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| Paper: |
Direct Evidence for Dynamical Evolution of Luminosity Functions of Globular Cluster Systems: HST/ACS Observations of the 3-Gyr-old Merger Remnant NGC 1316 |
| Volume: |
322, The Formation and Evolution of Massive Young Star Clusters |
| Page: |
469 |
| Authors: |
Goudfrooij, P. |
| Abstract: |
Recent observations of globular clusters (GCs) in intermediate-age (2-4 Gyr old), early-type merger remnants have provided the hitherto 'missing link' between young merger remnants and 'normal' elliptical galaxies in the form of a GC subsystem with colors and luminosities consistent with population synthesis model predictions for those ages and ~solar metallicity. Here we present new, deep observations of the GC system of the intermediate-age merger remnant NGC 1316, using the ACS camera aboard Hubble Space Telescope, which allowed us to create luminosity functions (LFs) as a function of galactocentric radius. We find that the inner 50% of the 'red' GC system shows a clear turnover in its LF, at about 1 mag fainter than that of the 'old' blue GCs. This constitutes direct, dynamical evidence that metal-rich GC populations formed during a gas-rich merger can evolve into the 'red', metal-rich GC populations that are ubiquitous in 'normal' giant ellipticals. |
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