Probing the Galactic Halo with Globular Cluster Tidal Tails

Abstract

We discuss recent observational and numerical work on tidal tails in globular clusters. Evidence of tidal tails has now been found in 16 Galactic globulars and 4 globulars in M31. Simulations indicate that mapping of these tidal tails over most of a typical cluster's orbit may be quite feasible. A relatively modest effort in this regard would yield reliable space velocities for those clusters whose tidal tails could be traced to angular separations of a few degrees or more. Mining of forthcoming databases should allow us to trace the individual orbital paths of globular clusters over large portions of the sky. This would enable us to better constrain models of the collapse of the Galaxy and to build up an accurate picture of the distribution of matter in the Galactic halo.