Statistics of Small-N Simulations

Abstract

We first review the reasons for carrying out statistical analysis of results from large numbers of N-body simulations, including a summary of previous work. Then we describe some results about the behaviour of N-body systems which have been acquired by this technique. Finally we concentrate on the problems associated with the scaling of N-body data with N, with particular regard to the dissolution of systems in a tidal field when mass is lost by stellar evolution.

10 pages uuencoded compressed postscript; to appear in P. Hut and J. Makino, eds, Dynamical Evolution of Star Clusters - Confrontation of Theory and Observations, Proc. IAU Symposium 174