Globular cluster systems of early-type galaxies - do we understand them?

TL;DR

This review discusses the properties, formation, and evolution of globular cluster systems in early-type galaxies, emphasizing the role of dwarf galaxies and observational challenges in understanding their assembly.

Contribution

It synthesizes recent and past research on globular cluster systems, highlighting the importance of dwarf galaxies and assembly scenarios in galaxy evolution.

Findings

Globular cluster systems vary significantly among early-type galaxies.

Dwarf galaxies play a crucial role in the assembly of globular cluster systems.

Observational techniques are vital for understanding cluster properties.

Abstract

I review recent and less recent work on globular cluster systems in early-type galaxies. Explaining their properties and possible assembly scenarios, touches on a variety of astrophysical topics from cluster formation itself to galaxy formation and evolution and even details of observational techniques. The spectacular cluster systems of central galaxies in galaxy clusters may owe their richness to a plethora of less spectacular galaxies and their star formation processes. It seems that dwarf galaxies occupy a particularly important role.