Globular Cluster Simulation

A simulation of a globular cluster, a type of star cluster that consists of up to several million old Population II stars gravitationally bound in a spherical shape. In order to compute the interactions of these stars within the cluster, an N-body problem must be solved: if there are N stars in the cluster, each of the stars interact with N-1 other stars. Simulation results have shown that the stars in a globular cluster can take unusual paths, forming loops, falling directly towards the core, and sometimes even gaining enough velocity to escape the cluster.