"The Mystery of Primordial Stellar Systems"

ABSTRACT: 

The universe has produced two classes of low-luminosity stellar systems containing old, metal-poor stars: the metal-poor globular clusters and the faint dwarf spheroidal galaxies.  Both are found in the Local Group and exist elsewhere. The dynamical and chemical structure of the two classes is markedly different, implying that the conditions of their formation were distinct.  I will discuss recent theoretical progress made toward resolving the formation of primordial stellar systems.  I will then highlight some uncertainties affecting common interpretations of the role of cosmic reionization in early structure formation.