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Showing papers on "Mass segregation published in 2015"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the long-term dynamical evolution of GCs containing large numbers of stellar-mass black holes (BHs), and they find that significant numbers of BHs (up to ~103) are retained all the way to the present.
Abstract: Our current understanding of the stellar initial mass function and massive star evolution suggests that young globular clusters (GCs) may have formed hundreds to thousands of stellar-mass black holes (BHs), the remnants of stars with initial masses from ~20-100 M ☉. Birth kicks from supernova explosions may eject some BHs from their birth clusters, but most should be retained. Using a Monte Carlo method we investigate the long-term dynamical evolution of GCs containing large numbers of stellar BHs. We describe numerical results for 42 models, covering a broad range of realistic initial conditions, including up to 1.6 × 106 stars. In almost all models we find that significant numbers of BHs (up to ~103) are retained all the way to the present. This is in contrast to previous theoretical expectations that most BHs should be ejected dynamically within a few gigayears The main reason for this difference is that core collapse driven by BHs (through the Spitzer mass segregation instability) is easily reverted through three-body processes, and involves only a small number of the most massive BHs, while lower-mass BHs remain well-mixed with ordinary stars far from the central cusp. Thus the rapid segregation of stellar BHs does not lead to a long-term physical separation of most BHs into a dynamically decoupled inner core, as often assumed previously. Combined with the recent detections of several BH X-ray binary candidates in Galactic GCs, our results suggest that stellar BHs could still be present in large numbers in many GCs today, and that they may play a significant role in shaping the long-term dynamical evolution and the present-day dynamical structure of many clusters.

229 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied how the dynamical ejection fraction of O star systems varies with the masses of very young star clusters, by means of direct N-body calculations.
Abstract: Massive stars can be efficiently ejected from their birth star clusters through encounters with other massive stars. We study how the dynamical ejection fraction of O star systems varies with the masses of very young star clusters, , by means of direct N-body calculations. We include diverse initial conditions by varying the half-mass radius, initial mass segregation, initial binary fraction, and orbital parameters of the massive binaries. The results show robustly that the ejection fraction of O star systems exhibits a maximum at a cluster mass of for all models, even though the number of ejected systems increases with cluster mass. We show that lower mass clusters () are the dominant sources for populating the Galactic field with O stars by dynamical ejections, considering the mass function of embedded clusters. About 15% (up to ?38%, depending on the cluster models) of O stars of which a significant fraction are binaries, and which would have formed in a ?10 Myr epoch of star formation in a distribution of embedded clusters, will be dynamically ejected to the field. Individual clusters may eject 100% of their original O star content. A large fraction of such O stars have velocities up to only 10 km s?1. Synthesising a young star cluster mass function, it follows, given the stellar-dynamical results presented here, that the observed fractions of field and runaway O stars, and the binary fractions among them, can be well understood theoretically if all O stars form in embedded clusters.

85 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the results of their ongoing radial-velocity (RV) survey of the old (7 Gyr) open cluster NGC 188, which spans a time baseline of 11 years, a magnitude range of 12<=V<=16.5 (1.18-0.94 MSun), and a 1 deg. diameter region on the sky.
Abstract: (Abridged) We present the results of our ongoing radial-velocity (RV) survey of the old (7 Gyr) open cluster NGC 188. Our WIYN 3.5m data set spans a time baseline of 11 years, a magnitude range of 12<=V<=16.5 (1.18-0.94 MSun), and a 1 deg. diameter region on the sky. With the addition of a Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO) data set we extend our bright limit to V = 10.8 and, for some stars, extend our time baseline to 35 years. Our magnitude limits include solar-mass main-sequence stars, subgiants, giants, and blue stragglers (BSs), and our spatial coverage extends radially to 17 pc (~13 core radii). For the WIYN data we find a measurement precision of 0.4 km/s for narrow-lined stars. We have measured RVs for 1046 stars in the direction of NGC 188, finding 473 to be likely cluster members. We detect 124 velocity-variable cluster members, all of which are likely to be dynamically hard-binary stars. Using our single member stars, we find an average cluster RV of -42.36 +/- 0.04 km/s. We use our precise RV and proper-motion membership data to greatly reduce field-star contamination in our cleaned color-magnitude diagram, from which we identify six stars of note that lie far from a standard single-star isochrone. We find the binaries to be centrally concentrated, providing evidence for the presence of mass segregation in NGC 188. We observe the BSs to populate a bimodal spatial distribution that is not centrally concentrated, suggesting that we may be observing two populations of BSs in NGC 188, including a centrally concentrated distribution as well as a halo population. Finally, we find NGC 188 to have a global RV dispersion of 0.64 +/- 0.04 km/s. When corrected for unresolved binaries, the NGC 188 RV dispersion has a nearly isothermal radial distribution. We use this mean-corrected velocity dispersion to derive a virial mass of 2300 +/- 460 MSun.

