Uncovering the Galactic stellar halo build-up through chemo-dynamics of globular clusters (A08)

• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2015 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 138713538

Up to two thirds of the Galactic halo globular clusters (GCs) may have been accreted as part of dwarf galaxies. GCs themselves may get disrupted in the Galactic potential, contributing their stars to the halo field population. We want to elucidate (1) the dwarf galaxy contribution to the Galactic halo using GCs as tracers, and (2) quantify the GC contribution to the field using the unique chemical signature of so-called second-generation stars and phase space information from Gaia DR2 and DR3. Moreover, we will run large, realistic direct N-body models of GCs including Galactic tidal fields, single and binary star evolution, and cluster rotation to quantify the GC-halo interaction.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 881: The Milky Way System
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Norbert Christlieb, until 12/2018; Professorin Dr. Eva K. Grebel; Professor Dr. Glenn van de Ven, until 12/2018