Globular cluster systems of early-type galaxies - do we understand them?

Abstract

I review recent and less recent work on globular cluster systems in early-type galaxies. Explaining their properties and possible assembly scenarios, touches on a variety of astrophysical topics from cluster formation itself to galaxy formation and evolution and even details of observational techniques. The spectacular cluster systems of central galaxies in galaxy clusters may owe their richness to a plethora of less spectacular galaxies and their star formation processes. It seems that dwarf galaxies occupy a particularly important role.