79 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Kim 2 as discussed by the authors is a low luminosity star cluster in the outer halo of the Milky Way, which lies at a heliocentric distance of $sim105$ kpc and has a half-light radius of 12.8$ pc and an ellipticity of 0.12.
Abstract: We report the discovery of a new, low luminosity star cluster in the outer halo of the Milky Way. High quality $gr$ photometry is presented, from which a color-magnitude diagram is constructed, and estimates of age, [Fe/H], [$\alpha$/Fe], and distance are derived. The star cluster, which we designate as Kim 2, lies at a heliocentric distance of $\sim105$ kpc. With a half-light radius of $\sim12.8$ pc and ellipticity of $\epsilon\sim0.12$, it shares the properties of outer halo GCs, except for the higher metallicity ([Fe/H]$\sim-1.0$) and lower luminosity ($M_{V}\sim-1.5)$. These parameters are similar to those for the globular cluster AM 4, that is considered to be associated with the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy. We find evidence of dynamical mass segregation and the presence of extra-tidal stars that suggests Kim 2 is most likely a star cluster. Spectroscopic observations for radial-velocity membership and chemical abundance measurements are needed to further understand the nature of the object.

68 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the radial distribution of stellar populations in the globular cluster (GC) M15, using Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) photometry of red giants in the nitrogen-sensitive F343N-F555W color, was examined.
Abstract: We examine the radial distributions of stellar populations in the globular cluster (GC) M15, using Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) photometry of red giants in the nitrogen-sensitive F343N-F555W color. Surprisingly, we find that giants with "primordial" composition (i.e., N abundances similar to those in field stars) are the most centrally concentrated within the WFC3 field. We then combine our WFC3 data with Sloan Digital Sky Survey u, g photometry and find that the trend reverses for radii greater than or similar to 1' (3 pc) where the ratio of primordial to N-enhanced giants increases outward, as already found by Lardo et al. The ratio of primordial to enriched stars thus has a U-shaped dependency on radius with a minimum near the half-light radius. N-body simulations show that mass segregation might produce a trend resembling the observed one, but only if the N-enhanced giants are similar to 0.25 M-circle dot less massive than the primordial giants, which requires extreme He enhancement (Y greater than or similar to 0.40). However, such a large difference in Y is incompatible with the negligible optical color differences between primordial and enriched giants, which suggest Delta Y less than or similar to 0.03 and thus a difference in turn-off mass of Delta M less than or similar to 0.04 M-circle dot between the different populations. The radial trends in M15 are thus unlikely to be of dynamical origin and presumably reflect initial conditions, a result that challenges all current GC formation scenarios. We note that population gradients in the central regions of GCs remain poorly investigated and may show a more diverse behavior than hitherto thought.

51 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the radial distribution of stellar populations in the globular cluster (GC) M15, using HST/WFC3 photometry of red giants in the nitrogen-sensitive F343N-F555W color, was examined.
Abstract: We examine the radial distributions of stellar populations in the globular cluster (GC) M15, using HST/WFC3 photometry of red giants in the nitrogen-sensitive F343N-F555W color. Surprisingly, we find that giants with "primordial" composition (i.e., N abundances similar to those in field stars) are the most centrally concentrated within the WFC3 field. We then combine our WFC3 data with SDSS u, g photometry and find that the trend reverses for radii >1' (3 pc) where the ratio of primordial to N-enhanced giants increases outwards, as already found by Lardo et al. The ratio of primordial to enriched stars thus has a U-shaped dependency on radius with a minimum near the half-light radius. N-body simulations show that mass segregation might produce a trend resembling the observed one, but only if the N-enhanced giants are ~0.25 Mo less massive than the primordial giants, which requires extreme He enhancement (Y~0.40). However, such a large difference in Y is incompatible with the negligible optical color differences between primordial and enriched giants which suggest Delta Y < 0.03 and thus a difference in turn-off mass of Delta M < 0.04 Mo between the different populations. The radial trends in M15 are thus unlikely to be of dynamical origin and presumably reflect initial conditions, a result that challenges all current GC formation scenarios. We note that population gradients in the central regions of GCs remain poorly investigated and may show a more diverse behavior than hitherto thought.

