Structural and Dynamical Properties of 29 Galactic Globular Clusters

• Main Authors: Young-Jong Sohn, Mun-Suk Chun, Hong-Suh Yim, Yong-Ik Byun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Space Science Society (KSSS) 1997-12-01
• Series: Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• Online Access: http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kosss/OJOOBS/1997/v14n2/OJOOBS_1997_v14n2_179.pdf

We use B band CCD images to investigate the surface brightness distributions and dynamical properties of 29 Galactic globular clusters. Model fits suggest that 22 clusters show King type surface brightness profiles, while 7 clusters are characterized by power law cusp profiles. For the King type clusters, concentration parameters (c = log(r_t =r_c)) range from 1.20 to 2.10, and core radii are 0.4 to 1.9 pc. The mean value of power law slopes of 7 cuspy clusters was estimated as α = 1.011 ± 0.065. Total masses of King type globular clusters are in the range of 1.7 x 10^4 M⨀ to 1.0 x 10^6 M⨀ with a mean of 1.7 x 10^5 M⨀ . A significant positive correlation between mass and mass-to-light ratio of King type globular clusters has been confirmed with a Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.52 and a confidence level of 99%. Our data also confirm a linear relation between total mass and absolute magnitude of King type globular clusters.