Globular Clusters and the Formation of Elliptical Galaxies By Mergers
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Session 42 -- Ellipticals
Display presentation, Thursday, January 13, 9:30-6:45, Salons I/II Room (Crystal Gateway)

[42.03] Globular Clusters and the Formation of Elliptical Galaxies By Mergers

S.E. Zepf (UC Berkeley)

The properties of globular cluster systems provide a valuable tool for understanding the physical processes underlying the formation of elliptical galaxies. The first step in this study is an analysis of observational evidence for the formation of globular clusters in mergers. Since it appears that globular clusters do form during mergers, then at least two distinct populations are expected in the globular cluster systems of elliptical galaxies which are formed from the mergers of spiral galaxies. Therefore, we investigate the properties of globular cluster systems around elliptical galaxies, in order to determine if these galaxies have a merger origin. In particular, we use imaging in several bandpasses covering a broad wavelength range to study the spatial distribution and metallicities of the globular clusters. This study particularly emphasizes the metallicity distribution of globular cluster systems as a sensitive probe of the formation history of their parent galaxies.

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