Related papers: The time-scale for core collapse in spherical star…
We present the results of Monte Carlo simulations for the dynamical evolution of star clusters containing two stellar populations with individual masses m1 and m2 > m1, and total masses M1 and M2 < M1. We use both King and Plummer model…
We describe the interplay between stellar evolution and dynamical mass loss of evolving star clusters, based on the principles of stellar evolution and cluster dynamics and on a grid of N-body simulations of cluster models. The cluster…
We present a numerical study, based on Monte Carlo simulations, aimed at defining new empirical parameters measurable from observations and able to trace the different phases of star cluster dynamical evolution. As expected, a central…
Dense star clusters expand until their sizes are limited by the tidal field of their host galaxy. During this expansion phase the member stars evolve and lose mass. We show that for clusters with short initial relaxation time scales (<~100…
Observations indicate that massive stars form in regions of very high surface density, ~1 g cm^-2. Clusters containing massive stars and globular clusters have a comparable column density. The total pressure in clouds of such a column…
Stars form with a complex and highly structured distribution. For a smooth star cluster to form from these initial conditions, the star cluster must erase this substructure. We study how substructure is removed using N-body simulations that…
We report on the discovery of a surprising observed correlation between the slope of the low-mass stellar global mass function (GMF) of globular clusters (GCs) and their central concentration parameter c = log(r_t/r_c), i.e. the logarithmic…
We study the effect of tidal torques on the collapse of density peaks through the equations of motion of a shell of barionic matter falling into the central regions of a cluster of galaxies. We calculate the time of collapse of the…
We investigate the dynamical evolution of isolated equal-mass star cluster models by means of direct N-body simulations, primarily focusing on the effects of the presence of primordial anisotropy in the velocity space. We found evidence of…
The isothermal gravitational collapse and fragmentation of a region within a molecular cloud and the subsequent formation of a protostellar cluster is investigated numerically. The clump mass spectrum which forms during the fragmentation…
We study the evolution of globular clusters with mass spectra under the influence of the steady Galactic tidal field, including the effects of velocity anisotropy. Similar to single-mass models, velocity anisotropy develops as the cluster…
Although stable neutron stars (NS) can in principle exist down to masses Mns ~ 0.1Msun, standard models of stellar core-collapse predict a robust lower limit Mns >~ 1.2Msun, roughly commensurate with the Chandrasekhar mass Mch of the…
Stars generally form faster than the ambipolar diffusion time, suggesting that several processes short circuit the delay and promote a rapid collapse. These processes are considered here, including turbulence compression in the outer parts…
In this thesis we study several aspects of dynamical evolution of stellar clusters. The results of more than 200 simulations of single-mass star clusters with different initial total mass, half-mass radius and galactocentric distance, are…
We use N-body simulations to revisit the globular cluster (GC) ``timing problem'' in the Fornax dwarf spheroidal (dSph). In agreement with earlier work, we find that, due to dynamical friction, GCs sink to the center of dark matter halos…
We present some important conclusions from recent calculations pertaining to the collapse of rotating molecular cloud cores with axial symmetry, corresponding to evolution of young stellar objects through classes 0 and begin of class I.…
In order to understand the processes that quench star formation within rich clusters, we construct a library of subhalo orbits drawn from $\Lambda$CDM cosmological N-body simulations of four rich clusters. The orbits are combined with…
The dissolution time (t_dis) of clusters in a tidal field does not scale with the ``classical'' expression for the relaxation time. First, the scaling with N, and hence cluster mass, is shallower due to the finite escape time of stars.…
We revisit the hypothesis that dense galactic nuclei are formed from inspiraling globular clusters. Recent advances in understanding of the continuous formation of globular clusters over cosmic time and the concurrent evolution of the…
We present a study of the spatial distribution and kinematics of star-forming galaxies in 30 massive clusters at 0.15<z<0.30, combining wide-field Spitzer 24um and GALEX NUV imaging with highly-complete spectroscopy of cluster members. The…