2008ApJ...681.1136C -
Astrophys. J., 681, 1136-1147 (2008/July-2)
Merging of globular clusters in inner Galactic regions. II. Nuclear star cluster formation.
CAPUZZO-DOLCETTA R. and MIOCCHI P.
Abstract (from CDS):
In this series of papers, we present the results of detailed N-body simulations of the interaction of a sample of four massive globular clusters in the inner region of a triaxial galaxy for two different sets of initial conditions that correspond to different initial density concentrations. A full merging of the clusters takes place, leading to a slowly evolving cluster that is quite similar to observed nuclear clusters. Actually, both the density and the velocity dispersion profiles match qualitatively, and also quantitatively after scaling to a larger number of merger globulars, with the observed features of many nucleated galaxies. In the case of dense initial clusters, the merger remnant shows a density profile more concentrated than that of the progenitors, with a central density higher than the sum of the progenitors' central densities and an effective radius compatible with observed nuclear values. These findings support the idea that a massive nuclear cluster may have formed in the early phases of the mother galaxy's evolution and led to the formation of a nucleus, which in many galaxies has a luminosity profile similar to that of an extended King model. A correlation with galactic nuclear activity is suggested.
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Journal keyword(s):
Galaxies: Nuclei - Galaxies: Star Clusters - Galaxy: Globular Clusters: General - Methods: {em n}-Body Simulations
Simbad objects:
11
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