49 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the mass segregation and a flattening of the mass function have opposing effects of similar magnitude on the mass inferred from integrated properties, which makes the mass-to-light ratio as derived from integrated light properties an inadequate probe of the low-mass end of the stellar mass function.
Abstract: From a study of the integrated light properties of 200 globular clusters (GCs) in M31, Strader et al. found that the mass-to-light ratios are lower than what is expected from simple stellar population (SSP) models with a `canonical' stellar initial mass function (IMF), with the discrepancy being larger at high metallicities. We use dynamical multi-mass models, that include a prescription for equipartition, to quantify the bias in the inferred dynamical mass as the result of the assumption that light follows mass. For a universal IMF and a metallicity dependent present day mass function we find that the inferred mass from integrated light properties systematically under estimates the true mass, and that the bias is more important at high metallicities, as was found for the M31 GCs. We show that mass segregation and a flattening of the mass function have opposing effects of similar magnitude on the mass inferred from integrated properties. This makes the mass-to-light ratio as derived from integrated properties an inadequate probe of the low-mass end of the stellar mass function. There is, therefore, no need for variations in the IMF, nor the need to invoke depletion of low-mass stars, to explain the observations. Finally, we find that the retention fraction of stellar-mass black holes (BHs) is an equally important parameter in understanding the mass segregation bias. We speculatively put forward to idea that kinematical data of GCs can in fact be used to constrain the total mass in stellar-mass BHs in GCs.

48 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used the Wide Field Camera 3 onboard the Hubble Space Telescope to obtain deep, high-resolution photometry of the young (age ∼ 300 Myr) star cluster NGC 1856 in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Abstract: We use the Wide Field Camera 3 onboard the Hubble Space Telescope to obtain deep, high-resolution photometry of the young (age ∼ 300 Myr) star cluster NGC 1856 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We compare the observed colour-magnitude diagram (CMD), after having applied a correction for differential reddening, with Monte Carlo simulations of simple stellar populations (SSPs) of various ages. We find that the main-sequence turn-off (MSTO) region is wider than that derived from the simulation of a single SSP. Using constraints based on the distribution of stars in the MSTO region and the Red Clump, we find that the CMD is best reproduced using a combination of two different SSPs with ages separated by 80 Myr (0.30 and 0.38 Gyr, respectively). However, we cannot formally exclude that the width of the MSTO could be due to a range of stellar rotation velocities if the efficiency of rotational mixing is higher than typically assumed. Using a King-model fit to the surface number density profile in conjunction with dynamical evolution models, we determine the evolution of cluster mass and escape velocity from an age of 10 Myr to the present age, taking into account the possible effects of primordial mass segregation. We find that the cluster has an escape velocity Vesc ≃ 17 km s−1 at an age of 10 Myr, and it remains high enough during a period of ≃100 Myr to retain material ejected by slow winds of first-generation stars. Our results are consistent with the presence of an age spread in NGC 1856, in contradiction to the results of Bastian & Silva-Villa.

40 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a combination of the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based data was used to probe the dynamical state of the low-mass Galactic globular cluster NGC 6101.
Abstract: We used a combination of Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based data to probe the dynamical state of the low-mass Galactic globular cluster NGC 6101. We have rederived the structural parameters of the cluster by using star counts and we find that it is about three times more extended than thought before. By using three different indicators, namely the radial distribution of blue straggler stars (BSSs), that of main-sequence binaries, and the luminosity (mass) function, we demonstrated that NGC 6101 shows no evidence of mass segregation, even in the innermost regions. Indeed, both the BSS and the binary radial distributions fully resemble those of any other cluster population. In addition, the slope of the luminosity (mass) function does not change with the distance, as expected for non-relaxed stellar systems. NGC 6101 is one of the few globulars where the absence of mass segregation has been observed so far. This result provides additional support for the use of the “dynamical clock” calibrated on the radial distribution of the blue stragglers as a powerful indicator of the cluster dynamical age. Based on observations collected at the the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory, Cerro Paranal, Chile (under proposal 091.D-0562). Also based on observations with the NASA/ESA HST (Prop. 10775), obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by AURA, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

39 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a combination of the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based data to probe the dynamical state of the low mass Galactic globular cluster NGC 6101.
Abstract: We used a combination of Hubble Space Telescope and ground based data to probe the dynamical state of the low mass Galactic globular cluster NGC 6101. We have re-derived the structural parameters of the cluster by using star counts and we find that it is about three times more extended than thought before. By using three different indicators, namely the radial distribution of Blue Straggler Stars, that of Main Sequence binaries and the luminosity (mass) function, we demonstrated that NGC 6101 shows no evidence of mass segregation, even in the innermost regions. Indeed, both the BSS and the binary radial distributions fully resemble that of any other cluster population. In addition the slope of the luminosity (mass) functions does not change with the distance, as expected for non relaxed stellar systems. NGC 6101 is one of the few globulars where the absence of mass segregation has been observed so far. This result provides additional support to the use of the "dynamical clock" calibrated on the radial distribution of the Blue Stragglers as a powerful indicator of the cluster dynamical age.

