We begin by looking at the physical structure and general history of the galactic globular cluster system that leads to the concentration of evolved stars, stellar remnants, and binary systems in the cores of the clusters. Current observations of the cores of globular clusters that have revealed numerous tracer populations of relativistic binaries are also discussed. We also look at the prospects for future observations in this rapidly changing area. Many of these relativistic binaries are the product of stellar evolution in compact binaries. We will look at how mass transfer from one star in the presence of a nearby companion can dramatically alter the evolution of both stars in the process of binary evolution. The enhanced production of relativistic binaries in globular clusters results from dynamical processes that drive binaries toward tighter orbits and that preferentially exchange more massive and degenerate objects into binary systems. Numerical simulations of globular cluster evolution, which can be used to predict the rate at which relativistic binaries are formed, are discussed. These models are compared with the observable members of the population of relativistic binaries. Finally, we conclude with a brief discussion of the prospects for observing these systems in gravitational radiation.
Readers interested in further studies of the
structure and evolution of globular clusters are invited to look at
Binney and Tremaine [19], Spitzer [152
], and Volumes I and
II of Padmanabhan’s Theoretical Astrophysics [116
, 117
] for a good
introduction to the physical processes involved. The recent review
articles of Meylan and Heggie [107
] and
Meylan [106
] also provide a
comprehensive look at the internal dynamics of globular clusters.
Although our focus is solely on the galactic globular cluster
system, the physics of globular cluster systems associated with
other galaxies is well covered in the review article by
Harris [67] as well as his
lecture notes from the Saas-Fee course on star clusters [69]. Carney has a
thorough introduction to evolution of stars in globular
clusters [22]. An
observational perspective on the role of binaries in globular
clusters is presented in an excellent review by Bailyn [11
], while a good
introduction to the details of observing binary systems in general
can be found in An Introduction to Close
Binary Stars [74
]. Although slightly
out of date, the review of binaries in globular clusters by Hut
et al. [83
] is an excellent
introduction to the interaction between globular cluster dynamics
and binary evolution. An updated, short article on globular cluster
binaries by McMillan, Pryor, and Phinney [105
] is also of value.
Rappaport et al. [132
] and Rasio et al. [133] have written
recent reviews of numerical simulations of binary populations in
globular clusters. A recent article by Pfahl et al. [121
] has an in-depth
discussion of the details of the retention of neutron stars in
globular clusters.