Dwarf galaxies: evidence of differential tidal effects in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Abstract

We built the most extended stellar density and/or surface brightness radial profiles for 13 old Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) globular clusters (GCs). The studied GCs located farther than similar to 5 kpc from the LMC center would not seem to present any hint of extended stellar structures, while those closer than similar to 5 kpc do show extended structures. Such an excess of stars tightly depends on the position of the GCs, so that the closer the GC to the LMC center, the larger the excess of stars. Furthermore, the GC radii also show a remarkable trend with the position of the GC in the LMC disc. These outcomes can be fully interpreted in the light of the known GC radial velocity disc-like kinematics, from which GCs have been somehow mostly experiencing the influence of the LMC gravitational field at their respective mean distances from the LMC center. Show more