Resolving the timing problem of the globular clusters orbiting the Fornax dwarf galaxy

TL;DR

This study re-evaluates the survival of globular clusters around the Fornax dwarf galaxy using accurate mass models and considers both standard and modified Newtonian dynamics, showing that their orbits can be sustained over cosmic timescales.

Contribution

It introduces the first use of Jeans modelling for Fornax's mass profile and relaxes previous constraints on initial cluster distances, providing new insights into their orbital stability.

Findings

Dark matter models support long-term cluster survival regardless of initial positions.

Modified Newtonian dynamics allows for stable, highly radial or circular orbits outside the tidal radius.

Most globular clusters can survive for a Hubble time with realistic orbital assumptions.

Abstract

We re-investigate the old problem of the survival of the five globular clusters orbiting the Fornax dwarf galaxy in both standard and modified Newtonian dynamics. For the first time in the history of the topic, we use accurate mass models for the Fornax dwarf, obtained through Jeans modelling of the recently published line of sight velocity dispersion data, and we are also not resigned to circular orbits for the globular clusters. Previously conceived problems stem from fixing the starting distances of the globulars to be less than half the tidal radius. We relax this constraint since there is absolutely no evidence for it and show that the dark matter paradigm, with either cusped or cored dark matter profiles, has no trouble sustaining the orbits of the two least massive globular clusters for a Hubble time almost regardless of their initial distance from Fornax. The three most massive globulars can remain in orbit as long as their starting distances are marginally outside the tidal radius. The outlook for modified Newtonian dynamics is also not nearly as bleak as previously reported. Although dynamical friction inside the tidal radius is far stronger in MOND, outside dynamical friction is negligible due to the absence of stars. This allows highly radial orbits to survive, but more importantly circular orbits at distances more than 85% of Fornax's tidal radius to survive indefinitely. The probability of the globular clusters being on circular orbits at this distance compared with their current projected distances is discussed and shown to be plausible. Finally, if we ignore the presence of the most massive globular (giving it a large line of sight distance) we demonstrate that the remaining four globulars can survive within the tidal radius for the Hubble time with perfectly sensible orbits.