
pmc: PMC5253893 , PMC5255526
arXiv: astro-ph/0202056
The galactic population of globular clusters are old, dense star systems, with a typical cluster containing $10^4 - 10^6$ stars. As an old population of stars, globular clusters contain many collapsed and degenerate objects. As a dense population of stars, globular clusters are the scene of many interesting close dynamical interactions between stars. These dynamical interactions can alter the evolution of individual stars and can produce tight binary systems containing one or two compact objects. In this review, we discuss the theoretical models of globular cluster evolution and binary evolution, techniques for simulating this evolution which lead to relativistic binaries, and current and possible future observational evidence for this population. Globular cluster evolution will focus on the properties that boost the production of hard binary systems and on the tidal interactions of the galaxy with the cluster, which tend to alter the structure of the globular cluster with time. The interaction of the components of hard binary systems alters the evolution of both bodies and can lead to exotic objects. Direct $N$-body integrations and Fokker-Planck simulations of the evolution of globular clusters that incorporate tidal interactions and lead to predictions of relativistic binary populations are also discussed. We discuss the current observational evidence for cataclysmic variables, millisecond pulsars, and low-mass X-ray binaries as well as possible future detection of relativistic binaries with gravitational radiation.
Updated version, 58 pages, 10 figures. Minor revisions to sections 1, 2, and 4. Substantial additions to sections 3 (to incorporate new observations) and 5 (to include new population synthesis models). Added roughly 60 new references
stars, relativistic binaries, Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous), Relativity in Astrophysics, FOS: Physical sciences, Review Article, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc), radio astronomy, Astrophysics, neutron stars, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, astronomical observations, accretion, binary systems, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter, white dwarfs, astrophysics, accretion disks, Astrophysics (astro-ph), dynamical systems, black holes, Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to astronomy and astrophysics, astronomy, gravitational wave sources, binary evolution, pulsars, Galactic and stellar structure, globular cluster evolution, QC170-197
stars, relativistic binaries, Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous), Relativity in Astrophysics, FOS: Physical sciences, Review Article, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc), radio astronomy, Astrophysics, neutron stars, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, astronomical observations, accretion, binary systems, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter, white dwarfs, astrophysics, accretion disks, Astrophysics (astro-ph), dynamical systems, black holes, Research exposition (monographs, survey articles) pertaining to astronomy and astrophysics, astronomy, gravitational wave sources, binary evolution, pulsars, Galactic and stellar structure, globular cluster evolution, QC170-197
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