Core velocity dispersions of globular clusters

In order to understand and estimate the statistical errors of these measurements due to small numbers of bright stars dominating the integrated light, we provide an extensive discussion based on detailed numerical simulations.

These errors are smaller if the integration area is larger and/or the cluster concentration higher. The simulations show that measurements are reliable when the integrated light within the integration area is brighter than a given magnitude. The statistical errors on the {sigma}_p_ measurements of Magellanic globular clusters are small because of a physically large integration area, whereas they can be important for measurements carried out over small central areas in Galactic clusters.