31 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a series of $N$-body simulations starting from initial conditions constructed from the results of hydrodynamical simulations of turbulent molecular clouds was performed, and it was shown that a local star formation efficiency higher than 50 % is necessary for the formation of young massive clusters.
Abstract: Young massive clusters are as young as open clusters but more massive and compact compared with typical open clusters. The formation process of young massive clusters is still unclear, and it is an open question whether the formation process is the same as typical open clusters or not. We perform a series of $N$-body simulations starting from initial conditions constructed from the results of hydrodynamical simulations of turbulent molecular clouds. In our simulations, both open clusters and young massive clusters form when we assume a density-dependent star formation efficiency. We find that a local star formation efficiency higher than 50 % is necessary for the formation of young massive clusters, but open clusters forms from less dense regions with a local star formation efficiency of $<50$ %. We confirm that the young massive clusters formed in our simulations have mass, size, and density profile similar to those of observed young massive clusters such as NGC 3603 and Trumpler 14. We also find that these simulated clusters evolve via hierarchical mergers of sub-clusters within a few Myr, as is suggested by recent simulations and observations. Although we do not assume initial mass segregation, we observe that the simulated massive clusters show a shallower slope of the mass function ($\Gamma\sim-1$) in the cluster center compared to that of the entire cluster ($\Gamma\sim-1.3$). These values are consistent with those of some young massive clusters in the Milky Way such as Westerlund 1 and Arches.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Hosek et al. as mentioned in this paper constructed the radial profile of the Arches to a radius of 75″ (∼3 pc at 8 kpc), which can be well described by a single power law.
Abstract: Author(s): Hosek, MW; Lu, JR; Anderson, J; Ghez, AM; Morris, MR; Clarkson, WI | Abstract: At a projected distance of ∼26 pc from Sgr A∗, the Arches cluster provides insight into star formation in the extreme Galactic center (GC) environment. Despite its importance, many key properties, such as the cluster's internal structure and orbital history, are not well known. We present an astrometric and photometric study of the outer region of the Arches cluster (R g 6.″25) using Hubble Space Telescope WFC3IR. Using proper motions, we calculate membership probabilities for stars down to F153M = 20 mag (∼2.5 Mo) over a 120″ × 120″ field of view, an area 144 times larger than previous astrometric studies of the cluster. We construct the radial profile of the Arches to a radius of 75″ (∼3 pc at 8 kpc), which can be well described by a single power law. From this profile we place a 3σ lower limit of 2.8 pc on the observed tidal radius, which is larger than the predicted tidal radius (1-2.5 pc). Evidence of mass segregation is observed throughout the cluster, and no tidal tail structures are apparent along the orbital path. The absence of breaks in the profile suggests that the Arches has not likely experienced its closest approach to the GC between ∼0.2 and 1 Myr ago. If accurate, this constraint indicates that the cluster is on a prograde orbit and is located in front of the sky plane that intersects Sgr A∗. However, further simulations of clusters in the GC potential are required to interpret the observed profile with more confidence.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated average galaxy stellar mass as a function of group-centric radius and found evidence for weak mass segregation in SDSS groups, and showed that the inclusion of low mass galaxies tends to strengthen mass segregation trends, and that the strength of mass segregation tends to decrease with increasing group halo mass.
Abstract: It has been shown that galaxy properties depend strongly on their host environment. In order to understand the relevant physical processes driving galaxy evolution it is important to study the observed properties of galaxies in different environments. Mass segregation in bound galaxy structures is an important indicator of evolutionary history and dynamical friction timescales. Using group catalogues derived from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7) we investigate mass segregation trends in galaxy groups at low redshift. We investigate average galaxy stellar mass as a function of group-centric radius and find evidence for weak mass segregation in SDSS groups. The magnitude of the mass segregation depends on both galaxy stellar mass limits and group halo mass. We show that the inclusion of low mass galaxies tends to strengthen mass segregation trends, and that the strength of mass segregation tends to decrease with increasing group halo mass. We find the same trends if we use the fraction of massive galaxies as a function of group-centric radius as an alternative probe of mass segregation. The magnitude of mass segregation that we measure, particularly in high-mass haloes, indicates that dynamical friction is not acting efficiently.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a series of direct N-body calculations were performed to investigate the effect of residual gas expulsion from the gas-embedded progenitors of present-day globular clusters (GCs) on the stellar mass function.
Abstract: We perform a series of direct N-body calculations to investigate the effect of residual gas expulsion from the gas-embedded progenitors of present-day globular clusters (GCs) on the stellar mass function (MF). Our models start either tidally filling or underfilling, and either with or without primordial mass segregation. We cover 100 Myr of the evolution of modelled clusters and show that the expulsion of residual gas from initially mass-segregated clusters leads to a significantly shallower slope of the stellar MF in the low- (m ≤ 0.50 M⊙) and intermediate-mass (≃ 0.50–0.85 M⊙) regime. Therefore, the imprint of residual gas expulsion and primordial mass segregation might be visible in the present-day MF. We find that the strength of the external tidal field, as an essential parameter, influences the degree of flattening, such that a primordially mass-segregated tidally filling cluster with rh/rt ≥ 0.1 shows a strongly depleted MF in the intermediate stellar mass range. Therefore, the shape of the present-day stellar MF in this mass range probes the birth place of clusters in the Galactic environment. We furthermore find that this flattening agrees with the observed correlation between the concentration of a cluster and its MF slope, as found by de Marchi et al.. We show that if the expansion through the residual gas expulsion in primordial mass segregated clusters is the reason for this correlation then GCs most probably formed in strongly fluctuating local tidal fields in the early proto-Milky Way potential, supporting the recent conclusion by Marks & Kroupa.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of star formation which include feedback from photoionization and stellar winds and evolve them for a further 10 Myr using N-body simulations and found that the presence of feedback prevents the runaway growth of massive stars, and the resulting star-forming regions are less dense, and preserve their initial substructure for longer.
Abstract: We take the end result of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of star formation which include feedback from photoionization and stellar winds and evolve them for a further 10 Myr using N-body simulations. We compare the evolution of each simulation to a control run without feedback, and to a run with photoionization feedback only. In common with previous work, we find that the presence of feedback prevents the runaway growth of massive stars, and the resulting star-forming regions are less dense, and preserve their initial substructure for longer. The addition of stellar winds to the feedback produces only marginal differences compared to the simulations with just photoionization feedback. We search for mass segregation at different stages in the simulations; before feedback is switched on in the SPH runs, at the end of the SPH runs (before N-body integration) and during the N-body evolution. Whether a simulation is primordially mass segregated (i.e. before dynamical evolution) depends extensively on how mass segregation is defined, and different methods for measuring mass segregation give apparently contradictory results. Primordial mass segregation is also less common in the simulations when star formation occurs under the influence of feedback. Further dynamical mass segregation can also take place during the subsequent (gas-free) dynamical evolution. Taken together, our results suggest that extreme caution should be exercised when interpreting the spatial distribution of massive stars relative to low-mass stars in simulations.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the two Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters NGC1805 and NGC 1818 are approximately the same chronological age (30 Myr), but show different radial trends in binary frequency.
Abstract: The two Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters NGC 1805 and NGC 1818 are approximately the same chronological age (�30 Myr), but show different radial trends in binary frequency. The F-type stars (1.3 - 2.2 M⊙) in NGC 1818 have a binary frequency that decreases towards the core, while the binary frequency for stars of similar mass in NGC 1805 is flat with radius, or perhaps bimodal (with a peak in the core). We show here, through detailed N-body modeling, that both clusters could have formed with the same primordial binary frequency and with binary orbital elements and masses drawn from the same distributions (defined from observations of open clusters and the field of our Galaxy). The observed radial trends in binary frequency for both clusters are best matched with models that have initial substructure. Furthermore, both clusters may be evolving along a very similar dynamical sequence, with the key difference that NGC 1805 is dynamically older than NGC 1818. The F-type binaries in NGC 1818 still show evidence of an initial period of rapid dynamical disruptions (which occur preferentially in the core), while NGC 1805 has already begun to recover a higher core binary frequency, owing to mass segregation (which will eventually produce a distribution in binary frequency that rises only towards the core, as is observed in old Milky Way star clusters). This recovery rate increases for higher-mass binaries, and therefore even at one age in one cluster, we predict a similar dynamical sequence in the radial distribution of the binary frequency as a function of binary primary mass.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the two Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters NGC1805 and NGC 1818 are approximately the same chronological age (~30 Myr), but show different radial trends in binary frequency.
Abstract: The two Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters NGC 1805 and NGC 1818 are approximately the same chronological age (~30 Myr), but show different radial trends in binary frequency. The F-type stars (1.3 - 2.2 MSun) in NGC 1818 have a binary frequency that decreases towards the core, while the binary frequency for stars of similar mass in NGC 1805 is flat with radius, or perhaps bimodal (with a peak in the core). We show here, through detailed N-body modeling, that both clusters could have formed with the same primordial binary frequency and with binary orbital elements and masses drawn from the same distributions (defined from observations of open clusters and the field of our Galaxy). The observed radial trends in binary frequency for both clusters are best matched with models that have initial substructure. Furthermore, both clusters may be evolving along a very similar dynamical sequence, with the key difference that NGC 1805 is dynamically older than NGC 1818. The F-type binaries in NGC 1818 still show evidence of an initial period of rapid dynamical disruptions (which occur preferentially in the core), while NGC 1805 has already begun to recover a higher core binary frequency, owing to mass segregation (which will eventually produce a distribution in binary frequency that rises only towards the core, as is observed in old Milky Way star clusters). This recovery rate increases for higher-mass binaries, and therefore even at one age in one cluster, we predict a similar dynamical sequence in the radial distribution of the binary frequency as a function of binary primary mass.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a combination of data acquired with the Advanced Camera for Survey (ACS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope and the Large Binocular Camera (LBC-blue) mounted on the large binocular Telescope was used to sample the main sequence stars of the globular cluster NGC~5466 in the mass range $0.3
Abstract: We use a combination of data acquired with the Advanced Camera for Survey (ACS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope and the Large Binocular Camera (LBC-blue) mounted on the Large Binocular Telescope, to sample the main sequence stars of the globular cluster NGC~5466 in the mass range $0.3

