGlobular Clusters provide a unique method for tracing the formation and evolution of their host galaxies. As single stellar populations they are far easier to interpret than the multi-population complexity of galaxy field stars. The scaling properties of globular clusters provide important constraints on the hierarchical assembly history of galaxies. Here we briefly review recent progress using the Hubble Space Telescope for imaging and the Keck plus Gemini telescopes for spectroscopy. We argue that the red, or metal-rich, subpopulation of GCs is associated with the bulge/spheroid component of galaxies. As one of the oldest stellar systems available for study, we discuss how globular clusters can be used to constrain the formation of galaxy bulges, in particular the role of mergers vs secular evolution. We conclude that metal-rich GCs, and hence bulges, formed very early in the Universe with more recent mergers having a small effect at most.

A search for ultra-compact dwarf galaxies in the Centaurus galaxy cluster

Aim: To extend the investigations of ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) beyond the well studied Fornax and Virgo clusters. Methods: We measured spectroscopic redshifts of about 400 compact object candidates with 19.2 < V < 22.4 mag in the central region of the Centaurus galaxy cluster (d=43Mpc), using VIMOS@VLT. The luminosity range of the candidates covers that of bright globular clusters (GCs) and of UCDs in Fornax and Virgo. Results: We confirm the cluster membership of 27 compact objects, covering an absolute magnitude range -12.2 < M_V < -10.9 mag. We do not find counterparts to the two very large and bright UCDs in Fornax and Virgo with M_V=-13.5 mag, possibly due to survey incompleteness. The compact objects' distribution in magnitude and space is consistent with that of the GC population. Their kinematics and spatial distribution associate them to the central galaxies rather than to the overall cluster potential. The compact objects have a mean metallicity consistent with that of the metal-rich globular cluster sub-population. Compact objects with high S/N spectra exhibit solar [alpha/Fe] abundances, consistent with typical dwarf elliptical galaxy values and unlike galactic bulge globular clusters. HST based size estimates for a sub-sample of eight compact objects reveal the existence of one very large object with half-light radius r_h around 30 pc, having M_V=-11.6 mag (~10^7 M_sun). This source shows super-solar [alpha/Fe] abundances. Seven further sources are only marginally larger than typical GCs with r_h in the range 4 to 10 pc. Conclusions: We consider the largest compact object found to be the only bona-fide UCD detected in our study. In order to improve our understanding of UCDs in Centaurus, a significant increase of our survey completeness is necessary.

Oldmetal‐rich globular cluster populations: Peak color and peak metallicity trends with mass of host spheroids

AbstractWe address the problem of the factors contributing to a peak color trend of old metal‐rich globular cluster (MRGC) populations with mass of their hosts, early‐type galaxies and spheroidal subsystems of spiral ones (spheroids). The colormass trend is often converted to a metallicity‐mass trend under the assumption that age effects are small or negligible. While direct estimates of the ages of MRGC populations neither can rule out nor reliably support the populations' age trend, key data on timing of the formation of spheroids and other indirect evidence imply it in the sense: the more massive spheroid the older on average its MRGC population. We show that the contribution of an allowable age trend of the MRGC populations to their peak color trend can achieve up to ∼50% or so. In this event the comparable value of the color trend, ∼30%, is due to alpha‐element ratio systematic variations of the order of Δ[α /Fe] ≈ 0.1 to 0.2 dex because of a correlation between the [α /Fe] ratios and age. Hence a systematic variation of exactly [Fe/H] ratios may turn out to be less significant among the contributors, and its range many times lower, i.e. of the order of Δ[Fe/H]∼0.1 or even none, than the corresponding range deduced by assuming no age trend. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Probing the Formation of Low‐Mass X‐Ray Binaries in Globular Clusters and the Field

