A reinvestigation of the standard model for the dynamics of a massive black hole in a globular cluster

Abstract

The validity of assumptions that the motion of the hole resulting from perturbations of the associated cusp of bound stars is neglected and that the effects of close encounters between the stars are usually neglected is examined. It is shown that the first assumption produces errors in the relaxation rate of the cusp; the ejection by close encounters is the dominant hole-induced source of mass loss from the cluster core. These results show that close encounters are significant in the evolution of a hole plus cluster system.

Identifiers

DOI

10.1086/158513

Citations and references