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Old March 17th 17, 09:34 PM posted to sci.astro.research
Martin Brown[_3_]
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Default NET Angular Momentum of Globular cluster of stars

On 16/03/2017 16:46, wrote:
Is the NET angular momentum of a globular cluster of stars, zero?

e.g. Omega Centauri or M13 for example.

Is the NET angular momentum of an elliptical galaxy and or the
central bulge of a spiral, zero or close to zero..........oblate
spheroids might have a net angular momentum if the oblate geometry
is due to rotation in a single direction. But if it's due to net
rotation 50 / 50 in two opposite directions, again, there would be
no net angular momentum, right?


The latter is a rather unlikely scenario since there would inevitably be
sufficient close stellar encounters to thermalise the velocity
distribution over time (ie shift stellar orbits by 90 degrees).

rt

[[Mod. note -- I think the answers are Yes (or very close to zero),
Yes, and Yes (respectively). -- jt]]


Indeed.

A reasonable treatment of the evolution of gravitationally bound
clusters of stars is online at Caltech minus a few diagrams:

http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~george...y20-Lec15x.pdf

It might help clear up some of the OP's misconceptions.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown