A Survey for Globular Clusters in Cosmic Void Galaxies

We carry out the first survey for globular clusters (GCs) of three galaxies in cosmic voids using Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Survey archival F606W and F814W images. While all sample galaxies are classified as early-type galaxies based on ground-based imaging, the high resolution HST images reveal that they are actually spiral galaxies. We identify the point sources with red colors typical for GCs as GC candidates in the color-magnitude diagrams. As a result, we find a significant number of GC candidates. The spatial and radial distribution of GCs show central concentration on each galaxy region. Their mean colors are similar to that of the Milky Way and M31 GCs. The void GCs are somewhat bluer by, and than cluster and field GCs in early-type galaxies with similar luminosity to our samples, but the discrepancy is not significant. We also estimate the specific frequencies of GCs in these galaxies and the values are consistent with those in field and cluster galaxies with similar luminosity. From these results, we suggest that the formation process of void GCs is similar to that of GCs in other environments. The further implications will be discussed.