Is there a Size Difference between Red and Blue Globular Clusters?

J. M. B. Downing

Published 2012-04-24Version 1

Blue (metal-poor) globular clusters are observed to have half-light radii that are ~20% larger than their red (metal-rich) counterparts. The origin of this enhancement is not clear and differences in either the luminosity function or in the actual size of the clusters have been proposed. I analyze a set of dynamically self-consistent Monte Carlo globular cluster simulations to determine the origin of this enhancement. I find that my simulated blue clusters have larger half-light radii due to differences in the luminosity functions of metal-poor and metal-rich stars. I find that the blue clusters can also be physically larger, but only if they have a substantial number of black holes heating their central regions. In this case the difference between half-light radii is significantly larger than observed. I conclude that the observed difference in half-light radii between red and blue globular clusters is due to differences in their luminosity functions and that half-light radius is not a reliable proxy for cluster size.