Open AccessHigh‐resolution simulations of stellar collisions between equal‐mass main‐sequence stars in globular clusters
Author(s) -
Sills Alison,
Adams Tim,
Davies Melvyn B.,
Bate Matthew R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05266.x
Subject(s) - physics , globular cluster , stars , stellar collision , astrophysics , collision , main sequence , blue straggler , angular momentum , stellar evolution , stellar dynamics , convection , star cluster , astronomy , classical mechanics , mechanics , computer security , computer science
We performed high‐resolution simulations of two stellar collisions relevant for stars in globular clusters. We considered one head‐on collision and one off‐axis collision between two 0.6‐M ⊙ main‐sequence stars. We show that a resolution of about 100 000 particles is sufficient for most studies of the structure and evolution of blue stragglers. We demonstrate conclusively that collision products between main‐sequence stars in globular clusters do not have surface convection zones larger than 0.004 M ⊙ after the collision, nor do they develop convection zones during the ‘pre‐main‐sequence’ thermal relaxation phase of their post‐collision evolution. Therefore, any mechanism which requires a surface convection zone (i.e. chemical mixing or angular momentum loss via a magnetic wind) cannot operate in these stars. We show that no disc of material surrounding the collision product is produced in off‐axis collisions. The lack of both a convection zone and a disc proves a continuing problem for the angular momentum evolution of blue stragglers in globular clusters.