Metallicity distributions of globular cluster systems in galaxies

Abstract

We collected a sample of 100 galaxies for which different observers have determined colour indices of globular cluster candidates. The sample includes representatives of galaxies of various morphological types and different luminosities. Colour indices (in most cases (V-I), but also (B-I) and (C-T1)) were transformed into metallicities [Fe/H] according to a relation by Kissler-Patig (1998). These data were analysed with the KMM software in order to estimate similarity of the distribution with uni- or bimodal Gaussian distribution. We found that 45 of 100 systems have bimodal metallicity distributions. Mean metallicity of the metal-poor component for these galaxies is <[Fe/H]> = -1.40\pm 0.02, of the metal-rich component <[Fe/H]> = -0.69 \pm 0.03. Dispersions of the distributions are 0.15 and 0.18, respectively. Distribution of unimodal metallicities is rather wide. These data will be analysed in a subsequent paper in order to find correlations with parameters of galaxies and galactic environment.