MODEST-24: Exploring Dense Stellar Systems Across Cosmic Time

Session

Special session dedicated to Prof. Rainer Spurzem and Prof. Roberto Capuzzo Dolcetta

SS

21 Aug 2024, 09:00

Main Lecture Hall (Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Warsaw, Poland)

127. Simulating the evolution of star clusters: Risks and rewards

Prof. Douglas Heggie (University of Edinburgh)

21/08/2024, 09:00

Special session dedicated to Prof. Rainer Spurzem and Prof. Roberto Capuzzo Dolcetta

Talk

I first quickly review the decades-long history of the development of the methods for simulating the dynamical evolution of star clusters, with additional discussion of N-body methods. Then I survey some things that can or could go wrong, with particular attention to the role played by the theory of two-body relaxation.

151. The scientific journey of Prof. Roberto Capuzzo Dolcetta among stellar clusters and galactic nuclei

Sara Rastello (Institut de Ciències del Cosmos - Universitat de Barcelona)

21/08/2024, 09:25

152. Rainer Spurzem: The history and art of direct N-body modelling around the globe

Peter Berczik (Main Astronomical Observatory, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine / Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences)

21/08/2024, 09:45

Talk

149. Are Dwarf Spheroidal and Ultra Faint Dwarf galaxies the most dark matter dominated stellar systems?

Roberto Capuzzo Dolcetta (Sapienza University of Rome)

21/08/2024, 10:05

Special session dedicated to Prof. Rainer Spurzem and Prof. Roberto Capuzzo Dolcetta

Talk

Dwarf Spheroidal galaxies and Ultra Faint Dwarf galaxies orbiting around the Milky Way are commonly considered as dynamically "hot" systems so that the high velocity dispersions measured could be compatible with a virial state just if their total mass is very large respect to the luminous mass. This led to the consideration that they are the most dark matter (DM) dominated stellar systems in...

148. How it all started

Rainer Spurzem (ARI/ZAH, Univ. of Heidelberg, Germany; National Astronomical Observatories, CAS, Beijing, China; Kavli Institute for Astron. and Astrophysics, Peking University, Beijing, China)

21/08/2024, 10:25

Special session dedicated to Prof. Rainer Spurzem and Prof. Roberto Capuzzo Dolcetta

Talk

As a graduate student I had the privilege to learn from Daiichiro Sugimoto (then Visiting Gauss professor at Uni Goettingen) and Erich Bettwieser. A gaseous or moment model of star clusters was designed. Gravothermal oscillations were detected using this model, which inspired star cluster dynamics for many years, if not decades. I could contribute a little to the model by adjusting the heat...