Dynamical Evolution of Globular Clusters

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Understanding the dynamical evolution of dense stellar systems, such as globular clusters and galactic nuclei, is one of the most fundamental problems of gravitational astrophysics. Substantial progress towards this goal has been made in recent years as a result of both theoretical and observational advances. Frequent star-star gravitational interactions cause a profound evolution of the overall structure of these systems on astrophysically interesting time scales. Powerful computer simulation methods have firmly established the inevitable evolution of globular clusters of stars toward the collapse of the core of the cluster. The advent of new observing instrumentation and the ability to achieve high angular resolution from ground based observatories have both led to significant advances in the observational study of globular clusters and galactic nuclei. Drs. Cohn and Lugger at the University of Indiana will continue their research program of theoretical and observational investigations of the dynamical evolution of globular clusters. The principal goals are: to develop realistic, evolving, dynamical models for globular clusters; to carry out large scale optical observational studies of globular cluster structure, kinematics, and stellar content, using both ground-based telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope; and to fit observational data for globular clusters with numerical models.