Formation of Globular Clusters: In and Out of Dwarf Galaxies

Abstract

Despite the rapid observational progress in the study of young massive star clusters, the formation of globular clusters still remains poorly understood. Yet, it is emerging that globular cluster formation is intimately linked to the formation of the Galaxy. I discuss a generic scenario of the cluster formation within progenitor galaxies, based on the available observational constraints. The oldest clusters formed around redshift z = 7, but the process continued at least until z = 3. Because of their high density, globular clusters survived when their progenitor galaxies were disrupted by the Galactic tidal field.

6 pages, proceedings of the ESO workshop "Extragalactic Globular Cluster Systems", ed. M. Kissler-Patig