Oral Presentation

The specific frequency of globular clusters in different galaxy clusters

Yiqing Liu

Globular clusters (GCs) are relics from early star formation and merger events. Specific frequency (S_N), represents the fraction of stellar mass currently contained in GCs, and thus provides information on the formation and survival efficiencies of GCs. This, in turn, is linked to the early star formation and subsequent evolution of the host galaxy. HST/ACS Fornax Cluster Survey has taken the images of 43 early-type galaxies in the Fornax Cluster, which is a nearly completed sample covering the full range of the galaxy luminosity function brighter than M_z~-17. Here we present the results of the S_N of these 43 galaxies, and discuss their dependence of galactic mass and environment. Comparing the results from a similar survey in Virgo, a galaxy cluster more massive but less dense than Fornax, we can examine how different environment and cluster mass influence the GC formation efficiency and galaxy formation across galaxy mass.