| DOI | Resolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/769/2/145 |
|---|
| Author | Search for: Wang, Q.; Search for: Peng, E.W.; Search for: Blakeslee, J.P.1; Search for: Côté, P.1; Search for: Ferrarese, L.1; Search for: Jordán, A.; Search for: Mei, S.; Search for: West, M.J. |
|---|
| Affiliation | - National Research Council of Canada. NRC Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
|
|---|
| Format | Text, Article |
|---|
| Abstract | We study the azimuthal distribution of globular clusters (GCs) in early-type galaxies and compare them to their host galaxies using data from the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. We find that in host galaxies with visible elongation (ε > 0.2) and intermediate to high luminosities (Mz < -19), the GCs are preferentially aligned along the major axis of the stellar light. The red (metal-rich) GC subpopulations show strong alignment with the major axis of the host galaxy, which supports the notion that these GCs are associated with metal-rich field stars. The metal-rich GCs in lenticular galaxies show signs of being more strongly associated with disks rather than bulges. Surprisingly, we also find that the blue (metal-poor) GCs can also show the same correlation. If the metal-poor GCs are part of the early formation of the halo and built up through mergers, then our results support a picture where halo formation and merging occur anisotropically, and that the present-day major axis is an indicator of the preferred merging axis. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.. |
|---|
| Publication date | 2013 |
|---|
| In | |
|---|
| Language | English |
|---|
| Peer reviewed | Yes |
|---|
| NPARC number | 21269794 |
|---|
| Export citation | Export as RIS |
|---|
| Report a correction | Report a correction (opens in a new tab) |
|---|
| Record identifier | ef2f4315-1543-42af-9199-908f910ec0fe |
|---|
| Record created | 2013-12-13 |
|---|
| Record modified | 2020-04-22 |
|---|
