Some Systematics of Galactic Globular Clusters

TL;DR

This study analyzes the properties of Galactic globular clusters, revealing complex relationships between luminosity, metallicity, age, and spatial distribution, and highlighting differences from clusters in the Magellanic Clouds.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive systematic analysis of globular cluster properties, including their luminosities, metallicities, ages, and spatial distributions, with new insights into their correlations and differences from other galaxies.

Findings

Old clusters are more metal deficient among luminous ones.

Clusters with collapsed cores are near the Galactic nucleus.

Galactic clusters differ from LMC and SMC in flattening characteristics.

Abstract

The global properties of all known Galactic globular clusters are examined. The relationship between the luminosities and the metallicities of Galactic globular clusters is found to be complex. Among luminous clusters there is a correlation in the sense that the oldest clusters are slightly more metal deficient than are younger clusters. However, no such clear-cut relationship is found among the faintest globular clusters. The central concentration index C of globular clusters is seen to be independent of metallicity. The dependence of the half-light radii of globular clusters on their Galactocentric distances can be approximated by the relation $R_h \alpha R^{2/3}_{gc}$. Clusters with collapsed cores are mostly situated close to the Galactic nucleus. For $R_{gc} < 10$ kpc the luminosities and the radii of clusters appear to be uncorrelated. The Galaxy differs from the LMC and the SMC in that it appears to lack highly flattened luminous clusters. Galactic globular clusters with ages $\geq$ 13.0 Gyr are all of Oosterhoff type II, whereas almost all of those with ages $<$ 13.0 Gyr have been assigned to Oosterhoff type I. Globular clusters with ages $<$11.5 Gyr are all located in the outer Galactic halo, have below-average luminosities and above-average radii. On the other hand the very old globular cluster NGC 6522 is situated close to the Galactic nucleus.