scholarly journals Stellar-mass Black Holes in Globular Clusters: Dynamical consequences and observational signatures

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S351) ◽  
pp. 395-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Askar ◽  
Mirek Giersz ◽  
Manuel Arca Sedda ◽  
Ammar Askar ◽  
Mario Pasquato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Stellar Mass ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Central Surface ◽  
Sizeable Number ◽  
Hubble Time

AbstractSizeable number of stellar-mass black holes (BHs) in globular clusters (GCs) can strongly influence the dynamical evolution and observational properties of their host cluster. Using results from a large set of numerical simulations, we identify the key ingredients needed to sustain a sizeable population of BHs in GCs up to a Hubble time. We find that while BH natal kick prescriptions are essential in determining the initial retention fraction of BHs in GCs, the long-term survival of BHs is determined by the size, initial central density and half-mass relaxation time of the GC. Simulated GC models that contain many BHs are characterized by relatively low central surface brightness, large half-light and core radii values. We also discuss novel ways to compare simulated results with available observational data to identify GCs that are most likely to contain many BHs.

scholarly journals HST's hunt for intermediate-mass black holes in star clusters

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S266) ◽  
pp. 231-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Chanamé ◽  
Justice Bruursema ◽  
Rupali Chandar ◽  
Jay Anderson ◽  
Roeland van der Marel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Dynamical Analysis ◽  
Intermediate Mass ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Upper Limits ◽  
Intermediate Mass Black Holes

AbstractEstablishing or ruling out, either through solid mass measurements or upper limits, the presence of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs; with masses of 102 − 105 M⊙) at the centers of star clusters would profoundly impact our understanding of problems ranging from the formation and long-term dynamical evolution of stellar systems, to the nature of the seeds and the growth mechanisms of supermassive black holes. While there are sound theoretical arguments both for and against their presence in today's clusters, observational studies have so far not yielded truly conclusive IMBH detections nor upper limits. We argue that the most promising approach to solving this issue is provided by the combination of measurements of the proper motions of stars at the centers of Galactic globular clusters and dynamical models able to take full advantage of this type of data set. We present a program based on HST observations and recently developed tools for dynamical analysis designed to do just that.

scholarly journals Dynamical evolution of multiple-population globular clusters

2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (3) ◽  
pp. 4290-4304
Author(s):  
Enrico Vesperini ◽  
Jongsuk Hong ◽  
Mirek Giersz ◽  
Arkadiusz Hypki
Keyword(s):  
Structural Properties ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Radial Profile ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary Phase ◽  
Dynamical Parameters ◽  
Energy Equipartition

ABSTRACT We have carried out a set of Monte Carlo simulations to study a number of fundamental aspects of the dynamical evolution of multiple stellar populations in globular clusters with different initial masses, fractions of second generation (2G) stars, and structural properties. Our simulations explore and elucidate: (1) the role of early and long-term dynamical processes and stellar escape in the evolution of the fraction of 2G stars and the link between the evolution of the fraction of 2G stars and various dynamical parameters; (2) the link between the fraction of 2G stars inside the cluster and in the population of escaping stars during a cluster’s dynamical evolution; (3) the dynamics of the spatial mixing of the first-generation (1G) and 2G stars and the details of the structural properties of the two populations as they evolve toward mixing; (4) the implications of the initial differences between the spatial distribution of 1G and 2G stars for the evolution of the anisotropy in the velocity distribution and the expected radial profile of the 1G and 2G anisotropy for clusters at different stages of their dynamical history; and (5) the variation of the degree of energy equipartition of the 1G and the 2G populations as a function of the distance from the cluster’s centre and the cluster’s evolutionary phase.

scholarly journals No evidence for intermediate-mass black holes in the globular clusters ω Cen and NGC 6624

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (4) ◽  
pp. 5340-5351 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Baumgardt ◽  
C He ◽  
S M Sweet ◽  
M Drinkwater ◽  
A Sollima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Surface Brightness ◽  
Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Stellar Mass ◽  
Main Sequence Stars ◽  
Intermediate Mass ◽  
Measured Velocity ◽  
Large Grid