Journal ArticleDOI
Jiaxin Wang1, Jun Ma1, Zhenyu Wu1, Song Wang1, Xu Zhou1 
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented CCD multicolor photometry for the old open cluster NGC 188 using 15 intermediate-band filters covering 3000?10000? observations, which were carried out as part of the Beijing?Arizona?Taiwan?Connecticut Multicolor Sky Survey.
Abstract: This paper presents CCD multicolor photometry for the old open cluster NGC 188. The observations were carried out as part of the Beijing?Arizona?Taiwan?Connecticut Multicolor Sky Survey from 1995 February to 2008 March, using 15 intermediate-band filters covering 3000?10000 ?. By fitting the Padova theoretical isochrones to our data, the fundamental parameters of this cluster are derived: an age of Gyr, a distance modulus of , and a reddening of . The radial surface density profile of NGC 188 is obtained using the star count. By fitting the King model, the structural parameters of NGC 188 are derived: a core radius of , a tidal radius of , and a concentration parameter of . Fitting the mass function (MF) to a power-law function , the slopes of the MFs for different spatial regions are derived. We find that NGC 188 presents a slope break in the MF. The break mass is . In the mass range above , the slope of the overall region is . The slope of the core region is , and the slopes of the external regions are and , respectively. In the mass range below , these slopes are , , , and , respectively. The mass segregation in NGC 188 is reflected in the obvious variation of the slopes in different spatial regions of this cluster.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a high-resolution simulation coupled with a semi-analytic model of galaxy formation is used to study the mass segregation of galaxies in groups and clusters, focusing on the physical mechanisms that bring more massive galaxies faster towards the innermost regions of the halo.
Abstract: Taking advantage of a high-resolution simulation coupled with a state-of-art semi-analytic model of galaxy formation, we probe the mass segregation of galaxies in groups and clusters, focusing on which physical mechanisms are driving it. We find evidence of mass segregation in groups and clusters up to the virial radius, both looking at the galaxy stellar mass and subhalo mass. The physical mechanism responsible for that is consistent with dynamical friction, a drag-force that brings more massive galaxies faster towards the innermost regions of the halo. At odds with observational results, we do not find the inclusion of low-mass galaxies in the samples, down to stellar mass M-* = 10(9) M-aS (TM), to change the overall trend shown by intermediate and massive galaxies. Moreover, stellar stripping as well as the growth of galaxies after their accretion, do not contribute either in shaping mass segregation or mixing the radial mass distribution. Beyond the virial radius we find an 'antimass segregation' in groups that progressively weakens in clusters. The continuous accretion of new objects and recent merger events play a different role depending on the halo mass on to which accreting material is falling.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on small-to-intermediate N-body systems that are, initially, distributed uniformly in space and dynamically cool (virial ratios $Q=2T/|Omega|$ below ~0.3).
Abstract: In this paper we focus our attention on small-to-intermediate N-body systems that are, initially, distributed uniformly in space and dynamically cool (virial ratios $Q=2T/|\Omega|$ below ~0.3). In this work, we study the mass segregation that emerges after the initial violent dynamical evolution. At this scope, we ran a set of high precision N-body simulations of isolated clusters by means of HiGPUs, our direct summation N-body code. After the collapse, the system shows a clear mass segregation. This (quick) mass segregation occurs in two phases: the first shows up in clumps originated by sub-fragmentation before the deep overall collapse; this segregation is partly erased during the deep collapse to re-emerge, abruptly, during the second phase, that follows the first bounce of the system. In this second stage, the proper clock to measure the rate of segregation is the dynamical time after virialization, which (for cold and cool systems) may be significantly different from the crossing time evaluated from initial conditions. This result is obtained for isolated clusters composed of stars of two different masses (in the ratio $m_h/m_l=2$), at varying their number ratio, and is confirmed also in presence of a massive central object (simulating a black hole of stellar size). Actually, in stellar systems starting their dynamical evolution from cool conditions, the fast mass segregation adds to the following, slow, secular segregation which is collisionally induced. The violent mass segregation is an effect persistent over the whole range of N ($128 \leq N \leq 1024$) investigated, and is an interesting feature on the astronomical-observational side, too. The semi-steady state reached after virialization corresponds to a mass segregated distribution function rather than that of equipartition of kinetic energy per unit mass as it should result from violent relaxation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the luminosity and mass functions as a function of clustercentric radius of the main-sequence stars in the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae were studied using near-infrared observations obtained as part of the VISTA Survey of the Magellanic Clouds (VMC), as well as two complementary Hubble Space Telescope ({\sl HST}) data sets.
Abstract: We use near-infrared observations obtained as part of the {\sl Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy} (VISTA) Survey of the Magellanic Clouds (VMC), as well as two complementary {\sl Hubble Space Telescope} ({\sl HST}) data sets, to study the luminosity and mass functions as a function of clustercentric radius of the main-sequence stars in the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae. The {\sl HST} observations indicate a relative deficit in the numbers of faint stars in the central region of the cluster compared with its periphery, for $18.75\leq m_{\rm F606W}\leq 20.9$ mag (corresponding to a stellar mass range of $0.55

