Bibcode
DOI
Rosenberg, A.; Saviane, I.; Piotto, G.; Aparicio, A.
Bibliographical reference
The Astronomical Journal, Volume 118, Issue 5, pp. 2306-2320.
Advertised on:
11
1999
Citations
233
Refereed citations
199
Description
Based on a new large, homogeneous photometric database of 34 Galactic
globular clusters (GGCs plus Palomar 12), a set of distance- and
reddening- independent relative age indicators has been measured. The
observed δ(V-I)2.5 and
ΔVHBTO versus metallicity relations have
been compared with the relations predicted by two recently updated
libraries of isochrones. Using these models and two independent methods,
we have found that self-consistent relative ages can be estimated for
our GGC sample. In turn, this demonstrates that the models are
internally self-consistent. Based on the relative age versus metallicity
distribution, we conclude that (1) there is no evidence of an age spread
for clusters with [Fe/H]<-1.2, all the clusters of our sample in this
range being old and coeval; (2) for the intermediate-metallicity group
(-1.2<=[Fe/H]<-0.9), there is a clear evidence of age dispersion,
with clusters up to ~25% younger than the older members; and (3) the
clusters within the metal-rich group ([Fe/H]>=-0.9) seem to be coeval
within the uncertainties (except Pal 12) but younger (~17%) than the
bulk of the GGCs. The latter result is totally model dependent. From the
Galactocentric distribution of the GGC ages, we can divide the GGCs in
two groups: the old, coeval clusters and the young clusters. The second
group can be divided into two subgroups: the ``really young clusters''
and the ``young, but model dependent,'' which are within the
intermediate- and high-metallicity groups, respectively. From this
distribution, we can present a possible scenario for the Milky Way's
formation: The globular cluster formation process started at the same
zero age throughout the halo, at least out to ~20 kpc from the Galactic
center. According to the present stellar evolution models, the
metal-rich clusters are formed at a later time (~17% lower age).
Finally, significantly younger halo GGCs are found at any
RGC>8 kpc. For these, a possible scenario associated with
mergers of dwarf galaxies to the Milky Way is suggested.