Dr. Thomas H. Puzia

Compact Stellar Systems

We analyze the properties of globular cluster systems, nuclear star clusters, and ultra-compact dwarfs to understand their formation and role in galaxy assembly. These fossil records of star formation encode the chemical enrichment histories and dynamical evolution of their host galaxies across cosmic time.

globular clusters nuclear star clusters ultra-compact dwarfs blue straggler stars

Latest Posts

2025-01-28 Prasanta Nayak

Nuclear Star Clusters and Blue Straggler Star Populations

Nuclear star clusters sit at the dynamical centres of galaxies and preserve a layered record of repeated star formation episodes. We combine HST photometry with proper-motion-cleaned catalogs to study the blue straggler star populations in these systems, probing collisional dynamics and binary evolution in the densest stellar environments known.

nuclear star clusters blue straggler stars HST

2024-09-15 Thomas H. Puzia

Globular Cluster Scale Sizes Across Giant Galaxies

The structural parameters of globular clusters — effective radii, concentrations, and tidal radii — carry the imprint of their formation environment and subsequent dynamical evolution. We study how GC scale sizes vary as a function of galactocentric distance, host galaxy mass, and environment, from the Fornax cluster core to the Virgo cluster outskirts.

globular clusters structural parameters Fornax

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