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Dynamical Friction in dE Globular Cluster Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 August 2017

Jennifer M. Lotz ,
Bryan W. Miller ,
Henry C. Ferguson ,
Massimo Stiavelli  and
Rosemary Telford
Jennifer M. Lotz
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
Bryan W. Miller
Affiliation:
Gemini Observatory, Casilla 603, La Serena, Chile
Henry C. Ferguson
Affiliation:
Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr., Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
Massimo Stiavelli
Affiliation:
Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr., Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
Rosemary Telford
Affiliation:
University of Wales, Cardiff, Wales CF23YB, U.K.

Abstract

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The dynamical friction timescale for globular clusters to sink to the center of a dwarf elliptical galaxy (dE) is significantly less than a Hubble time if the halos have isothermal profiles and the globular clusters formed with the same radial density profile as the underlying stellar population. We examine the summed radial distribution of the entire globular cluster systems and the bright globular cluster candidates in 65 Virgo and Fornax Cluster dEs for evidence of dynamical friction processes. We find that the bright dE nuclei could have been formed from the merger of orbitally decayed massive clusters, but the faint nuclei are several magnitudes fainter than expected. These faint nuclei are found primarily in MV > −14 dEs which have high globular cluster specific frequencies and extended globular cluster systems. In these galaxies, the formation of new star clusters, high central dark matter densities, extended dark matter halos, or tidal interactions may act to prevent dynamical friction from collapsing the entire globular cluster population into a bright nucleus.

Type
Part 4. Star Cluster Formation and Evolution: Theory and Observation
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 207: Extragalactic Star Clusters , 2002 , pp. 593 - 598
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2002 

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