Tidal Stripping of Globular Clusters

COENDA, V.; MURIEL, H.; DONZELLI, C.J.

REVISTA MEXICANA DE ASTRONOMíA Y ASTROFíSICA

UNIV NACIONAL AUTONOMA MEXICO

Lugar: Mexico, D.F.; Año: 2009 vol. 35 p. 95 - 96

0185-1101

We have analized 9 galaxies selected from the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey to study the tidal stripping of globular clusters in early type galaxies. We estimate the specific frequency (Sn) of globular clusters in the cluster galaxies, our results indicate that the mean Sn increases with galactocentric distance. However, if the blue and red globular cluster populations are analized separately, this effec is only present for the blue population, which is tipically the most extended and therefore most affected by tidal effects. The aforementioned effects are interpreted as evidence of tidal stripping of globular clusters due to both the cluster potential well and galaxy - galaxy interactions.