Work

StarStream on Gaia: Stream Discovery and Mass-loss Rate of Globular Clusters

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We apply the automatic stellar stream detection algorithm StarStream to Gaia Data Release 3 and identify 87 stellar streams associated with Galactic globular clusters (GCs), including 34 high-quality cases with median completeness and purity both exceeding 50%, as estimated from modeling mock streams. These detections double the number of known GC streams and increase the fraction of GCs with tidal streams at high Galactic latitudes (∣ b ∣ > 30°) to 75%. In contrast to visual expectations, many new streams are wide or short, or misaligned with their progenitors’ orbits. Taking advantage of the unbiased density measurements enabled by our method, we also estimate the mass-loss rate for the progenitor GCs. We find that several low-mass, large-size clusters have enhanced mass-loss rates, indicating that they are approaching complete tidal disruption.

Source: The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series

DOI: 10.3847/1538-4365/ae471f

Authors: Yingtian Chen, Oleg Y. Gnedin, Adrian M. Price-Whelan

Institutions: University of Michigan, Flatiron Institute

Language: English

Topic: Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,499

Funder: National Aeronautics and Space Administration