Work

Relativistic Binaries in Globular Clusters

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Galactic globular clusters are old, dense star systems typically containing 10 4 -10 6 stars.As an old population of stars, globular clusters contain many collapsed and degenerate objects.As a dense population of stars, globular clusters are the scene of many interesting close dynamical interactions between stars.These dynamical interactions can alter the evolution of individual stars and can produce tight binary systems containing one or two compact objects.In this review, we discuss theoretical models of globular cluster evolution and binary evolution, techniques for simulating this evolution that leads to relativistic binaries, and current and possible future observational evidence for this population.Our discussion of globular cluster evolution will focus on the processes that boost the production of tight binary systems and the subsequent interaction of these binaries that can alter the properties of both bodies and can lead to exotic objects.Direct N -body integrations and Fokker-Planck simulations of the evolution of globular clusters that incorporate tidal interactions and lead to predictions of relativistic binary populations are also discussed.We discuss the current observational evidence for cataclysmic variables, millisecond pulsars, and low-mass X-ray binaries as well as possible future detection of relativistic binaries with gravitational radiation.

Source: Living Reviews in Relativity

DOI: 10.12942/lrr-2013-4

Authors: Matthew J. Benacquista, Jonathan M. B. Downing

Institutions: The University of Texas System, Heidelberg University

Language: English

Topic: Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Aspen Center for Physics, Office of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

Awards: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT BROWNSVILLE CENTER FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVE ASTRONOMY THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS TO, MONTANA NASA EPSCOR PROGRAM, MONTANA EPSCOR PROGRAM, Expanding interdisciplinary research at the Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, LIST ANALYSIS STRATIGIES FOR GALACTIC POPULATIONS OF BINARIES.