Evolution of star cluster systems in isolated galaxies: first results from direct $N$-body simulations

Abstract

The evolution of star clusters is largely affected by the tidal field generated by the host galaxy. It is thus in principle expected that under the assumption of an "universal" initial cluster mass function the properties of the evolved present-day mass function of star cluster systems should show a dependency on the properties of the galactic environment in which they evolve. To explore this expectation a sophisticated model of the tidal field is required in order to study the evolution of star cluster systems in realistic galaxies. Along these lines, in the present work we first describe a method developed for coupling $N$-body simulations of galaxies and star clusters. We then generate a database of galaxy models along the Hubble sequence and calibrate evolutionary equations to the results of direct $N$-body simulations of star clusters in order to predict the clusters' mass evolution as function of the galactic environment. We finally apply our methods to explore the properties of evolved "universal" initial cluster mass functions and any dependence on the host galaxy morphology and mass distribution. The preliminary results show that an initial power-law distribution of the masses "universally" evolves into a log-normal distribution, with the properties correlated with the stellar mass and stellar mass density density of the host galaxy.

19 Pages, 16 Figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

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• Formation of globular clusters with internal abundance spreads in r-process elements: strong evidence for prolonged star formation
• The star cluster survivability after gas expulsion is independent of the impact of the Galactic tidal field
• The globular cluster system of the isolated elliptical NGC 6411: An old system in an intermediate-age galaxy?