Accession Number:

AD0701085

Title:

THE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS OF STAR CLUSTERS.

Descriptive Note:

Doctoral thesis,

Corporate Author:

BRANDEIS UNIV WALTHAM MASS DEPT OF PHYSICS

Personal Author(s):

• Broderick,John

Report Date:

1969-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

65.0

Abstract:

Two model globular clusters are constructed, each consistent with a given analytical surface density law known to fit well actual star clusters. One model is described by an isotropic distribution function IDF which depends on energy alone. The other model is described by the maximum energy distribution MEDF consistent with the given surface density. At small energies the IDF is exponential while at high energies it linearly approaches a finite value at the cutoff energy. The coefficient in the exponential approaches a constant as the concentration of the cluster increases, explaining the failure of the model to fit spherical galaxies. Arguments in favor of the abrupt cutoff are advanced which are based on the relaxation time being long compared with the circumgalactic orbital period, and on the change in the total escape energy as a cluster executes an elliptical circumgalactic orbit. It is shown that the truncated Maxwellian distribution in an MEDF is the distribution which is zero above the escape energy and constant below. For the given surface density the MEDF is computed by constructing a set of perturbing distribution functions which do not contribute to the density. These are added to the IDF in such a way as to maximize the entropy. Six perturbing functions were constructed and then used in finding the MEDF. Author

Descriptors:

• (*STARS
• STATISTICAL ANALYSIS)
• GALAXIES
• DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
• DENSITY
• ENERGY
• MOMENTUM
• ENTROPY
• PERTURBATION THEORY
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• ASTROPHYSICS
• THESES

Subject Categories:

• Astronomy
• Astrophysics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE