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The effect of stellar-mass black holes on the structural evolution of massive star clusters

Mackey, A.D. ; Wilkinson, M.I. ; Davies, Melvyn B LU and Gilmore, G.F. (2007) In Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 379. p.40-44
Abstract
We present the results of realistic N-body modelling of massive star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds, aimed at investigating a dynamical origin for the radius-age trend observed in these systems. We find that stellar-mass black holes, formed in the supernova explosions of the most massive cluster stars, can constitute a dynamically important population. If a significant ensemble is retained (here we assume complete retention), these objects rapidly form a dense core where interactions are common, resulting in the scattering of black holes into the cluster halo, and the ejection of black holes from the cluster. These two processes heat the stellar component, resulting in prolonged core expansion of a magnitude matching the observations.... (More)
We present the results of realistic N-body modelling of massive star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds, aimed at investigating a dynamical origin for the radius-age trend observed in these systems. We find that stellar-mass black holes, formed in the supernova explosions of the most massive cluster stars, can constitute a dynamically important population. If a significant ensemble is retained (here we assume complete retention), these objects rapidly form a dense core where interactions are common, resulting in the scattering of black holes into the cluster halo, and the ejection of black holes from the cluster. These two processes heat the stellar component, resulting in prolonged core expansion of a magnitude matching the observations. Significant core evolution is also observed in Magellanic Cloud clusters at early times. We find that this does not result from the action of black holes, but can be reproduced by the effects of mass-loss due to rapid stellar evolution in a primordially mass-segregated cluster. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
methods: N-body simulations, globular clusters: general, stellar dynamics, Magellanic Clouds
in
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
volume
379
pages
40 - 44
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:79952332434
ISSN
1365-2966
DOI
10.1111/j.1745-3933.2007.00330.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
105cc341-2851-441d-9466-815cabd57fdb (old id 766528)
alternative location
http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/abs/2007MNRAS.379L..40M
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 11:46:59
date last changed
2024-02-28 21:23:14
@article{105cc341-2851-441d-9466-815cabd57fdb,
  abstract     = {{We present the results of realistic N-body modelling of massive star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds, aimed at investigating a dynamical origin for the radius-age trend observed in these systems. We find that stellar-mass black holes, formed in the supernova explosions of the most massive cluster stars, can constitute a dynamically important population. If a significant ensemble is retained (here we assume complete retention), these objects rapidly form a dense core where interactions are common, resulting in the scattering of black holes into the cluster halo, and the ejection of black holes from the cluster. These two processes heat the stellar component, resulting in prolonged core expansion of a magnitude matching the observations. Significant core evolution is also observed in Magellanic Cloud clusters at early times. We find that this does not result from the action of black holes, but can be reproduced by the effects of mass-loss due to rapid stellar evolution in a primordially mass-segregated cluster.}},
  author       = {{Mackey, A.D. and Wilkinson, M.I. and Davies, Melvyn B and Gilmore, G.F.}},
  issn         = {{1365-2966}},
  keywords     = {{methods: N-body simulations; globular clusters: general; stellar dynamics; Magellanic Clouds}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{40--44}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}},
  title        = {{The effect of stellar-mass black holes on the structural evolution of massive star clusters}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-3933.2007.00330.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1745-3933.2007.00330.x}},
  volume       = {{379}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}