Abstract
M31 hosts a rich population of outer halo (Rproj
> 25 kpc) globular clusters (GCs), many of which show strong evidence
for spatial and/or kinematical associations with large-scale tidal
debris features. We present deep Hubble Space Telescope
photometry of 48 halo GCs, including 18 with clear ties to stellar
streams and 13 with potential associations. Using the colour-magnitude
diagrams (CMDs), we quantify the horizontal branch (HB) morphologies and
employ new empirical relationships, calibrated on Milky Way (MW) GCs,
to consistently derive metallicities and line-of-sight extinctions. We
find a remarkable correlation between HB morphology and the presence of
substructure: GCs with very red HBs are almost exclusively associated
with substructure, while ‘non-substructure’ GCs have extended blue HBs.
This provides the first direct evidence that red HB halo clusters
originate from satellite accretion, a notion introduced nearly 50 years
ago from MW studies which has remained unconfirmed until now. In
addition to a more metal-rich tail, the substructure GC sample also
contains a few clusters with very low metallicities and red HBs, unlike
any objects known in the MW. We suggest these are recently accreted
young clusters, supporting the growing evidence that M31 has experienced
a more prolonged accretion history than the MW.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | L60-L66 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters |
| Volume | 542 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 28 Jun 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2025 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- globular clusters: general
- galaxies: formation
- galaxies: haloes
- galaxies: individual (M31)
- Local Group
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Dive into the research topics of 'Accreted Globular Clusters and Horizontal Branch Morphology in the Outer Halo of M31'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 3 Active
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Mining the Archaeological Record in Galaxy Outskirts
Ferguson, A. (Principal Investigator) & Seth, S. (Co-investigator)
1/03/25 → 28/02/30
Project: Research
-
Galactic Archaeology of Local Volume Galaxies with Euclid
Williams, M. (Principal Investigator)
1/09/24 → 29/02/28
Project: Research
-
The Archaeological Record in Local Galaxy Stellar Halos
Ferguson, A. (Principal Investigator)
Science and Technology Facilities Council
1/04/24 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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