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Title

Monte Carlo simulations of star clusters IV: calibration of the Monte Carlo code and comparison with observations for the open cluster M67

Author(s)

Giersz, Mirek;  Heggie, Douglas C.;  Hurley, Jarrod R.

Abstract

We outline the steps needed in order to incorporate the evolution of single and binary stars into a particular Monte Carlo code for the dynamical evolution of a star cluster. We calibrate the results against N-body simulations, and present models for the evolution of the old open cluster M67 (which has been studied thoroughly in the literature with N-body techniques). The calibration is done by choosing appropriate free code parameters. We describe, in particular, the evolution of the binary, white dwarf and blue straggler populations, though not all channels for blue straggler formation are represented yet in our simulations. Calibrated Monte Carlo runs show good agreement with results of N-body simulations not only for global cluster parameters, but also for, for example, binary fraction, luminosity function and surface brightness. Comparison of Monte Carlo simulations with observational data for M67 shows that it is possible to get reasonably good agreement between them. Unfortunately, because of the large statistical fluctuations of the numerical data and uncertainties in the observational data the inferred conclusions about the cluster initial conditions are not firm.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies. Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing

Source

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 388, no. 1 (Jul 2008), pp. 429-443

Publication year

2008

FOR Code(s)

0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences;  020104 Galactic Astronomy

Keyword(s)

Binaries;  Core collapse;  Direct integration;  Galactic evolution;  Globular clusters;  M67;  Mass;  N-body simulations;  Numerical methods;  Open clusters;  Post-collapse;  Rotating stellar-systems;  Segregation;  Stars;  Stellar dynamics

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing

ISSN

0035-8711

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13407.x

Copyright

Copyright © 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation copyright © 2008 Royal Astronomical Society. The accepted manuscript is reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. The definitive publication is available at www.interscience.wiley.com.

Full text

Peer reviewed