2006Astronomy LettersRequires access

Study of the nearest open clusters and the associated moving clusters by numerical simulations

Ya. O. Chumak, А. С. Расторгуев

Open publisher page 18 citations

Abstract

In our previous papers, we showed that at the final phases of the dynamical evolution of an open cluster, an extended population of stars elongated along its Galactic orbit, the stellar tail of the cluster, is formed. The tail stars that escaped from the cluster at different times move in a common orbit with low relative velocities. Experiencing a weak interaction with Galactic field stars, these objects, the relics of open clusters, can exist for a fairly long time. In this paper, we investigate the structures of such stellar tails in the nearest open clusters: Hyades, Pleiades, Praesepe, Alpha Persei, Coma, IC 2391, and IC 2602. To this end, we performed several numerical simulations of the dynamical evolution of these clusters in the tidal field of the Galaxy. Our computations of the dynamical evolution were based on known cluster age estimates and real Galactic orbits. The initial conditions were chosen in such a way that the parameters of the simulated clusters corresponded to their observed parameters. As a result, we obtained models of the stellar tails for the nearest open clusters and estimated such parameters of the tails as their sizes, densities, locations relative to the solar neighborhood, and others.

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In our previous papers, we showed that at the final phases of the dynamical evolution of an open cluster, an extended population of stars elongated along its Galactic orbit, the stellar tail of the cluster, is formed. The tail stars that escaped from the cluster at different times move in a common orbit with low relative velocities. Experiencing a weak interaction with Galactic field stars, these objects, the relics of open clusters, can exist for a fairly long time. In this paper, we investigate the structures of such stellar tails in the nearest open clusters: Hyades, Pleiades, Praesepe, Alpha Persei, Coma, IC 2391, and IC 2602. To this end, we performed several numerical simulations of the dynamical evolution of these clusters in the tidal field of the Galaxy. Our computations of the dynamical evolution were based on known cluster age estimates and real Galactic orbits. The initial conditions were chosen in such a way that the parameters of the simulated clusters corresponded to their observed parameters. As a result, we obtained models of the stellar tails for the nearest open clusters and estimated such parameters of the tails as their sizes, densities, locations relative to the solar neighborhood, and others.

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Available abstract

In our previous papers, we showed that at the final phases of the dynamical evolution of an open cluster, an extended population of stars elongated along its Galactic orbit, the stellar tail of the cluster, is formed. The tail stars that escaped from the cluster at different times move in a common orbit with low relative velocities. Experiencing a weak interaction with Galactic field stars, these objects, the relics of open clusters, can exist for a fairly long time. In this paper, we investigate the structures of such stellar tails in the nearest open clusters: Hyades, Pleiades, Praesepe, Alpha Persei, Coma, IC 2391, and IC 2602. To this end, we performed several numerical simulations of the dynamical evolution of these clusters in the tidal field of the Galaxy. Our computations of the dynamical evolution were based on known cluster age estimates and real Galactic orbits. The initial conditions were chosen in such a way that the parameters of the simulated clusters corresponded to their observed parameters. As a result, we obtained models of the stellar tails for the nearest open clusters and estimated such parameters of the tails as their sizes, densities, locations relative to the solar neighborhood, and others.

Key concepts: Physics, Open cluster, Pleiades, Star cluster, Stars, Astrophysics, Cluster (spacecraft), Galaxy

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