Colloquium on May. 23, 2024

The Significant Influence of IMF on Star Cluster Dynamics

Speaker: Long Wang (SYSU)

Venue: SWIFAR Building 2111

Time: 16:00 PM, Thursday, May. 23, 2024

Abstract:

The Initial Mass Function (IMF) is a crucial tool for studying star formation. The upper part of the IMF determines the fraction of massive stars. Our research has found that the fast wind mass loss of massive stars and their remnants, such as stellar-mass black holes (BHs), can have a strong impact on the long-term dynamical evolution of star clusters. In low-mass star clusters, the stochastic formation of massive stars can significantly influence the dissolution of the clusters. We propose that by analyzing the dynamical characteristics of observed open clusters, we can constrain the number of BHs and the stochastic nature of the IMF. In the case of massive globular clusters (GCs), variations in the upper part of the IMF can dramatically affect the survival of the clusters and the fraction of BHs within them. With a top-heavy IMF, GCs are more likely to disintegrate rapidly or evolve into dark clusters dominated by BHs. By studying the stellar streams originating from GCs, we may study whether GCs can have a top-heavy IMF.

Reprot PPT:  SWIFAR_Long Wang.pdf