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Globular Clusters and Galaxy Formation

Duncan A. Forbes
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Abstract

Globular clusters provide a unique probe of galaxy formation and evolution. Here I briefly summarize the known observational properties of globular cluster systems. One re-occurring theme is that the globular cluster systems of spirals and ellipticals are remarkably similar. Photometry, and the limited spectra available, are consistent with metal-poor clusters forming before the main spheroid component is established and the metal-rich ones forming at the same time as the spheroid in a burst of star formation. These observations are compared to a model for globular cluster formation in a LCDM hierarchical universe. One model result reported here is that S_N is determined at early times and little affected by late epoch mergers.

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Duncan A. Forbes. 2002-06-20. Globular Clusters and Galaxy Formation. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0206347

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