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VLT spectroscopy of globular cluster in NGC 3115

Harald Kuntschner·Bodo L. Ziegler·R. M. Sharples·Guy Worthey·Klaus J. Fricke
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Abstract

We present results derived from VLT-FORS2 spectra of 17 globular clusters associated with the nearby lenticular galaxy NGC3115. Comparing line-strength indices to new stellar population models by Thomas et al. we determine ages, metallicities and element abundance ratios. Our data are also compared with the Lick/IDS observations of Milky Way and M31 globular clusters. Our best age estimates show that the observed clusters which sample the bimodal colour distribution of NGC3115 globular clusters are coeval within our observational errors (2-3 Gyr). Our best calibrated age/metallicity diagnostic diagram (Hbeta vs [MgFe]) indicates an absolute age of 11-12 Gyr consistent with the luminosity weighted age for the central part of NGC3115. We confirm with our accurate line-strength measurements that the (V-I) colour is a good metallicity indicator within the probed metallicity range (-1.5 < [Fe/H] < 0.0). The abundance ratios for globular clusters in NGC3115 give an inhomogeneous picture. We find a range from solar to super-solar ratios for both blue and red clusters. This is similar to the data for M31 while the Milky Way seems to harbour clusters which are mainly consistent with [alpha/Fe] =~ 0.3.

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Harald Kuntschner, Bodo L. Ziegler, R. M. Sharples, Guy Worthey, Klaus J. Fricke. 2002-10-16. VLT spectroscopy of globular cluster in NGC 3115. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0210362

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