Stellar populations in the densest stellar systems in the Universe

Nikolay Kacharov

MPIA Heidelberg

In this talk I will introduce some of the open questions in the field of globular clusters and nuclear star clusters. As one part of the colloquium, I will talk about the multiple populations phenomenon in globular clusters and focus on our recent discoveries in intermediate age clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. The second part will be dedicated to the much more extended star formation histories in nuclear star clusters. I will focus on discrete IFU spectroscopy in the nucleus of the tidally disrupted Sgr dSph galaxy - the massive globular cluster M54 and integrated light spectroscopy in the nuclei of yet undisturbed nearby galaxies. I will explore and discuss possible theories for the formation of these very dense objects based on our observations.