A merger model and globular cluster formation

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/176083· OSTI ID:277182

Lee, S ^[1]; Schramm, D N ^[1]; Mathews, G J ^[2]

---

1. Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 (United States)
2. University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

We propose a self-consistent model for globular cluster formation in, but not limited to, our Galaxy, based on the merger model of Mathews & Schramm (1993). Stars and star clusters form in bursts at the merging interfaces as protogalactic clouds collide. We describe the formation of those star clusters with a simple schematic Ansatz which takes into account the thermal and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. It is shown that this model is consistent with many observational properties such as the age and metallicity distributions of globular clusters, the overall number of globular clusters, and the near constancy of the numbers of globular clusters in different size host galaxies. Most of the features of this merger model are insensitive to choices of parameters. However, the model does not produce as many high-metallicity clusters as observed. Possible explanations for this are presented. {copyright} {ital 1995 The American Astronomical Society.}

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 277182
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 449; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
AGE ESTIMATION
ELEMENT ABUNDANCE
GALAXIES
GLOBULAR CLUSTERS
INTERACTING GALAXIES
STAR CLUSTERS
STAR FORMATION