The dependence of statistical results from N-body calculations on N.
Abstract
Calculations have been made of equal-mass N-body systems having N = 8, 16, 32, and 64 over as many as 10 initial mean relaxation times. Statistical quantities describing the density and binding-energy distribution have been compared for the different values of N. For N of at least 16 the mean values of these quantities are, to the limit of accuracy given by the sample, identical; the standard deviation of most quantities is proportional to the inverse square root of N. Comparison of the results of the present calculations for the density and energy distributions with previously published results of Peebles (1970) for N = 300 and of Aarseth (1974) for N = 250 shows very good agreement. In general, it appears to be much more efficient to calculate a large number of examples at relatively small N than one or two at large N; results of the same accuracy can be obtained with much less cost of computer time.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- July 1979
- Bibcode:
- 1979A&A....76..192S
- Keywords:
-
- Density Distribution;
- Energy Distribution;
- Globular Clusters;
- Many Body Problem;
- Star Clusters;
- Statistical Distributions;
- Binary Stars;
- Computer Techniques;
- Error Analysis;
- Mean;
- Run Time (Computers);
- Standard Deviation;
- Astronomy;
- N-Body Problem:Stellar Systems