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arXiv 1302.3072astro-ph.GA
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用半径分布约束球状星团的初始条件

Constraining the initial conditions of globular clusters using their radius distribution

Poul E. R. Alexander, Mark Gieles

摘要:

对河外球状星团的研究表明,球状星团(GC)半径分布(RD)的峰值大小与银河系环境的关系很弱,可以作为标准标尺。我们模型的GC人口的RD使用一个简单的处方哈勃时间的松弛驱动的集群质量和半径的演变,并探讨在何种条件下,RD可以被用作一个标准的统治者。我们考虑了幂律簇初始质量函数(CIMF)与指数截断和不截断,并特别关注平坦和陡峭的CIMF(幂律指数分别为0和-2)。对于出生时的初始半质量半径,我们采用Roche瓣填充条件(“填充”,意味着半质量与Jacobi半径之比约为rh/rJ ~ 0.15)或强Roche瓣欠填充条件(“欠填充”,意味着初始rh/rJ << 0.15)。假设绕星系中心的轨道速度恒定,我们发现对于陡峭的CIMF,典型的半光半径与银河系中心半径RG成比例,即RG ^1/3。这种弱标度与观测结果一致,但这种情况存在(众所周知)的问题,即太多的低质量星系团幸存下来。一个平坦的CIMF与“填充”初始条件的结果在正确的质量函数在老年人,但太多的大(大规模)集群在大RG。具有平坦CIMF的“欠填充”GC群体也导致正确的质量函数,并且还可以成功地再现RD的形状,其峰值大小(几乎)独立于RG。在这种情况下,峰大小(几乎)仅取决于GC质量函数的峰质量。因此,GC RD的(接近)普遍性是因为CIMF的(接近)普遍性。在银河系外晕中存在着一些扩展的GC,这些GC不能用这个模型来解释。

英文摘要:

Studies of extra-galactic globular clusters have shown that the peak size of the globular cluster (GC) radius distribution (RD) depends only weakly on galactic environment, and can be used as a standard ruler. We model RDs of GC populations using a simple prescription for a Hubble time of relaxation driven evolution of cluster mass and radius, and explore the conditions under which the RD can be used as a standard ruler. We consider a power-law cluster initial mass function (CIMF) with and without an exponential truncation, and focus in particular on a flat and a steep CIMF (power-law indices of 0 and -2, respectively). For the initial half-mass radii at birth we adopt either Roche-lobe filling conditions ('filling',meaning that the ratio of half-mass to Jacobi radius is approximately rh/rJ ~ 0.15) or strongly Roche-lobe under-filling conditions ('under-filling', implying that initially rh/rJ << 0.15). Assuming a constant orbital velocity about the galaxy centre we find for a steep CIMF that the typical half-light radius scales with galactocentric radius RG as RG^1/3. This weak scaling is consistent with observations, but this scenario has the (well known) problem that too many low-mass clusters survive. A flat CIMF with 'filling' initial conditions results in the correct mass function at old ages, but with too many large (massive) clusters at large RG. An 'underfilling' GC population with a flat CIMF also results in the correct mass function, and can also successfully reproduce the shape of the RD, with a peak size that is (almost) independent of RG. In this case, the peak size depends (almost) only on the peak mass of the GC mass function. The (near) universality of the GC RD is therefore because of the (near) universality of the CIMF. There are some extended GCs in the outer halo of the Milky Way that cannot be explained by this model.

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