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the dynamical evolution of 40 open clusters by means of their astrophysical parameters derived from field-decontaminated 2MASS photometry and find a bifurcation in the planes core radius vs age and cluster radius vs. age, in which part of the clusters appear to expand with time probably due to the presence of stellar black holes while others seem to shrink due to dynamical relaxation.
Abstract: We investigate the dynamical evolution of 40 open clusters (OCs) by means of their astrophysical parameters derived from field-decontaminated 2MASS photometry. We find a bifurcation in the planes core radius vs. age and cluster radius vs. age, in which part of the clusters appear to expand with time probably due to the presence of stellar black holes while others seem to shrink due to dynamical relaxation. Mass functions (MFs) are built for 3$/$4 of the sample (31 OCs), which are used to search for indications of mass segregation and external dynamical processes by means of relations among astrophysical, structural and evolutionary parameters. We detect a flattening of MF slopes ocurring at the evolutionary parameters $\tau_{core}\leq 32$ and $\tau_{overall}\leq 30$, respectively. Within the uncertainties involved, the overall MF slopes of 14 out of 31 OCs with $m_{overall} > 500~M_{\odot}$ are consistent with Kroupa's initial mass function, implying little or no dynamical evolution for these clusters. The remaining 17 OCs with MF slopes departing from that of Kroupa show mild/large scale mass segregation due to dynamical evolution.

