Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2007-02-13
Astrophys.J.661:210-221,2007
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Important changes to tables and figures have been made in the included erratum. Our results remain unchanged
Scientific paper
10.1086/514330
The formation of blue stragglers is still not completely understood, particularly the relationship between formation environment and mechanism. We use a large, homogeneous sample of blue stragglers in the cores of 57 globular clusters to investigate the relationships between blue straggler populations and their environments. We use a consistent definition of "blue straggler" based on position in the color-magnitude diagram, and normalize the population relative to the number of red giant branch stars in the core. We find that the previously determined anti-correlation between blue straggler frequency and total cluster mass is present in the purely core population. We find some weak correlations with central velocity dispersion and with half-mass relaxation time. The blue straggler frequency does not show any trend with any other cluster parameter. Even though collisions may be expected to be a dominant blue straggler formation process in globular cluster cores, we find no correlation between the frequency of blue stragglers and the collision rate in the core. We also investigated the blue straggler luminosity function shape, and found no relationship between any cluster parameter and the distribution of blue stragglers in the color-magnitude diagram. Our results are inconsistent with some recent models of blue straggler formation that include collisional formation mechanisms, and may suggest that almost all observed blue stragglers are formed in binary systems.
Knigge Christian
Leigh Nathan
Sills Alison
No associations
LandOfFree
Where the Blue Stragglers Roam: Searching for a Link Between Formation and Environment 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 Where the Blue Stragglers Roam: Searching for a Link Between Formation and Environment, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Where the Blue Stragglers Roam: Searching for a Link Between Formation and Environment will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-208901