Single star scattering on an open cluster

• Published in: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 379; no. 1; pp. 86 - 92
• Main Authors: Mints, A. A., Glaschke, P., Spurzem, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 21.07.2007; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Astrophysics; Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics; Kinematics; methods: N-body simulations; open clusters and associations: general; Probability; Simulation; Stars & galaxies; Velocity; open clusters and associations: general; Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics; body simulations; methods
• ISSN: 0035-8711; 1365-2966
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.11911.x

We examine the scattering of single stars from an open star cluster. The probability of the capture of a star by a star cluster is dependent on the velocity and mass of the star, and the stars that are not captured experience a velocity change. For low-velocity stars there is an exponential decrease of the capture probability with the initial velocity, and the velocity change decreases almost linearly. For high-velocity stars there is a v−6 dependence for the capture probability, and a v−1 dependence for the velocity change. Analytical estimations, Monte Carlo and full N-body simulations are all in good agreement.