Influence of the stellar mass function of the evaporation rate of tidally limited postcollapse globular clusters

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (47) References (50) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Influence of the Stellar Mass Function on the Evaporation Rate of Tidally Limited Postcollapse Globular Clusters Lee, Hyung Mok ; Goodman, Jeremy Abstract We study the rate of escape of stars (evaporation) from tidally limited postcollapse globular clusters having a power-law distribution of stellar masses. We use a multimass Fokker-Planck code and assume a steady tidal field. Stellar-dynamical processes cause the inner parts of the cluster to expand, which in turn causes stars to overflow the tidal boundary. Mass loss by stellar evolution is assumed to be unimportant in these later evolutionary stages. The fraction of the cluster mass lost per half-mass relaxation time trh is roughly constant, in agreement with simple homologous models with equal-mass stars. If trh is computed in the conventional way from the mean stellar mass, however, a broad stellar mass function can double the loss of mass per trh. We discuss implications of our results for the evolution of globular cluster systems in our own and other galaxies. In particular, the number of Galactic clusters destroyed by evaporation alone may be as large as or larger than the present population. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: April 1995 DOI: 10.1086/175506 Bibcode: 1995ApJ...443..109L Keywords: Astronomical Models; Evaporation Rate; Globular Clusters; Stellar Evolution; Stellar Mass; Stellar Orbits; Celestial Mechanics; Galactic Evolution; Milky Way Galaxy; Relaxation Time; Star Distribution; Astrophysics; CELESTIAL MECHANICS; STELLAR DYNAMICS; GALAXY: GLOBULAR CLUSTERS: GENERAL full text sources ADS |