S. Chatterjee, J. Fregeau, F. Rasio (Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University)
We study the outcomes of strong dynamical interactions between planetary systems and other stars that may occur in the cores of dense star clusters. Using analytical techniques and numerical experiments for confirmation, we clarify the relevance of various critical relative velocities that separate physically different outcomes. We focus on regimes where the outcome still contains a planetary system. We apply our results to the planet around PSR B1620-26 in M4, a hierarchical triple system composed of a Jovian planet in orbit around a millisecond pulsar - white dwarf binary. We have studied the dynamical formation of this triple via numerical scattering experiments, and have found that one formation scenario is clearly more probable than all others.
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #2
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.