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arXiv · 1903.11610

Anisotropic Mass Segregation in Rotating Globular Clusters

Ákos Szölgyén·Yohai Meiron·Bence Kocsis
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Abstract

We investigate the internal dynamics of anisotropic, rotating globular clusters with a multimass stellar population by performing new direct N-body simulations. In addition to the well-known radial mass segregation effect, where heavy stars and stellar remnants sink toward the center of the cluster, we find a mass segregation in the distribution of orbital inclinations as well. This newly discovered anisotropic mass segregation leads to the formation of a disk-like structure of massive objects near the equatorial plane of a rotating cluster. This result has important implications on the expected spatial distribution of black holes in globular clusters.

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Ákos Szölgyén, Yohai Meiron, Bence Kocsis. 2019-03-27. Anisotropic Mass Segregation in Rotating Globular Clusters. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357%2Fab50bb

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