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Two distinct sequences of blue straggler stars in the globular cluster M 30
- Source :
- Nature. 462(7276)
- Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Stars in globular clusters are generally believed to have all formed at the same time, early in the Galaxy's history. 'Blue stragglers' are stars massive enough that they should have evolved into white dwarfs long ago. Two possible mechanisms have been proposed for their formation: mass transfer between binary companions and stellar mergers resulting from direct collisions between two stars. Recently, the binary explanation was claimed to be dominant. Here we report that there are two distinct parallel sequences of blue stragglers in M30. This globular cluster is thought to have undergone 'core collapse', during which both the collision rate and the mass transfer activity in binary systems would have been enhanced. We suggest that the two observed sequences arise from the cluster core collapse, with the bluer population arising from direct stellar collisions and the redder one arising from the evolution of close binaries that are probably still experiencing an active phase of mass transfer.<br />Published on the 24th December 2009 issue of Nature
- Subjects :
- Physics
Multidisciplinary
Stellar collision
globular cluster
FOS: Physical sciences
cluster dynamics
Astronomy
White dwarf
Astrophysics
Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
blue straggler
Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
Galaxy
Blue straggler
Stars
Star cluster
Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
Globular cluster
Astrophysics::Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics
Open cluster
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14764687
- Volume :
- 462
- Issue :
- 7276
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Nature
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....596c83778d9436554b8aee96c1067703