Mass segregation

About: Mass segregation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1024 publications have been published within this topic receiving 57729 citations.

Properties of five low-contrast open clusters in the third quadrant

Abstract: We derive photometric, structural and dynamical evolution-related parameters of five as yet unstudied low-contrast open clusters located in the third quadrant using 2MASS data. The target clusters are Czernik 31, Czernik 32, Haffner 9, Haffner 11 and Trumpler 13. We apply a statistical field-star decontamination procedure to infer on the intrinsic CMD morphology which is critical for such low-contrast objects. Consequently, it became possible to derive accurate reddening, age, distance from the Sun and Galactocentric distance for the five clusters. In the structural and luminosity/mass-function analyses we apply a colour-magnitude filter which encompasses the cluster evolutionary CMD sequences and excludes stars with discrepant colours. Using this procedure we derive core and limiting radii, mass function slope, total mass, mass density and relaxation time. We derive ages in the range 140 -- 1 100 Myr, Galactocentric distances within 7.7 -- 11.4 kpc, and total masses within 360--2 900 \ms. Reflecting large-scale mass segregation, the MF slope in the core is significantly flatter than that in the halo of the five clusters. Although some of the present clusters are relatively younger than the Gyr-old clusters, they present evidence of advanced dynamical evolution. This kind of study has become possible because of the photometric uniformity and spatial coverage of 2MASS which allows a proper subtraction of the field-star contamination on the target CMDs. The present study indicates that low-contrast clusters can be studied with 2MASS, particularly after field-star subtraction, which is important since most of the unstudied open clusters belong to this class.

Space Telescope Observations of Globular Clusters

Abstract: Six proposed Space Telescope programs involving globular clusters are described. The projects appropriate for galactic clusters are: the detection of white dwarfs, the study of the faint end of the Population II luminosity function, the measurement of mass segregation, and the search for a cusp in the density distribution caused by core collapse or by a massive black hole. The two programs that involve extragalactic globular clusters are: the determination of the luminosity function of clusters around different galaxies and the measurement of tidal radii of clusters surrounding elliptical galaxies.

A Dynamical Evolution Study of 40 2MASS Open Clusters

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.

The velocity dispersion and mass function of the outer halo globular cluster Palomar 4

Abstract: We obtained precise line-of-sight radial velocities of 23 member stars of the remote halo globular cluster Palomar 4 (Pal 4) using the High Resolution Echelle Spectrograph (HIRES) at the Keck I telescope. We also measured the mass function of the cluster down to a limiting magnitude of V~28 mag using archival HST/WFPC2 imaging. We derived the cluster's surface brightness profile based on the WFPC2 data and on broad-band imaging with the Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS) at the Keck II telescope. We find a mean cluster velocity of 72.55+/-0.22 km/s and a velocity dispersion of 0.87+/-0.18 km/s. The global mass function of the cluster, in the mass range 0.55<=M<=0.85 M_solar, is shallower than a Kroupa mass function and the cluster is significantly depleted in low-mass stars in its center compared to its outskirts. Since the relaxation time of Pal 4 is of the order of a Hubble time, this points to primordial mass segregation in this cluster. Extrapolating the measured mass function towards lower-mass stars and including the contribution of compact remnants, we derive a total cluster mass of 29800 M_solar. For this mass, the measured velocity dispersion is consistent with the expectations of Newtonian dynamics and below the prediction of Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND). Pal 4 adds to the growing body of evidence that the dynamics of star clusters in the outer Galactic halo can hardly be explained by MOND.

A study of the blue straggler population of the old open cluster Collinder 261

Abstract: Blue Stragglers are stars located in an unexpected region of the color-magnitude diagram of a stellar population, as they appear bluer and more luminous than the stars in the turnoff region. They are ubiquitous, since they have been found among Milky Way field stars, in open and globular clusters, and also in other galaxies of the Local Group. Here we present a study on the blue straggler population of the old and metal-rich open cluster Collinder 261, based on Gaia DR2 data and on a multi-epoch radial velocity survey conducted with FLAMES@VLT. We also analyze the radial distribution of the blue straggler population to probe the dynamical status of the cluster. Blue straggler candidates were identified first with Gaia DR2, according to their position on the CMD, proper motions, and parallaxes. Their radial distribution was compared with those of the main sequence, red giant, and red clump stars, to evaluate mass segregation. Additionally, their radial velocities (and the associated uncertainties) were compared with the mean radial velocity and the velocity dispersion of the cluster. When possible, close binaries and long-period binaries were also identified, based on the radial velocity variations for the different epochs. We also looked for yellow stragglers, i.e., possible evolved blue stragglers. We found 53 blue stragglers members of Collinder 261, six of them already identified in previous catalogs. Among the blue straggler candidates with radial velocity measurements, we found one long-period binary, five close-binary systems, three non-variable stars; we also identified one yellow straggler.