The SLUGGS Survey: globular clusters and the dark matter content of early-type galaxies

Understand

A strong correlation exists between the total mass of a globular cluster (GC) system and the virial halo mass of the host galaxy.

• However, the total halo mass in this correlation is a statistical measure conducted on spatial scales that are some ten times that of a typical GC system.
• Here we investigate the connection between GC systems and galaxy's dark matter on comparable spatial scales, using dynamical masses measured on a galaxy-by-galaxy basis.
• Our sample consists of 17 well-studied massive (stellar mass $\sim$10$^{11}$ M$_{\odot}$) early-type galaxies from the SLUGGS survey.