Is the distant globular cluster Pal 14 in a deep-freeze?

TL;DR

This study examines the velocity dispersion of the distant globular cluster Pal 14, exploring whether its low observed velocity can be explained by binary stars or other factors, with implications for gravitational theories.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of binary star effects on velocity dispersion measurements in Pal 14, suggesting the cluster may be 'kinematically frigid' and challenging Newtonian dynamics.

Findings

Observed velocity dispersion is very low at 0.38 km/s.

A low binary fraction (<0.1) would be needed to explain the dispersion.

Mass segregation would increase, not decrease, the velocity dispersion.

Abstract

We investigate the velocity dispersion of Pal 14, an outer Milky-Way globular cluster at Galactocentric distance of 71 kpc with a very low stellar density (central density 0.1-0.2 Msun/pc^3). Due to this low stellar density the binary population of Pal 14 is likely to be close to the primordial binary population. Artificial clusters are generated with the observed properties of Pal 14 and the velocity dispersion within these clusters is measured as Jordi et al. (2009) have done with 17 observed stars of Pal 14. We discuss the effect of the binary population on these measurements and find that the small velocity dispersion of 0.38 km/s which has been found by Jordi et al. (2009) would imply a binary fraction of less than 0.1, even though from the stellar density of Pal 14 we would expect a binary fraction of more than 0.5. We also discuss the effect of mass segregation on the velocity dispersion as possible explanation for this discrepancy, but find that it would increase the velocity dispersion further. Thus, either Pal 14 has a very unusual stellar population and its birth process was significantly different than we see in today's star forming regions, or the binary population is regular and we would have to correct the observed 0.38 km/s for binarity. In this case the true velocity dispersion of Pal 14 would be much smaller than this value and the cluster would have to be considered as "kinematically frigid", thereby possibly posing a challenge for Newtonian dynamics but in the opposite sense to MOND.