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dc.contributor.authorMackey, Dougalen_US
dc.contributor.authorHuxor, Avonen_US
dc.contributor.authorFerguson, Annetteen_US
dc.contributor.authorIrwin, Mikeen_US
dc.contributor.authorTanvir, Nialen_US
dc.contributor.authorMcConnachie, Alanen_US
dc.contributor.authorIbata, Rodrigoen_US
dc.contributor.authorChapman, Scotten_US
dc.contributor.authorLewis, Gerainten_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-12T19:20:55Z
dc.date.available2014-03-12T19:20:55Z
dc.date.issued2010-05-20en_US
dc.identifier.citationMackey, Dougal, Avon Huxor, Annette Ferguson, Mike Irwin, et al. 2010. "Evidence for an accretion origin for the outer halo globular cluster system of M31." The Astrophysical Journal Letters 717(1): L11.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0004-637X
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10222/45380
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/717/1/L11
dc.description.abstractWe use a sample of newly-discovered globular clusters from the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey (PAndAS) in combination with previously-catalogued objects to map the spatial distribution of globular clusters in the M31 halo. At projected radii beyond ~30 kpc, where large coherent stellar streams are readily distinguished in the field, there is a striking correlation between these features and the positions of the globular clusters. Adopting a simple Monte Carlo approach, we test the significance of this association by computing the probability that it could be due to the chance alignment of globular clusters smoothly distributed in the M31 halo. We find the likelihood of this possibility is low, below 1%, and conclude that the observed spatial coincidence between globular clusters and multiple tidal debris streams in the outer halo of M31 reflects a genuine physical association. Our results imply that the majority of the remote globular cluster system of M31 has been assembled as a consequence of the accretion of cluster-bearing satellite galaxies. This constitutes the most direct evidence to date that the outer halo globular cluster populations in some galaxies are largely accreted.en_US
dc.relation.ispartofThe Astrophysical Journal Letters
dc.titleEvidence for an accretion origin for the outer halo globular cluster system of M31en_US
dc.title.alternativearXiv:1005.3812 [astro-ph]en_US
dc.typearticleen_US
dc.identifier.issue717(1)
dc.identifier.startpageL11en_US
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