ABSTRACT We compare the results of a large grid of N-body simulations with the surface brightness and velocity dispersion profiles of the globular clusters ω Cen and NGC 6624. Our models include clusters with varying stellar-mass black hole retention fractions and varying masses of a central intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH). We find that an $\sim 45\, 000$ M⊙ IMBH, whose presence has been suggested based on the measured velocity dispersion profile of ω Cen, predicts the existence of about 20 fast-moving, m > 0.5 M⊙, main-sequence stars with a (1D) velocity v > 60 km s−1 in the central 20 arcsec of ω Cen. However, no such star is present in the HST/ACS proper motion catalogue of Bellini et al. (2017), strongly ruling out the presence of a massive IMBH in the core of ω Cen. Instead, we find that all available data can be fitted by a model that contains 4.6 per cent of the mass of ω Cen in a centrally concentrated cluster of stellar-mass black holes. We show that this mass fraction in stellar-mass BHs is compatible with the predictions of stellar evolution models of massive stars. We also compare our grid of N-body simulations with NGC 6624, a cluster recently claimed to harbour a 20 000 M⊙ black hole based on timing observations of millisecond pulsars. However, we find that models with MIMBH > 1000 M⊙ IMBHs are incompatible with the observed velocity dispersion and surface brightness profile of NGC 6624, ruling out the presence of a massive IMBH in this cluster. Models without an IMBH provide again an excellent fit to NGC 6624.

scholarly journals Dynamical evolution of rotating globular clusters with embedded black holes

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S238) ◽  
pp. 363-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Fiestas ◽  
Rainer Spurzem
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Meridional Plane ◽  
Angular Momentum Transport ◽  
Dimensional Distribution ◽  
Velocity Diffusion ◽  
Parent Galaxy

AbstractEvolution of rotating globular clusters with embedded black holes is presented. The interplay between velocity diffusion due to relaxation and black hole star accretion is followed together with cluster rotation, using 2-dimensional, in energy and z-component of angular momentum, Fokker Planck numerical methods. Gravogyro and gravothermal instabilities drive the system to a faster evolution leading to shorter collapse times and a faster cluster dissolution in the tidal field of a parent galaxy.Angular momentum transport and star accretion support the development of central rotation in relaxation time scales. Two-dimensional distribution (in the meridional plane) of kinematical and structural parameters (density, dispersions, rotation) are reproduced, with the aim to enable the use of set of models for comparison with observational data.

The range of UV upturn strengths in early-type galaxies can be caused by dissolved metal-rich Globular Clusters

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S351) ◽  
pp. 112-116
Author(s):  
Paul Goudfrooij
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Virgo Cluster ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Early Type ◽  
Luminosity Functions ◽  
Central Regions ◽  
Specific Frequency ◽  
Uv Upturn

AbstractI summarize the scenario by Goudfrooij (2018) in which the bulk of the ultraviolet (UV) upturn of giant early-type galaxies (ETGs) is due to helium-rich stellar populations that formed in massive metal-rich globular clusters (GCs) and subsequently dissolved in the strong tidal field in the central regions of the massive host galaxy. These massive GCs are assumed to show UV upturns similar to those observed recently in M87, the central galaxy in the Virgo cluster of galaxies. Data taken from the literature reveals a strong correlation between the strength of the UV upturn and the specific frequency of metal-rich GCs in ETGs. Adopting a Schechter function parametrization of GC mass functions, simulations of long-term dynamical evolution of GC systems show that this correlation can be explained by variations in the characteristic truncation mass Mc such that Mc increases with ETG luminosity in a way that is consistent with observed GC luminosity functions in ETGs. These findings suggest that the nature of the UV upturn in ETGs and the variation of its strength among ETGs are causally related to that of helium-rich populations in massive GCs, rather than intrinsic properties of field stars in ETGs.

scholarly journals Globular clusters as probes of dark matter cusp-core transformations

