A necessary condition for equilibrium in stellar systems with a continuous mass spectrum.
Abstract
Spitzer (1969) has derived the condition for the attainment of hydrostatic and thermal equilibrium in a two-component stellar system. The subsequent collapse of the self-gravitating system of heavy stars when this condition is not satisfied has been studied and verified numerically by Spitzer and Hart (1971). In the present paper, Spitzer's criterion is extended to cover a system with a continuous distribution of masses. The extended criterion makes it possible to apply Spitzer's results to real globular clusters.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1086/156332
- Bibcode:
- 1978ApJ...223..986V
- Keywords:
-
- Globular Clusters;
- Mass Spectra;
- Stellar Mass;
- Stellar Systems;
- Density Distribution;
- Equilibrium;
- Hydrostatics;
- Integral Equations;
- Star Distribution;
- Systems Stability;
- Astrophysics;
- Dynamics:Stellar Systems;
- Evolution:Globular Clusters