Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Feb 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002apj...565.1251h&link_type=abstract
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 565, Issue 2, pp. 1251-1256.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
24
Galaxy: Globular Clusters: General, Methods: N-Body Simulations, Galaxy: Open Clusters And Associations: General, Stars: Planetary Systems, Stellar Dynamics
Scientific paper
We find that free-floating planets can remain bound to an open cluster for much longer than was previously calculated: of the order of the cluster half-mass relaxation timescale as opposed to the crossing time. This result is based on N-body simulations performed with the new GRAPE-6 special purpose hardware and is important in the context of the preliminary detection of a population of free-floating, substellar objects in the globular cluster M22. The planets in our N-body study are of Jupiter mass and are initially placed in circular orbits of between 0.05 and 50 AU about a parent star whose mass is chosen from a realistic initial mass function. The presence of the free-floating planets is the result of dynamical encounters between planetary systems and the cluster stars. Most planets are liberated from their parent star in, or near, the cluster core, and then drift outward on a timescale of ~108-109 yr. This still implies the existence of many (~100) planets per star if the M22 result is confirmed.
Hurley Jarrod R.
Shara Michael M.
No associations
LandOfFree
Free-floating Planets in Stellar Clusters: Not So Surprising does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Free-floating Planets in Stellar Clusters: Not So Surprising, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Free-floating Planets in Stellar Clusters: Not So Surprising will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1792328