22 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of subvirial initial conditions on the evolution of star clusters and shed light on a dynamical mechanism for rapid mass segregation in young clusters using n-body and stellar evolution simulations.
Abstract: Using n-body and stellar evolution simulations I model different star systems. Through the use of a large number of n-body simulations I model the effect of subvirial initial conditions on the evolution of star clusters and shed light on a dynamical mechanism for rapid mass segregation in young clusters. Using stellar evolution simulations I estimate there to be 10^8 intermediate mass black holes in the local universe. Lastly, I explore the effect of a supernova in a triple star system

Posted Content
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss constraints on the formation of multiple populations in globular clusters (GCs) imposed by their present-day kinematics (velocity dispersion and anisotropy) and spatial distribution.
Abstract: We discuss constraints on the formation of multiple populations in globular clusters (GCs) imposed by their present-day kinematics (velocity dispersion and anisotropy) and spatial distribution. We argue that the observational evidence collected so far in the outer parts of clusters is generally consistent with an enriched population forming more centrally concentrated compared to the primordial population, in agreement with all the scenarios proposed to date (in some cases by design), but not sufficient to favour a particular scenario. We highlight that the differential rotation of subpopulations is a signature that may provide crucial new constraints and allow us to distinguish between various scenarios. Finally, we discuss the spatial distribution of subpopulations in the central regions of GCs and speculate that mass segregation between subpopulations may be due to a difference in their binary fraction.

