Evaporation, Tidal Disruption, and Orbital Decay of Star Clusters in a Galactic Halo
Abstract
We consider the orbital evolution and tidal evaporation and disruption of globular clusters in the gravitational potential of an isothermal dark matter halo using a semi-analytic model. Our results show that intermediate mass clusters of high central concentration survive for a Hubble time, while low mass clusters tend to evaporate or disrupt, and high mass clusters suffer orbital decay due to dynamical friction. The current globular cluster population is, to a large extent, consistent with that determined from our simple model.
- Publication:
-
Formation of the Galactic Halo...Inside and Out
- Pub Date:
- April 1996
- Bibcode:
- 1996ASPC...92..487C