Nuclear kinematics of the dense globular cluster M15

Details Nuclear kinematics of the dense globular cluster M15 Nuclear kinematics of the dense globular cluster M15

Jul 1999

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999hst..prop.8262v&link_type=abstract

HST Proposal ID #8262

Physics

Optics

Hst Proposal Id #8262 Stellar Populations In Clusters

Scientific paper

The high central density of M15 makes it unique for probing the structure and evolution of globular clusters. Our WFPC2 images reveal a central cusp in the star count distribution, consistent with either core collapse or the presence of a central black hole. To study the dynamics of M15 we have determined velocities of 1600 stars, and we are currently analyzing state-of-the-art Keck HIRES spectra and CFHT adaptive optics Fabry-Perot observations. However, neither ground-based observations nor HST proper motion work can reliably constrain the dynamics in the central 1-2 arcsec, due to crowding. A kinematic study of this central region requires the high spatial resolution and multi-object capability of HST/STIS. We propose to map the central arcsec spectroscopically in the Mg b region, stepping the 0.1 arcsec wide slit across the center in 18 steps of 0.1 arcsec, which will allow us to determine the velocity dispersion profile accurate to a few km/s. This will yield the mass-to-light ratio as function of radius, and will constrain the presence of a central black hole or nuclear concentration of dark remnants. This is the first HST study of line-of- sight velocities in any globular cluster, and will yield a unique dataset: no kinematical data exists at comparable density and spatial resolution for any other cluster.

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