Imprints of interaction processes in the globular cluster system of NGC 3640

Ana Ines Ennis, Juan Pablo Caso, Lilia Patricia Bassino

Published 2024-02-29Version 1

We present a wide-field study of the globular cluster systems (GCS) of the elliptical galaxy NGC 3640 and its companion NGC 3641, based on observations from Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph/Gemini. NGC 3640 is a shell galaxy which presents a complex morphology, which previous studies have indicated as the sign of a recent 'dry' merger, although whether its nearest neighbour could have influenced these substructures remains an open question. In this work, we trace the spatial distribution of the globular clusters (GCs) as well as their colour distribution, finding a potential bridge of red GCs that connects NGC 3640 to its less massive companion, and signs that the blue GCs were spatially disturbed by the event that created the shells.