On the relationship between metallicity distributions of globular clusters and of circumgalactic gas

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential link between the metallicity distributions of globular clusters and circumgalactic gas, suggesting that the latter may be residual clouds where the former formed, based on statistical abundance analysis.

Contribution

It proposes a novel hypothesis connecting globular cluster formation sites with circumgalactic gas clouds through abundance and spatial correlation analysis.

Findings

Statistical similarity in magnesium and iron abundances.

Spatial correlation between globular clusters and circumgalactic clouds.

Evidence supporting residual cloud origin of globular clusters.

Abstract

The abundance of alpha elements and iron in stars of globular clusters shows the composition of the gaseous medium, in which they have been formed. In the present paper, we discuss a possibility to consider dense clouds of circumgalactic gas (partial Lyman limit systems and Lyman limit systems) observed in the 100 - 130 kpc neighbourhood of galaxies at redshifts of 0.1<z<1.1 as being the residual parts of clouds, in which globular clusters have been formed. Conclusions have been drawn based on statistical analysis of the abundance of magnesium and iron in globular clusters and in circumgalactic clouds and on the spatial location of objects of both types.