Extragalactic Globular Cluster Populations from High Resolution Integrated Light Spectra

TL;DR

This paper compares high-resolution integrated-light spectra to determine detailed chemical abundances of globular clusters across different galaxies, providing insights into their formation and galaxy evolution.

Contribution

It presents the first chemical abundance measurements from discrete absorption features in old stars beyond the Milky Way and its nearest neighbors.

Findings

First chemical abundances derived from extragalactic globular clusters.

Provides data on Fe, Ca, Si, Na, Al in various galaxy environments.

Offers constraints on globular cluster formation and galaxy enrichment histories.

Abstract

We present a comparison of high-resolution, integrated-light, detailed chemical abundances for Galactic and extragalactic globular clusters in both massive galaxies and dwarf galaxies. We include measurements of Fe, Ca, Si, Na, and Al for globular cluster samples in the Milky Way, M31, Large Magellanic Cloud, and NGC 5128. These and other recent results from our group on M31 and NGC 5128 are the first chemical abundances derived from discrete absorption features in old stars beyond the Milky Way and its nearest neighbors. These abundances can provide both galaxy enrichment histories and constraints on globular cluster formation and evolution.