We present an analysis of low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) and globular clusters (GCs) in five galaxies using Chandra, and HST data. Of the 186 LMXBs within the optical fields 71 are in GCs, confirming that LMXBs are formed particularly efficiently in GCs. However, there is no statistically significant correlation between the distance of a GC from the center of its host galaxy and its LMXB hosting probability. Metal-rich GCs are 3.4 times more likely to host LMXBs than metal-poor ones. Intriguingly, the LMXBs in NGC 1399 are preferentially in the reddest GCs of the metal-rich subsystem. This indicates that the red peak of the color distribution itself encompasses GCs with a range of enrichment histories. The strength of this effect varies from galaxy to galaxy, possibly indicating differences in their metal-enrichment histories. Field LMXBs in our program galaxies are more concentrated towards the center of their host galaxies than GC-LMXBs. This suggests that a majority of field LMXBs are formed in situ and have not escaped from current GCs. This is consistent with previous specific frequency based studies. The brightest LMXBs in GCs appear to be preferentially associated with luminous, metal-rich clusters. We show that it is probable that some of these GCs host multiple bright LMXBs, while the probability is much lower for metal-poor GCs. This implies that LMXBs in more metal-rich cluster systems should reveal a longer high luminosity X-ray tail, and show less X-ray variability than metal-poor cluster populations. (abridged)

Stellar Populations of Globular Clusters in the Elliptical Galaxy NGC 1407

We present high-quality Keck spectroscopic data for a sample of 20 globular clusters (GCs) in the massive E0 galaxy NGC 1407. A subset of 20 line-strength indices of the Lick/IDS system has been measured for both the GC system and the central integrated starlight of the galaxy. Ages, metallicities, and [α/Fe] ratios have been derived using several different approaches. The majority of GCs in NGC 1407 studied are old, follow a tight metallicity sequence reaching values slightly above solar, and exhibit mean [α/Fe] ratios of ~0.3 dex. In addition, three GCs are formally derived to be young (~4 Gyr), but we argue that they are actually old GCs hosting blue horizontal branches. We report, for the first time, evidence for the existence of two chemically distinct subpopulations of metal-rich (MR) GCs. We find that some MR GCs exhibit significantly larger [Mg/Fe] and [C/Fe] ratios. Different star formation timescales are proposed to explain the correlation between Mg and C abundances. We also find striking CN overabundances over the entire GC metallicity range. It is interesting to note that the behavior of C and N in metal-poor GCs clearly deviates from that in MR GCs. In particular, for MR GCs, N increases dramatically while C essentially saturates. This may be interpreted as a consequence of the increasing importance of the CNO cycle with increasing metallicity.

Hδ in the Integrated Light of Galaxies: What Are We Actually Measuring?

We present a cautionary study exploring the reliability of the Hδ line in the integrated spectra of galaxies for determining galaxy ages. Our database consists of the observed integrated spectra of ~120 early-type galaxies, 7 metal-rich globular clusters in M31 and the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tuc, and the open cluster M67. We have measured Hδ using index definitions designed to assess contamination from the CN molecule in and around Hδ by choosing combinations of bandpasses that both avoid and include a region of CN molecular lines redward of Hδ. We find systematic differences in the ages derived from Hδ measurements among the various definitions when extracting ages from Hδ in old stellar populations with enhanced CN bands due to nonsolar abundance ratios. We propose that neighboring CN lines have a strong effect on pseudocontinuum and central bandpass levels. For stellar populations that have nonsolar abundance ratios in C and/or N, population synthesis models that do not account for abundance ratio variations cannot accurately reproduce the CN 4216 A band, which leads to a corresponding inaccuracy in reproducing the various Hδ indices. Hence, caution must be used when extracting galaxy ages from the Hδ line in old stellar populations with significant nonsolar abundance ratios.

