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The virial theorem for subsystems: application to a globular cluster within a galaxy
Author(s) -
Caimmi R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/asna.200310171
Subject(s) - virial theorem , globular cluster , virial mass , component (thermodynamics) , physics , cluster (spacecraft) , classical mechanics , statistical physics , galaxy cluster , galaxy , theoretical physics , mathematical physics , astrophysics , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
Abstract A self‐similar evolution of a globular cluster within a galaxy, which implies a one‐component formulation of the virial theorem (Mouri & Taniguchi 2003), is extended to a two‐component formulation (Caimmi & Secco 2003). To this aim, the general case of an embedded sphere within an embedding sphere, both represented as truncated, singular isothermal spheres, is applied to the situation of interest. It is shown that, in the case under consideration, a two‐component formulation of the virial theorem reproduces the analytical results of a one‐component formulation. The process of energy change due to mass loss through the surface is analysed in detail, in connection with both a one‐component and a two‐component formulation of the virial theorem. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)