Nonlinear Color-Metallicity Relations of Globular Clusters: an Observational Approach

The origin of globular cluster (GC) color bimodality, which is one of the salient phenomena observed in most large galaxies, has not yet been fully resolved. The phenomenon has conventionally been interpreted as a bimodal metallicity distribution based on an assumption of linear GC color-metallicity relations (CMRs). Recent studies however suggest that nonlinear GC CMRs can cause a bimodal color distribution even from a single-peaked metallicity spread. Using photometric and spectroscopic data on GCs in NGC 5128 (Cen A) and NGC 4594 (Sombrero), we investigate the nonlinearity of GC CMRs and compare the observed GC CMRs with the predictions of stellar population simulation models. Our careful selection of old GCs effectively reduces the scatter and reveals the nonlinear nature of the GC CMRs for various colors. The overall shape of the observed CMRs agrees well with that of the modeled CMRs, while offsets are present for some colors. We discuss the implications of our results in terms of the GC color bimodality and GC formation in NGC 5128 and NGC 4594.