Publication Date:
2015-03-19
Description:
We investigate the dynamical evolution of a star cluster in an external tidal field by using N -body simulations, with focus on the effects of the presence or absence of neutron star natal velocity kicks. We show that, even if neutron stars typically represent less than 2 per cent of the total bound mass of a star cluster, their primordial kinematic properties may affect the lifetime of the system by up to almost a factor of 4. We interpret this result in the light of two known modes of star cluster dissolution, dominated by either early stellar evolution mass-loss or two-body relaxation. The competition between these effects shapes the mass-loss profile of star clusters, which may either dissolve abruptly (‘jumping’), in the pre-core-collapse phase, or gradually (‘skiing’), after having reached core collapse.
Print ISSN:
1745-3925
Electronic ISSN:
1745-3933
Topics:
Physics
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