The disruption of the low-mass globular cluster E3

TL;DR

This study uses Gaia DR2 data to identify tidal tails of the globular cluster E3, revealing it is undergoing tidal disruption with extended structures aligned towards the Galactic center.

Contribution

First detection of tidal tails in the globular cluster E3 using Gaia data, indicating ongoing tidal disruption and providing insights into its mass loss process.

Findings

Extended structures up to 1 degree from E3's center identified

Tidal tails aligned with the Galactic center direction

E3 is likely near its perigalacticon, experiencing mass loss

Abstract

We use {\it Gaia} DR2 photometry and proper motions to search for the hypothetical tidal tails of the Galactic globular cluster E\,3. Using a modified version of a classical decontamination procedure, we are able to identify the presence of an extended structure emerging from the cluster up to $r \sim 1$\,deg from its center, thus suggesting that this poorly studied cluster is undergoing a tidal disruption process. These low surface-brightness structures are aligned with the direction to the Galactic center, as expected for a cluster close to its perigalacticon. Different scenarios to explain the important amount of mass lost by this cluster are discussed.