1932

Abstract

The dynamics of star clusters is here discussed from a viewpoint that includes their formation, evolution, present structure, and eventual fate. The aim is to present a basic understanding of the physical principles, the emphasis being on the implications of the long free path of the average stars. Some topics are the internal interactions between cluster stars, the consequences of loss of mass and angular momentum, the interaction with the galaxy and interstellar clouds, and the development of the currently observed luminosity functions. It is stressed in this article that the present structure of star clusters reflects to some extent the process of fragmentation into stars in the gas clouds from which the clusters formed. Thus one major purpose of this article is to remove the consideration of star clusters from the confines of the isolated stationary structure problem and to turn attention to the origin and evolution of these small and intermediate-sized stellar systems.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.aa.02.090164.000405
1964-09-01
2024-03-29
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.aa.02.090164.000405
Loading
  • Article Type: Review Article
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error