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (3) ◽  
pp. 2977-2988 ◽  
Author(s):  
M D A Orkney ◽  
J I Read ◽  
J A Petts ◽  
M Gieles
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Massive Star ◽  
Dwarf Galaxies ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Dark Matter Halo ◽  
Constant Density ◽  
Ngc 6822 ◽  
Hubble Time

Abstract Bursty star formation in dwarf galaxies can slowly transform a steep dark matter cusp into a constant density core. We explore the possibility that globular clusters (GCs) retain a dynamical memory of this transformation. To test this, we use the nbody6df code to simulate the dynamical evolution of GCs, including stellar evolution, orbiting in static and time-varying potentials for a Hubble time. We find that GCs orbiting within a cored dark matter halo, or within a halo that has undergone a cusp-core transformation, grow to a size that is substantially larger (Reff > 10 pc) than those in a static cusped dark matter halo. They also produce much less tidal debris. We find that the cleanest signal of an historic cusp-core transformation is the presence of large GCs with tidal debris. However, the effect is small and will be challenging to observe in real galaxies. Finally, we qualitatively compare our simulated GCs with the observed GC populations in the Fornax, NGC 6822, IKN, and Sagittarius dwarf galaxies. We find that the GCs in these dwarf galaxies are systematically larger (〈Reff〉 ≃ 7.8 pc), and have substantially more scatter in their sizes than in situ metal-rich GCs in the Milky Way and young massive star clusters forming in M83 (〈Reff〉 ≃ 2.5 pc). We show that the size, scatter, and survival of GCs in dwarf galaxies are all consistent with them having evolved in a constant density core, or a potential that has undergone a cusp-core transformation, but not in a dark matter cusp.

scholarly journals Star cluster dynamics

2010 ◽  
Vol 368 (1913) ◽  
pp. 829-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Vesperini
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Cluster Formation ◽  
Cluster Structure ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Star Cluster ◽  
Stellar Content ◽  
Cluster Systems ◽  
Detailed Understanding ◽  
Term Evolution

Dynamical evolution plays a key role in shaping the current properties of star clusters and star cluster systems. A detailed understanding of the effects of evolutionary processes is essential to be able to disentangle the properties that result from dynamical evolution from those imprinted at the time of cluster formation. In this review, I focus my attention on globular clusters, and review the main physical ingredients driving their early and long-term evolution, describe the possible evolutionary routes and show how cluster structure and stellar content are affected by dynamical evolution.

scholarly journals On the coexistence of stellar-mass and intermediate-mass black holes in globular clusters

2014 ◽  
Vol 444 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan W. C. Leigh ◽  
Nora Lützgendorf ◽  
Aaron M. Geller ◽  
Thomas J. Maccarone ◽  
Craig Heinke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Stellar Mass ◽  
Intermediate Mass ◽  
Intermediate Mass Black Holes

scholarly journals Dynamical Evolution of Rotating Globular Clusters with Embedded Black Holes

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S246) ◽  
pp. 166-170
Author(s):  
J. Fiestas ◽  
O. Porth ◽  
R. Spurzem
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Momentum Transport ◽  
Stellar Systems ◽  
Angular Momentum Transport ◽  
Zone Of Influence ◽  
Velocity Diffusion ◽  
Parent Galaxy

AbstractEvolution of self-gravitating rotating dense stellar systems (e.g. globular clusters) with embedded black holes is investigated. The interplay between velocity diffusion due to relaxation and black hole star accretion is followed together with cluster differential rotation using 2D+1 Fokker Planck numerical methods. The models can reproduce the Bahcall-Wolf f ∝ E1/4 (∝ r−7/4) cusp inside the zone of influence of the black hole. Angular momentum transport and star accretion processes support the development of central rotation in relaxation time scales, before re-expansion and cluster dissolution due to mass loss in the tidal field of a parent galaxy. Gravogyro and gravothermal instabilities conduce the system to a faster evolution leading to shorter collapse times with respect to models without black hole.

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