Dynamical evolution of Milky Way globular clusters on the cosmological timescale I. Mass loss and interaction with the nuclear star cluster
Ishchenko M. Berczik P. Panamarev T. Kuvatova D. Kalambay M. Gluchshenko A. Veles O. Sobolenko M. Sobodar O. Omarov C.
1 September 2024EDP Sciences
Astronomy and Astrophysics
2024#689
Context. Based on the Gaia DR3, we reconstructed the orbital evolution of the known Milky Way globular clusters and found that six objects, NGC 6681, NGC 6981, Palomar 6, NGC 6642, HP 1, and NGC 1904, very likely interact closely with the nuclear star cluster. Aims. We study the dynamical evolution of selected Milky Way globular clusters and their interactions with the Galactic centre over cosmological timescales. We examine the global dynamical mass loss of these globular cluster systems, their close interactions with the Galactic centre, and the potential capture of stars by the Milky Way nuclear star cluster. Methods. For the dynamical modelling of the clusters, we used the parallel N-body code ϕ-GPU, which allows star-by-star simulations of the systems. Our current code also enabled us to follow the stellar evolution of individual particles, including the formation of high-mass remnants. The modelling was carried out in a Milky Way-like, time-variable potential (with a dynamically changing mass and scale length), obtained from the IllustrisTNG-100 database, with a full integration time of eight billion years. Results. Based on extensive numerical modelling and analysis, we estimated the mass loss and the global and inner structures of the selected six clusters. Over an evolution of eight billion years, the clusters lost ≈80% of their initial mass. We analysed the phase-space evolution of the individual unbound stars NGC 6681, NGC 6642, HP 1, and NGC 1904. We found that only NGC 6642 could potentially have been a source for populating the Milky Way nuclear star cluster in the past.
Galaxy: center , Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics , Galaxy: nucleus , globular clusters: general , methods: numerical
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Main Astronomical Observatory, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 27 Akademika Zabolotnoho St, Kyiv, 03143, Ukraine
Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Bartycka 18, Warsaw, 00-716, Poland
Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, Observatory 23, Almaty, 050020, Kazakhstan
Heriot-Watt International Faculty, K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University, Zhubanov Broth. Str. 263, Aktobe, 030000, Kazakhstan
Energetic Cosmos Laboratory, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr Ave. 53, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Faculty of Physics and Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Ave. 71, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
Konkoly Observatory, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, HUN-REN CSFK, MTA Centre of Excellence, Konkoly Thege Miklós út 15-17, Budapest, 1121, Hungary
Main Astronomical Observatory
Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre
Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute
Heriot-Watt International Faculty
Energetic Cosmos Laboratory
Faculty of Physics and Technology
Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics
Konkoly Observatory
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026