About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Astrophysics and Space Science
Paper
The specific frequency of globular clusters in galaxies
Abstract
Variations in the number of globular clusters per unit galaxy luminosity, which is the specific frequency, and the mass of globular clusters per unit total available mass, are reviewed. Correlations with galaxy luminosity and morphology, and with the properties of the associated galactic clusters are discussed, as are the color distributions of globular cluster populations. Several models for the origin of these variations are summarized, including the tidal stripping and interaction/starburst models. Most of the variations in the specific frequency for elliptical galaxies result from variations in the ratio of total mass to light with a nearly constant efficiency for conversion of gas into globular cluster mass. Smaller additional variations may come from tidal stripping, particularly in cD galaxies.