Studies of Globular Cluster Cusps, Mass Functions, and Binary Star Frequencies

罗格斯大学的卡尔顿·普赖尔博士和西奥多·威廉姆斯博士将进行一系列观测，以研究球状星团的过程。他们将确定恒星的质量函数和特别选择的星系团中双星的频率，以便与更平均的星系团进行比较。质量函数将通过测量质光比来研究，双星将通过对径向速度不同的恒星的调查来发现。球状星团中的恒星代表了我们银河系早期恒星的最佳样本之一。我们研究它们是为了更好地了解更遥远的古老恒星种群，因为它们是我们在银河系形成期间为数不多的条件线索之一。球状星团也是研究恒星动力学的极佳实验室。星系团中的重大动力学演化已经发生。这项研究将解决关于球状星团的三个问题。原始双星的频率和空间分布是什么？动力学演化是否改变了低浓度星系团的质量函数？星系团尖端的速度弥散急剧增加有多常见？

Drs. Carlton Pryor and Theodore Williams at Rutgers University will carry out a set of observations to study processes in globular clusters of stars. They will determine the mass functions of stars and the frequency of binary stars in specifically chosen clusters for comparison to a more average population of clusters. The mass functions will be studied by measuring mass-to-light ratios, and binaries will be discovered through surveys for stars with variable radial velocities. The stars in globular clusters represent one of our best samples of the early generations of stars in our Galaxy. We study them to better understand more distant old stellar populations and because they are among our few clues to conditions during the formation of the Galaxy. Globular clusters are also an excellent laboratory for studying stellar dynamics. Significant dynamical evolution in the cluster has already taken place. This research will address three questions about globular clusters. What is the frequency and spatial distribution of primordial binary stars? Has dynamical evolution modified the mass function in low-concentration clusters? How common are steep increases of the velocity dispersion in the cusps of clusters?