Estimating mass of globular cluster using the virial theorem

  • GAO Xin-hua ,
  • XU Shou-kun
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  • School of Information Science and Engineering,Changzhou University,Changzhou,Jiangsu 213164,China

Received date: 2016-02-26

  Revised date: 2016-05-26

  Online published: 2017-01-20

Abstract

The virial theorem can be used to analyze the kinetic and potential energy of N-body gravitating system,which is widely used in astrophysics. Globular clusters have reached dynamical equilibrium through long-term two-body relaxation. We estimate the dynamical masses of four globular clusters NGC 1851,NGC 1904, NGC 7099 and NGC 5964 based on high-precision radial velocities and the virial theorem. The dynamical masses of the four clusters are 0. 99×10 5 M⊙ ,0 . 54×10 5 M⊙ ,0. 44×10 5M⊙ and 4. 88×10 5 M⊙ ,respectively.

Cite this article

GAO Xin-hua , XU Shou-kun . Estimating mass of globular cluster using the virial theorem[J]. College Physics, 2017 , 36(1) : 33 -36 . DOI: 10.16854 /j.cnki.1000-0712.2017.01.011

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