No Arabic abstract
Mayall II = G1 is one of the most luminous globular clusters (GCs) known in M31. New deep, high-resolution observations with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the {sl Hubble Space Telescope} are used to provide accurate photometric data to the smallest radii yet. In particular, we present the precise variation of ellipticity and position angle, and of surface brightness for the core of the object. Based on these accurate photometric data, we redetermine the structural parameters of G1 by fitting a single-mass isotropic King model. We derive a core radius, $r_c=0.21pm0.01arcsec (=0.78pm0.04 rm{pc})$, a tidal radius, $r_t=21.8pm1.1arcsec (=80.7pm3.9 rm{pc})$, and a concentration index $c=log (r_t/r_c)=2.01pm0.02$. The central surface brightness is 13.510 mag arcsec$^{-2}$. We also calculate the half-light radius, at $r_h=1.73pm0.07arcsec(=6.5pm0.3 rm{pc})$. The results show that, within 10 core radii, a King model fits the surface brightness distribution well. We find that this object falls in the same region of the $M_V$ vs. $log R_h$ diagram as $omega$ Centauri, M54 and NGC 2419 in the Milky Way. All three of these objects have been claimed to be the stripped cores of now defunct dwarf galaxies. We discuss in detail whether GCs, stripped cores of dwarf spheroidals and normal dwarf galaxies form a continuous distribution in the $M_V$ versus $log R_h$ plane, or if GCs and dwarf spheroidals constitute distinct classes of objects; we present arguments in favour of this latter view.
We analyze post-refurbishment Hubble Space Telescope images of four globular clusters in M31. The ability to resolve stars to below the horizontal branch permits us to use star counts to extend the surface brightness profiles determined using aperture photometry to almost 5 orders of magnitude below the central surface density. Three of the resulting cluster profiles are reasonably well-fit using single-mass King models, with core and tidal radii typical of those seen in Galactic globular clusters. We confirm an earlier report of the discovery of a cluster which has apparently undergone core collapse. Three of the four clusters show departures in their outskirts from King model behavior which, based on recent results for Galactic globulars, may indicate the presence of tidal tails.
In this paper, we present surface brightness profiles for 79 globular clusters in M31, using images observed with {it Hubble Space Telescope}, some of which are from new observations. The structural and dynamical parameters are derived from fitting the profiles to several different models for the first time. The results show that in the majority of cases, King models fit the M31 clusters as well as Wilson models, and better than S{e}rsic models. However, there are 11 clusters best fitted by S{e}rsic models with the S{e}rsic index $n>2$, meaning that they have cuspy central density profiles. These clusters may be the well-known core-collapsed candidates. There is a bimodality in the size distribution of M31 clusters at large radii, which is different from their Galactic counterparts. In general, the properties of clusters in M31 and the Milky Way fall in the same regions of parameter spaces. The tight correlations of cluster properties indicate a fundamental plane for clusters, which reflects some universal physical conditions and processes operating at the epoch of cluster formation.
The King and the EFF (Elson, Fall & Freeman 1987) analytical models are employed to determine the structural parameters of star clusters using an 1-D surface brightness profile fitting method. The structural parameters are derived and a catalogue is provided for 51 star cluster candidates from the survey of compact star clusters in the South-West field of the M31 disk performed by Kodaira et al. (2004).
We present structural parameters for 51 compact star clusters from the survey of star clusters conducted in the South-West field of the M31 disk by Kodaira et al. (2004). Structural parameters of the clusters were derived by fitting the 2-D King and EFF (Elson, Fall and Freeman 1987) models to the V-band cluster images. Structural parameters derived for two M31 clusters, which are in common with the study based on the HST data (Barmby et al. 2002), are consistent with earlier determination. The M31 star cluster structural parameters in general are compatible with the corresponding Milky Way galaxy and Magellanic Clouds cluster parameters.
G1, also known as Mayall II, is one of the most massive star clusters in M31. Its mass, ellipticity, and location in the outer halo make it a compelling candidate for a former nuclear star cluster. This paper presents an integrated light abundance analysis of G1, based on a moderately high-resolution (R=15,000) spectrum obtained with the High Resolution Spectrograph on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope in 2007 and 2008. To independently determine the metallicity, a moderate resolution (R~4,000) spectrum of the calcium-II triplet lines in the near-infrared was also obtained with the Astrophysical Research Consortiums 3.5-m telescope at Apache Point Observatory. From the high-resolution spectrum, G1 is found to be a moderately metal-poor cluster, with [Fe/H]=-0.98+/-0.05. G1 also shows signs of alpha-enhancement (based on Mg, Ca, and Ti) and lacks the s-process enhancements seen in dwarf galaxies (based on comparisons of Y, Ba, and Eu), indicating that it originated in a fairly massive galaxy. Intriguingly, G1 also exhibits signs of Na and Al enhancement, a unique signature of GCs -- this suggests that G1s formation is intimately connected with GC formation. G1s high [Na/Fe] also extends previous trends with cluster velocity dispersion to an even higher mass regime, implying that higher mass clusters are more able to retain Na-enhanced ejecta. The effects of intracluster abundance spreads are discussed in a subsequent paper. Ultimately, G1s chemical properties are found to resemble other M31 GCs, though it also shares some similarities with extragalactic nuclear star clusters.