Bibcode
Aparicio, A.; Rosenberg, A.; Piotto, G.; Saviane, I.; Recio-Blanco, A.
Bibliographical reference
Memorie della Società Astronomica Italiana, v.75, p.13 (2004)
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2004
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Description
Based on a new large, homogeneous photometric database of 69 Galactic
globular clusters extended out to 42 kpc from the galactic center, a set
of distance and reddening free relative age indicators has been
measured: delta (V-I)@2.5 and Delta
VHBTO. Using this two independent indicators and
two recent updated libraries of isochrones we have found that
self-consistent relative ages can be estimated for our GGCs sample.
The main results are: (a) most clusters and all with [Fe/h]<-1.2 are
old and coeval; (b) there is no trend of the age with the Galactocentric
distance out to 25 kpc from the galactic center; (c) there is a mild
indication (but still based on a limited number of clusters) that
clusters beyond 25kpc are slightly younger (d) there is no
age-metallicity trend and (e) for more metal-rich clusters
([Fe/h]>-1.2) there are indication of a larger age dispersion, of the
order of 10-15%.
From these results, a tentative interpretation of the Milky Way
formation can be given. First, the GC formation process started at the
same zero age throughout the halo including the outer regions, out to
the current ˜ 42 kpc. The so-called disk globulars were formed at
a later time (˜ 15% lower age). Finally, significantly younger
halo GGCs are found at any distance out to RGC˜ 30 kpc.
For these, a possible scenario associated with mergers of dwarf galaxies
to the Milky Way is suggested.