Posted Content
TL;DR: In this paper, the radial distributions of the main-sequence binary fractions in massive young Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters were investigated, and it was shown that binary disruption may play an important role on very short timescales, depending on the environmental conditions in the cluster cores.
Abstract: Characterization of the binary fractions in star clusters is of fundamental importance for many fields in astrophysics. Observations indicate that the majority of stars are found in binary systems, while most stars with masses greater than $0.5 M_\odot$ are formed in star clusters. In addition, since binaries are on average more massive than single stars, in resolved star clusters these systems are thought to be good tracers of (dynamical) mass segregation. Over time, dynamical evolution through two-body relaxation will cause the most massive objects to migrate to the cluster center, while the relatively lower-mass objects remain in or migrate to orbits at greater radii. This process will globally dominate a cluster's stellar distribution. However, close encounters involving binary systems may disrupt `soft' binaries. This process will occur more frequently in a cluster's central, dense region than in its periphery, which may mask the effects of mass segregation. Using high resolution Hubble Space Telescope observations, combined with sophisticated $N$-body simulations, we investigate the radial distributions of the main-sequence binary fractions in massive young Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters. We show that binary disruption may play an important role on very short timescales, depending on the environmental conditions in the cluster cores. This may lead to radial binary fractions that initially decline in the cluster centers, which is contrary to the effects expected from dynamical mass segregation.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the radial distributions of the main-sequence binary fractions in massive young Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters were investigated, and it was shown that binary disruption may play an important role on very short timescales, depending on the environmental conditions in the cluster cores.
Abstract: Characterization of the binary fractions in star clusters is of fundamental importance for many fields in astrophysics. Observations indicate that the majority of stars are found in binary systems, while most stars with masses greater than $0.5 M_\odot$ are formed in star clusters. In addition, since binaries are on average more massive than single stars, in resolved star clusters these systems are thought to be good tracers of (dynamical) mass segregation. Over time, dynamical evolution through two-body relaxation will cause the most massive objects to migrate to the cluster center, while the relatively lower-mass objects remain in or migrate to orbits at greater radii. This process will globally dominate a cluster's stellar distribution. However, close encounters involving binary systems may disrupt `soft' binaries. This process will occur more frequently in a cluster's central, dense region than in its periphery, which may mask the effects of mass segregation. Using high resolution Hubble Space Telescope observations, combined with sophisticated $N$-body simulations, we investigate the radial distributions of the main-sequence binary fractions in massive young Large Magellanic Cloud star clusters. We show that binary disruption may play an important role on very short timescales, depending on the environmental conditions in the cluster cores. This may lead to radial binary fractions that initially decline in the cluster centers, which is contrary to the effects expected from dynamical mass segregation.

Posted Content
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented an astrometric and photometric study of the outer region of the Arches cluster (R > 6.25") using HST WFC3IR.
Abstract: At a projected distance of ~26 pc from Sgr A*, the Arches cluster provides insight to star formation in the extreme Galactic Center (GC) environment. Despite its importance, many key properties such as the cluster's internal structure and orbital history are not well known. We present an astrometric and photometric study of the outer region of the Arches cluster (R > 6.25") using HST WFC3IR. Using proper motions we calculate membership probabilities for stars down to F153M = 20 mag (~2.5 M_sun) over a 120" x 120" field of view, an area 144 times larger than previous astrometric studies of the cluster. We construct the radial profile of the Arches to a radius of 75" (~3 pc at 8 kpc), which can be well described by a single power law. From this profile we place a 3-sigma lower limit of 2.8 pc on the observed tidal radius, which is larger than the predicted tidal radius (1 - 2.5 pc). Evidence of mass segregation is observed throughout the cluster and no tidal tail structures are apparent along the orbital path. The absence of breaks in the profile suggests that the Arches has not likely experienced its closest approach to the GC between ~0.2 - 1 Myr ago. If accurate, this constraint indicates that the cluster is on a prograde orbit and is located front of the sky plane that intersects Sgr A*. However, further simulations of clusters in the GC potential are required to interpret the observed profile with more confidence.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used N-body simulations of globular clusters on eccentric orbits within a Milky Way-like potential to show how a cluster's half-mass radius and its mass function develop over time.
Abstract: Outer-halo globular clusters show large half-light radii and flat stellar mass functions, depleted in low-mass stars. Using N-body simulations of globular clusters on eccentric orbits within a Milky Way-like potential, we show how a cluster's half-mass radius and its mass function develop over time. The slope of the central mass function flattens proportionally to the amount of mass a cluster has lost, and the half-mass radius grows to a size proportional to the average strength of the tidal field. The main driver of these processes is mass segregation of dark remnants. We conclude that the extended, depleted clusters observed in the Milky Way must have had small half-mass radii in the past, and that they expanded due to the weak tidal field they spend most of their lifetime in. Moreover, their mass functions must have been steeper in the past but flattened significantly as a cause of mass segregation and tidal mass loss.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 2015
TL;DR: It is argued that the observational evidence so far in the outer parts of clusters is generally consistent with an enriched population forming more centrally concentrated compared to the primordial population, in agreement with all the scenarios proposed to date, but not sufficient to favour a particular scenario.
Abstract: We discuss constraints on the formation of multiple populations in globular clusters (GCs) imposed by their present-day kinematics (velocity dispersion and anisotropy) and spatial distribution. We argue that the observational evidence collected so far in the outer parts of clusters is generally consistent with an enriched population forming more centrally concentrated compared to the primordial population, in agreement with all the scenarios proposed to date (in some cases by design), but not sufficient to favour a particular scenario. We highlight that the differential rotation of subpopulations is a signature that may provide crucial new constraints and allow us to distinguish between various scenarios. Finally, we discuss the spatial distribution of subpopulations in the central regions of GCs and speculate that mass segregation between subpopulations may be due to a difference in their binary fraction.