Dynamical Formation of Cataclysmic Variables in Globular Clusters

Abstract

The formation and evolution of X-ray sources in globular clusters is likely to be affected by the cluster internal dynamics and the stellar interactions in the cluster dense environment.Several observational studies have revealed a correlation between the number of X-ray sources and the stellar encounter rate and provided evidence of the role of dynamics in the formation of X-ray binaries. We have performed a survey of Monte-Carlo simulations aimed at exploring the connection between the dynamics and formation of cataclysmic variables (CVs) and the origin of the observed correlation between the number of these objects, $N_{\mathrm{cv}}$, and the stellar encounter rate, $\Gamma$.The results of our simulations show a correlation between $N_{\mathrm{cv}}$ and $\Gamma$ as found in observational data, illustrate the essential role played by dynamics, and shed light on the dynamical history behind this correlation. CVs in our simulations are more centrally concentrated than single stars with masses close to those of turn-off stars, although this trend is stronger for CVs formed from primordial binaries undergoing exchange encounters, which include a population of more massive CVs absent in the group of CVs formed from binaries not suffering any component exchange.

6 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

References in corpus (5)

• Formation and evolution of compact binaries in globular clusters: I.Binaries with white dwarfs
• Dynamical Formation of Close Binaries in Globular Clusters II: Cataclysmic Variables
• Monte Carlo Simulations of Star Clusters - V. The globular cluster M4
• Identification of Faint Chandra X-ray Sources in the Core-Collapsed Globular Cluster NGC 6397: Evidence for a Bimodal Cataclysmic Variable Population
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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Discovery of a double Blue Straggler sequence in M15: new insight into the core-collapse process
• MOCCA-SURVEY database I. Accreting white dwarf binary systems in globular clusters -- III. Cataclysmic variables -- Implications of model assumptions
• Identification of Faint Chandra X-ray Sources in the Core-Collapsed Globular Cluster NGC 6752
• Exploring the Mass Segregation Effect of X-ray Sources in Globular Clusters: The Case of 47 Tucanae