Joint Astrophysical Colloquium
The interplay of dwarf galaxies and their globular clusters
Teymoor Saifollahi (Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg (ObAS))
Thursday 07/11/2024 @ 11:30, Sala Antonio Sollima (IV piano Battiferro)
Dwarf galaxies challenge current galaxy formation models, as the outputs of the most recent cold dark matter (CDM) cosmological simulations are not consistent with their observed properties. These inconsistencies suggest the need for alternative models for baryonic processes and/or dark matter. However, the effects of these alternative models are degenerate, and therefore, it is not yet clear which model alterations are most adequate. Additionally, recent deep extragalactic surveys have revealed a diversity in the properties of globular clusters (GCs) around dwarf galaxies, raising questions about the formation of dwarf galaxies as well as the connection between galaxies and GCs in this mass regime. This diversity suggests that GCs may be influenced by different astrophysical processes, which can have implications for our understanding of the underlying processes that drive galaxy evolution. Considering the upcoming data from various wide-field extragalactic surveys, it seems timely to further investigate the potential of GC observables of dwarf galaxies for breaking the above-mentioned degeneracy between models. In my talk, I will review the results of past and recent extragalactic surveys. The deep and high-resolution images from Euclid, in both optical and near-infrared, allow us to identify and investigate GCs around a large sample of dwarf galaxies in the Local Universe. With such observations, we can search for patterns and trends between dwarf galaxies and their GCs that have remained undetected in previous studies, providing valuable insights into the properties of GCs in relation to their host dwarf galaxies. During my talk, I will also present highlights of the Euclid Early Release Observations (ERO) program regarding dwarf galaxies and their GCs. By advancing our understanding of the interplay between dwarf galaxies and their GCs, this line of research could reshape our perspectives on star and galaxy formation and evolution.