Multiple populations in globular clusters and their parent galaxies

TL;DR

This study compares multiple stellar populations in globular clusters from the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds, revealing differences in star fractions and suggesting a universal phenomenon influenced by cluster mass and environment.

Contribution

It constructs and compares chromosome maps for clusters in different galaxies, providing insights into the universality and environmental dependence of multiple populations in globular clusters.

Findings

Higher fractions of first-generation stars in Magellanic Cloud clusters.

Anti-correlation between first-generation star fraction and cluster mass.

Type II GCs may share a common progenitor galaxy.

Abstract

The 'chromosome map' diagram (ChM) proved a successful tool to identify and characterize multiple populations (MPs) in 59 Galactic Globular Clusters (GCs). Here, we construct ChMs for 11 GCs of both Magellanic Clouds (MCs) and with different ages to compare MPs in Galactic and extra-Galactic environments, and explore whether this phenomenon is universal through 'place' and 'time'. MPs are detected in five clusters. The fractions of 1G stars, ranging from about 50% to more than 80%, are significantly higher than those observed in Galactic GCs with similar present-day masses. By considering both Galactic and MC clusters, the fraction of 1G stars exhibits: (i) a strong anti-correlation with the present-day mass, and (ii) with the present-day mass of 2G stars; (iii) a mild anti-correlation with 1G present-day mass. All Galactic clusters without MPs have initial masses smaller than ~1.5 10^5 solar masses but a mass threshold governing the occurrence of MPs seems challenged by massive simple-population MC GCs; (iv) Milky Way clusters with large perigalactic distances typically host larger fractions of 1G stars, but the difference disappears when we use initial cluster masses. These facts are consistent with a scenario where the stars lost by GCs mostly belong to the 1G. By exploiting recent work based on Gaia, half of the known Type II GCs appear clustered in a distinct region of the integral of motions space, thus suggesting a common progenitor galaxy. Except for these Type II GCs,we do not find any significant difference in the MPs between clusters associated with different progenitors.