Vol. 9 (2006) > lrr-2006-2

doi: 10.12942/lrr-2006-2
Living Rev. Relativity 9 (2006), 2

Relativistic Binaries in Globular Clusters

1 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, TX, U.S.A.

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Article Abstract

The galactic population of globular clusters are old, dense star systems, with a typical cluster containing 10^4 - 10^7 stars. As an old population of stars, globular clusters contain many collapsed and degenerate objects. As a dense population of stars, globular clusters are the scene of many interesting close dynamical interactions between stars. These dynamical interactions can alter the evolution of individual stars and can produce tight binary systems containing one or two compact objects. In this review, we discuss the theoretical models of globular cluster evolution and binary evolution, techniques for simulating this evolution which lead to relativistic binaries, and current and possible future observational evidence for this population. Globular cluster evolution will focus on the properties that boost the production of hard binary systems and on the tidal interactions of the galaxy with the cluster, which tend to alter the structure of the globular cluster with time. The interaction of the components of hard binary systems alters the evolution of both bodies and can lead to exotic objects. Direct N-body integrations and Fokker-Planck simulations of the evolution of globular clusters that incorporate tidal interactions and lead to predictions of relativistic binary populations are also discussed. We discuss the current observational evidence for cataclysmic variables, millisecond pulsars, and low-mass X-ray binaries as well as possible future detection of relativistic binaries with gravitational radiation.

Keywords: accretion, accretion disks, astronomical observations, astronomy, astrophysics, binary systems, black holes, dynamical systems, gravitational wave sources, neutron stars, pulsars, radio astronomy, stars, white dwarfs

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Since a Living Reviews in Relativity article may evolve over time, please cite the access <date>, which uniquely identifies the version of the article you are referring to:

Matthew J. Benacquista,
"Relativistic Binaries in Globular Clusters",
Living Rev. Relativity 9,  (2006),  2. URL (cited on <date>):
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Article History

ORIGINAL http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2002-2
Title Relativistic Binaries in Globular Clusters
Author Matthew J. Benacquista
Date accepted 28 January 2002, published 20 February 2002
FAST-TRACK REVISION  
Date accepted , published 5 December 2003
Changes Section 5.3.3: Correction of typographical error. For detailed description see here .
UPDATE http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2006-2
Title Relativistic Binaries in Globular Clusters
Author Matthew J. Benacquista
Date accepted 9 January 2006, published 7 February 2006
Changes Minor revisions to Sections 1, 2, and 4.
Substantial additions to Sections 3 (to incorporate new observations) and 5 (to include new population synthesis models).
Added roughly 60 new references.
FAST-TRACK REVISION  
Date accepted 30 June 2008, published 30 June 2008
Changes Added 16 new references and latest observations. For detailed description see here .

RefDB records no longer cited by this article:

RefDB records now cited by this article:
UPDATE http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2013-4
Title Relativistic Binaries in Globular Clusters
Author Matthew J. Benacquista / Jonathan M. B. Downing
Date accepted 29 November 2012, published 4 March 2013
Changes Substantial revision of most sections. Addition of Jonathan Downing as co-author. Number of references increased from 247 to 495.
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