The Formation of Globular Clusters

TL;DR

This review discusses recent advances in understanding globular cluster formation, emphasizing high-pressure star formation in early galaxies and the potential of upcoming telescopes to test these models across cosmic history.

Contribution

It synthesizes recent theoretical and observational developments, integrating GC formation models with galaxy simulations and outlining future observational tests.

Findings

GCs form from high-pressure star formation in high-redshift galaxies

Upcoming telescopes will enable testing of GC formation models across cosmic time

Integration of GC models with galaxy formation simulations enhances understanding

Abstract

Globular clusters (GCs) are among the oldest and most luminous stellar systems in the Universe, offering unique insights into galaxy formation and evolution. While the physical processes behind their origin have long remained elusive, major theoretical and observational developments in the past decade have led to a new understanding of GCs as the natural outcome of high-pressure star formation in high-redshift galaxies. This review synthesizes recent advancements in our understanding of GC formation and aims to provide a comprehensive point of reference for leveraging the revolutionary capabilities of the current and upcoming generation of telescopes. The latest generation of GC models combine our understanding of their formation and destruction with advanced galaxy formation simulations. The next decade will provide the first-ever opportunity to test such models across their full evolutionary history, from GC formation at high redshift as seen with the James Webb Telescope, to snapshots of GC demographics at intermediate redshifts obtained with 30m-class telescopes, and eventually to the well-characterized GC populations observed at the present day. We identify the major questions that we should expect to address this way.