Constraining white-dwarf kicks in globular clusters : III. Cluster Heating

TL;DR

This paper investigates how asymmetric mass loss in giant stars can impart velocity kicks to white dwarfs, significantly heating globular clusters and altering their stellar distributions.

Contribution

It introduces a model for white dwarf kicks due to asymmetric mass loss and explores their impact on cluster dynamics and heating.

Findings

White dwarf kicks can significantly increase stellar energies in clusters.

White dwarf kicks alter the radial distribution of young white dwarfs.

Cluster heating from white dwarf kicks is most significant during early stages.

Abstract

Recent observations of white dwarfs in globular clusters indicate that these stars may get a velocity kick during their time as giants. This velocity kick could originate naturally if the mass loss while on the asymptotic giant branch is slightly asymmetric. The kicks may be large enough to dramatically change the radial distribution of young white dwarfs, giving them larger energies than other stars in the cluster. As these energetic white dwarfs travel through the cluster they can impart their excess energy on the other stars in the cluster. This new heat source for globular clusters is expected to be largest during the clusters' youth.