Related papers: Blue Stragglers in Globular Clusters: Observations…
We summarize the results of recent theoretical work on the dynamical evolution of globular clusters containing primordial binaries. Even a very small initial binary fraction (e.g., 10%) can play a key role in supporting a cluster against…
In this paper we present preliminary results from our HST project aimed at exploring the connection between the stellar dynamics and stellar evolution in the cores of high-density globular clusters. We illustrate the discovery of horizontal…
An increasing amount of spectroscopic and photometric evidence is showing that the stellar populations of globular clusters are not as simple as they have been considered for many years. The presence of at least two different populations of…
A number of theories have been put forward to explain the bi-modal stellar rotational distribution observed in young massive clusters. These include stellar mergers and interactions induced in binary systems, and the role of angular…
Globular cluster systems in most large galaxies display bimodal color and metallicity distributions, which are frequently interpreted as indicating two distinct modes of cluster formation. The metal-rich (red) and metal-poor (blue) clusters…
We present high-precision VI photometry of stars from the middle of the giant branch to about 5 magnitudes below the main-sequence turnoff in the globular cluster Palomar 13 based on images obtained with the Keck II 10m telescope. We…
A physical description of the fundamental plane of Galactic globular clusters is developed which explains all empirical trends and correlations in a large number of cluster observables and provides a small but complete set of truly…
We developed a mathematical model to derive time scales and the presence of BS stars. The model is based on the variation of mass through a circle into the cluster defined by a radius, and at a time; this mass cross is translated into a…
We present semi-analytical models and simplified $N$-body simulations with $10^4$ and $10^5$ particles aimed at probing the role of dynamical friction (DF) in determining the radial distribution of Blue Straggler Stars (BSSs) in globular…
Optical and X-ray studies of six nearby galaxies show that the probability a globular cluster will be an X-ray source is consistent with being linearly proportional to its mass. We show that this result is consistent with some recent…
Globular clusters are gravitationally bound stellar systems containing on the order of 100,000 stars. Due to the high stellar densities in the cores of these clusters, close encounters and even physical collisions between stars are…
Correlations among the independently measured physical properties of globular clusters (GCs) can provide powerful tests for theoretical models and new insights into their dynamics, formation, and evolution. We review briefly some of the…
We present a technique to identify the most probable dynamical formation scenario for an observed binary or triple system containing one or more merger products or, alternatively, to rule out the possibility of a dynamical origin. Our…
Representing single stellar populations, globular clusters (GCs) are relatively easy to model, thus providing powerful tools for studying the evolution of galaxies. This has been demonstrated for the blue compact galaxy ESO338-IG04. GC…
We present a homogeneous study of blue straggler stars across ten outer halo globular clusters, three classical dwarf spheroidal and nine ultra-faint galaxies based on deep and wide-field photometric data taken with MegaCam on the…
We use the Chandrasekhar formalism and direct N-body simulations to study the effect of dynamical friction on a test object only slightly more massive than the field stars, orbiting a spherically symmetric background of particles with a…
(abridged) This thesis presents theoretical and statistical techniques broadly related to systems of dynamically-interacting particles composed of several different types of populations. They are applied to observations of dense star…
A sample of 86 contact binary systems in 14 globular clusters with available color index data in (B-V) or in (V-I) has been analyzed. At least one third of all systems are numerous foreground Galactic Disk projections over long lines of…
Globular clusters (GCs) are evolved stellar systems containing entire populations of millisecond pulsars (MSPs), which are efficient gamma-ray emitters. Observations of this emission can be used as a powerful tool to explore the dynamical…
The recent discovery of GW150914, the binary black hole merger detected by Advanced LIGO, has the potential to revolutionize observational astrophysics. But to fully utilize this new window into the universe, we must compare these new…