Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Galaxy Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2010-05-07
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Galaxy Astrophysics
Submitted to PASJ
Scientific paper
We investigate the long-term dynamical evolution of star clusters in a steady tidal field produced by its parent galaxy. In this paper, we focus on the influence of mass profile of the parent galaxy. The previous studies were done with the simplification where the parent galaxy was expressed by point mass. We express different mass profiles of the parent galaxy by the tidal fields in which the ratios of the epicyclic frequency to the angular velocity are different. We compare the mass-loss timescale of star clusters whose tidal radii are identical but in parent galaxies with different mass profile, by means of orbits calculations in fixed cluster potential and N-body simulations. In this situation, a cluster rotates around the parent galaxy more rapidly as the parent galaxy has shallower mass profile. We found that the mass-loss timescale increase 20% and 50% for the cases that the mass density profile of the parent galaxies are proportional to R^-2 and R^-1.5 where R is the distance from the galaxy center, compared to the point-mass case, in moderately strong tidal field. Counterintuitively, a cluster which rotates around the parent galaxy more rapidly has a longer lifetime. The increase of lifetime is due to the fact that the fraction occupied by regular-like orbit increases in shallower profile. Finally, we derive an evaluation formula for the mass-loss timescale of clusters. Our formula can explain a property of the population of the observed galactic globular clusters that their half-mass radii become smaller as their distances from the galactic center become smaller.
Fukushige Toshiyuki
Tanikawa Ataru
No associations
LandOfFree
Mass-Loss Timescale of Star Clusters in an External Tidal Field. II. Effect of Mass Profile of Parent Galaxy 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 Mass-Loss Timescale of Star Clusters in an External Tidal Field. II. Effect of Mass Profile of Parent Galaxy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mass-Loss Timescale of Star Clusters in an External Tidal Field. II. Effect of Mass Profile of Parent Galaxy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-303332