Washington Photometry of the Red Giant Branch in NGC 6388

We present Washington photometry of the giant branches of the relatively metal-rich globular cluster NGC 6388 and compare it with 47 Tuc. By examining the spatial distribution of stellar colors across the red giant branch and using spectroscopic data on several bright giants, we found that NGC 6388's center is affected by differential reddening of at least ΔE(B - V) ~ 0.1. Most of the width of the red giant branch is caused by that differential reddening. The southeastern outer regions of the cluster seem to be less affected by variable dust extinction, and we find that NGC 6388 is slightly more metal-rich than 47 Tuc, with a distinct asymptotic giant branch. We have put an upper limit on possible variations in [Fe/H] for NGC 6388, finding that it must be less than ~0.2 dex. It is unlikely that such a small range in metallicity could be responsible for the blue horizontal branch and blue tail stars in a cluster with a metallicity similar to the more massive 47 Tuc, which only exhibits a red horizontal branch.

Dynamical Evolution of Globular Cluster Systems Formed in Galaxy Mergers: DeepHubble Space TelescopeAdvanced Camera for Surveys Imaging of Old and Intermediate-Age Globular Clusters in NGC 3610

The Advanced Camera for Surveys on board the Hubble Space Telescope has been used to obtain deep, high-resolution images of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 3610, a well-established remnant of a dissipative galaxy merger. These observations supersede previous, shallower observations that revealed the presence of a population of metal-rich globular clusters of intermediate age (~1.5-4 Gyr). We detect a total of 580 cluster candidates, 46% more than from the previous WFPC2 images. The new photometry strengthens the significance of the previously found bimodality of the color distribution of clusters. Peak colors in V - I are 0.93 ± 0.01 and 1.09 ± 0.01 for the blue and red subpopulations, respectively. The luminosity function of the inner 50% of the metal-rich (red) population of clusters differs markedly from that of the outer 50%. In particular, the luminosity function of the inner 50% of the red clusters shows a flattening consistent with a turnover that is about 1.0 mag fainter than the turnover of the blue clusters. This is consistent with predictions of recent models of cluster disruption for the age range mentioned above and for metallicities that are consistent with the peak color of the red clusters, as predicted by population synthesis models. The radial surface density profile of red clusters follows that of the underlying galaxy light more closely than in elliptical galaxies, which is consistent with the intermediate-age nature of the red clusters. We determine the specific frequency of clusters in NGC 3610 and find a present-day value of SN = 1.4 ± 0.6. Using published age estimates for the diffuse light of NGC 3610, as well as cluster disruption models, we estimate that this value will increase to SN = 3.8 ± 1.7 at an age of 10 Gyr, which is consistent with typical SN values for elliptical galaxies. Our findings constitute further evidence in support of the notion that metal-rich cluster populations formed during major mergers involving gas-rich galaxies can evolve dynamically (through disruption processes) into the red, metal-rich cluster populations that are ubiquitous in normal giant ellipticals.

Variable Stars in Metal-Rich Globular Clusters. III. NGC 6539

We present the first CCD-based search for variable stars in the metal-rich globular cluster NGC 6539 ([Fe/H] ≈ -0.7). Our VI photometry of stars within 7' of the cluster center shows a color-magnitude diagram with a normal red clump horizontal-branch morphology without the extension of blue stars seen in two globular clusters of comparable metallicity, NGC 6388 and NGC 6441. We have discovered 13 variable stars, 12 of which are long-period variables (LPVs), and have used infrared photometry from the Two Micron All Sky Survey to further clarify their position in the color-magnitude diagram. We find the specific frequency of these stars, SLPV = 0.32, to be comparable to those found in other clusters recently surveyed. We have also detected one RR Lyrae variable star in our data, although it is unlikely to be a cluster member. The color of this star, when compared with low-reddening RR Lyrae stars near the Sun, indicates an interstellar reddening of E(V - I) = 1.22 mag toward NGC 6539, in excellent agreement with estimates from the literature.

Mn, Cu, and Zn abundances in metal-rich globular clusters

Metal-rich globular clusters are important to study the chemical evolution of the Galaxy and one of the best approaches to better understand the physical processes occurring in stellar populations as building blocks of galaxies. We report on Mn, Cu, and Zn abundances of giant stars in metal-rich Galactic globular clusters (−0.70 < [Fe/H] < −0.11), measured on spectra obtained with the UVES spectrograph on the 8-m VLT UT2-Kueyen telescope.