Modeling Stellar Exotica in Dense Star Clusters

AST-0507561詹姆斯·隆巴迪瓦萨学院在致密星星环境中模拟恒星奇异物瓦萨学院和西北大学之间的合作项目将被证实，该项目将探索恒星之间密切相互作用期间磁场的影响，这种相互作用很可能在致密恒星环境中频繁发生（例如，球状星团的核心）。这种相互作用不仅决定了这些星系团的命运，而且被认为是奇异天体的起源，如蓝离散星、双星和x射线源。瓦萨大学的研究人员和学生将使用在先前NSF资助下开发的3D平滑粒子流体动力学代码，并完成其适应性，以包括磁场（3D平滑粒子磁流体动力学代码）。这个新工具将被用来模拟各种类型的恒星（主序星、次巨星、红巨星和恒星残骸）之间的恒星碰撞/合并。具体的主题包括球状星团中的恒星碰撞（以及蓝离散星的起源，即碰撞与合并），二进制合并，和共同的信封演变。包括在这个项目是显着参与的学生与目标建立自我维持的学生研究计划（其中新学生由高年级学生培训）。也有机会让学生在任何一所学校成为参与合作与学生/博士后研究员/教师在其他.同样，在编程，建模，流体力学/流体力学等有用的技能，将在参与者中发展。

AST-0507561James LombardiVassar CollegeModeling Stellar Exotica in Dense Star ClustersABSTRACTA collaborative project between Vassar College and Northwestern University will be undertakenwhich will explore the effects of magnetic fields during close interactions between stars as are likelyto take place frequently in dense stellar environments (e.g., the cores of globular clusters). Suchinteractions not only determine the fate of these clusters but are also believed to be the origin ofexotic objects such as blue stragglers, binary pulsars, and x-ray sources. The investigators andstudents at Vassar will use a 3D smoothed particle hydrodynamics code developed under previousNSF funding and complete its adaptation to include magnetic fields (a 3D smoothed particlemagnetohydrodynamic code). This new tool will then be used to simulate stellar collisions/mergersamong a variety of types of stars (main-sequence, subgiant, red giant, and stellar remnants).Specific topics that will be addressed include stellar collisions in globular clusters (and the originsof blue stragglers, i.e., collisions versus mergers), binary mergers, and common envelope evolution.Included in this project is significant involvement by students with the goal of setting up self -sustaining student research programs (in which new students are trained by seniors). There is alsothe opportunity for students at either school to become involved in collaborations withstudents/postdoctoral fellows/faculty at the other. Likewise, useful skills in programming,modeling, hydrodynamics/fluid mechanics, etc., will be developed among the participants.