The Effect of Mass Segregation and Metallicity on Mass-to-Light Ratio Measurements of Globular Clusters

Rosie Shanahan, University of Edinburgh
Advisors: Mark Gieles, Anna-Lisa Varri

Abstract: In this work, we develop parameterised models for the present day mass function of globular clusters that includes the effects of stellar evolution and dynamics. Predic- tions from these models are compared with the observational data of globular clusters in M31 in an attempt to explain the discrepancy between observed mass-to-light ratios and those predicted from a Kroupa IMF model. We found that the amount of rem- nants within the globular clusters dramatically alters the measured dynamical mass compared to the actual mass and that this could go some way to explaining the ob- served discrepancy.

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