A Statistical Framework to Identify Kinematically Outlying LMC Globular Clusters and Implications for the LMC's Dark Matter Profile

Abstract

The LMC's Globular Clusters (GCs) bring a novel opportunity to understand the LMC's assembly history and dark matter (DM) properties, provided the kinematically outlying GCs can be reliably identified. However, traditional diagnostics like the Energy-Angular Momentum space fail because of large uncertainties on the GC velocities. In this work, we develop a new, robust statistical framework for identifying kinematically outlying LMC GCs, by using their Gaia-DR3 Proper Motions (PMs) combined with previous Line-of-Sight (LoS) velocity measurements. We use the difference between a GC's velocity vector and the average velocity vector of the surrounding red clump stars as a metric for quantifying a GC's kinematic peculiarity. We account for both the velocity measurement uncertainties and the LMC's intrinsic velocity dispersion. We find 5 LMC GCs to be kinematically outlying based on PM differences alone, and additional 6 GCs if LoS velocity information is also used. Majority of the GCs with outlying PMs are clustered at a distance of 3-4 kpc from the LMC center. The inclusion of outlying LMC GCs introduces a bias of upto 30% in the LMC's enclosed mass estimates derived using GCs as dynamical tracers; caution must be exercised in choosing the GC sample for precisely determining the LMC's DM content. We discuss the possibility that the kinematically outlying LMC GCs may be located in the LMC's elusive stellar halo and/or they could be accreted from external galaxies. Our work thus motivates future spectroscopic follow-up of these outlying GCs.

23 pages, 5 figures, accepted in The Astrophysical Journal (updated to the accepted version)

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