Evidence for an Accretion Origin for the Outer Halo Globular Cluster System of M31

Details Evidence for an Accretion Origin for the Outer Halo Globular Cluster System of M31 Evidence for an Accretion Origin for the Outer Halo Globular Cluster System of M31

Jul 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010apj...717l..11m&link_type=abstract

The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 717, Issue 1, pp. L11-L16 (2010).

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

29

Galaxies: Halos, Galaxies: Individual: M31, Globular Clusters: General

Scientific paper

We use a sample of newly discovered globular clusters from the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey (PAndAS) in combination with previously cataloged objects to map the spatial distribution of globular clusters in the M31 halo. At projected radii beyond ≈30 kpc, where large coherent stellar streams are readily distinguished in the field, there is a striking correlation between these features and the positions of the globular clusters. Adopting a simple Monte Carlo approach, we test the significance of this association by computing the probability that it could be due to the chance alignment of globular clusters smoothly distributed in the M31 halo. We find that the likelihood of this possibility is low, below 1%, and conclude that the observed spatial coincidence between globular clusters and multiple tidal debris streams in the outer halo of M31 reflects a genuine physical association. Our results imply that the majority of the remote globular cluster system of M31 has been assembled as a consequence of the accretion of cluster-bearing satellite galaxies. This constitutes the most direct evidence to date that the outer halo globular cluster populations in some galaxies are largely accreted.
Based on observations obtained with MegaPrime/MegaCam, a joint project of CFHT and CEA/DAPNIA, at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) which is operated by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, the Institut National des Science de l'Univers of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) of France, and the University of Hawaii.

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