CHINESE

ASTRONOMY
AND ASTROPHYSICS
PERGAMON

Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

Space Distribution and Orbits of Globular

Clusters of the Galaxyt *
WANG Long ZHOU Hong-nan
Department o] Physics, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097
For 29 globular clusters of the Galaxy with integrated spectral type
F, we have calculated their orbits from their radial velocity and proper motion
data using three different galactic potential models. The results show: (1) Most
of the sample clusters are distributed in the region 5 kpc--10 kpc from the Galactic center, in a spherically symmetrical distribution about the center, and their
space velocities follow an ellipsoidal distribution; (2) The clusters can be classified by metallicity into the HB and MP subsystems, and their number density
peaks at [Fe/H]=-I.6; (3) The clusters follow periodic but not closed orbits with
maximum galactocentric distances generally less than 40kpc. Using the different potential models makes little difference in the orbital morphology. When an
orbit passes within about 1 kpc of the galactic centre, "chaotic" behavior may
take place. The orbital morphology is not obviously correlated with metallicity.
(4) The orbital semi-major axis, apogalactic distance and azimuthal period vary
in similar ways with the metallicity, and the correlation between the orbital eccentricity and the metallicity is obvious. About 24% of the sample clusters have
orbital eccentricities less than 0.4. The effect of different potential models is not
obvious in the perigalactic distance, eccentricity and the uncertainties of the orbital parameters, but is more obvious in the other orbital parameters, including
the apogalactic distance, semi-major axis, radial period, and azimuthal period.
Abstract

K e y words: Galaxy: globular clusters: general--Galaxy: kinematics and dynamics

t Supported by National Natural Science Foundation

Received 2001-09-29; revised version 2002-03-01
* A translation of Acta Astron. Sin. Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 302-326, 2002
0275-1062/03/S-see front matter 2003 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.
PII: S0275-1062(03)00007-9

WANG Long et aL / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

43

1. I N T R O D U C T I O N
The study of the space distribution, orbits and dynamical properties of the globular clusters
in the Galaxy is important for understanding the basic physical processes and dynamic features of galaxies [1-31. So far, about 147 globular clusters have been discovered in the Galaxy,
and for 120 of these with galactocentric distances less than 40 kpc, the radial velocities have
been measured. Using these data, many people have studied their spatial and kinematic
properties and acquired some important statistical results [4-6].
In 1996, Harris [7] presented his "Catalogue of Parameters for Globular Clusters in the
Milky Way", in which precise radial velocity data of the 120 globular clusters were listed.
In 1996, Danphole et al. Is] first introduced absolute proper motions into the kinematic
study, thus extending the study from one-dimensional radial velocities to 3-dimensional
space motions. Then, Odenkirchen et al. [9] calculated and discussed the orbits of globular
clusters based on their own measurements and the Hipparcos absolute proper motion data.
In 1997-1999, Dinescu et al. [l-12] published a series of papers, presented the absolute proper
motion data measured by themselves for 15 southern sky globular clusters and calculated
their orbits. In their 1999 paper, Dinescu et al. [12] presented a catalogue of the 38 globular
clusters with measured absolute proper motions, and made some meaningful conclusions on
their space velocities, orbital features, etc.. And in June 1999, Harris [13] had his parameter
catalogue of 1996 revised and published on the internet, in which the basic parameters of
147 known globular clusters were presented for epoch 2000.0, so providing a basis for deeper
studies of globular clusters.
The purpose of this paper is, for a sample of 29 globular clusters with integrated spectral
type F, we calculate their spatial and velocity distributions using the new parameters given
by Harris and the absolute proper motion data of Dinescu et al. We then take these as initial
conditions and continue their orbits numerically for three different gravitational potential
models, and discuss how the orbits and related parameters evolve.

2. T H E S A M P L E A N D D A T A P R O C E S S I N G
2.1 Source o f the Sample
The catalogue of Dinescu et al. lists the measured absolute proper motions of 38
globular clusters. Among these 29 are of integrated spectral type F, with metallicities less
than -0.8: they are halo clusters. So, we take these 29 globular clusters as our sample, and
study their space distribution, velocities and orbital features.
Table 1 lists the basic parameters of our sample clusters. In the table, the heliocentric
equatorial coordinates, heliocentric distances, radial velocities, etc. come from Harris [13],
and the absolute proper motions come from Dinescu et al. [12].
2.2 S o m e Basic Conventions in the Data Processing
(I) Epoch: All the coordinates and parameters used in this paper correspond to epoch
2000.0[141;
(2) Coordinate system: We use the left-hand, galactocentric Galactic rectangular coordinate system O - X Y Z , as shown in Fig.l, the X - Y plane is the Galactic plane, the
direction from the Galactic center to the center of the sun is the positive direction of the

44

W A N G Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) $2-65

X - a x i s , t h e p o s i t i v e d i r e c t i o n of t h e Y - a x i s is t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e G a l a c t i c r o t a t i o n , a n d
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e l e f t - h a n d rule, t h e p o s i t i v e Z - a x i s points t o t h e n o r t h G a l a c t i c pole. U, V,
W are t h e t h r e e c o m p o n e n t s of t h e space velocity in t h e X , Y, Z directions, r e s p e c t i v e l y ;
Table 1
NGC

362
1851
1904
2298
4147
,4590
5024
5139
5272
,5897
,5904
6093
6121
6144
,6205
6218
6254
,6341
6397
6584
6626
6656
,6712
6752
6779
6809
7078
7089
7099

SpT

F 9
F 7
F 5
F 5
F 2/3
F 2/3
F 6
F 5
F 6
F 7
F 7
F6
F 8
F 5/6
F 6
F 8
F 3
F 2
F 4
F 6
F 8
F 5
F 9
F 4/5
F 5
F 4
F 3/4
F 4
F 3

O~
m

Basic parameters of the sample clusters

s

01 03 14.3
05 14 06.3
05 24 10.6
06 48 59.2
12 10 06.2
12 39 28.0
13 12 55.3
13 26 45.9
13 42 11.2
15 17 24.5
15 18 33.8
16 17 02.5
16 23 35.5
16 27 14.1
16 41 41.5
16 47 14.5
16 57 08.9
17 17 07.3
17 40 41.3
18 18 37.7
18 24 32.9
18 36 24.2
18 53 04.3
19 i0 51.8
19 16 35.5
19 39 59.4
21 29 58.3
21 33 29.3
21 40 22.0

(~
t #

-70 50 54
-40 02 50
-24 31 27
-36 00 19
18 32 31
-26 44 34
18 10 09
-47 28 37
28 22 32
-21 00 37
02 04 58
-22 58 30
-26 31 31
-26 01 29
36 27 37
-01 56 52
-04 05 58
43 08 11
-53 40 25
-52 12 54
-24 52 12
-23 54 12
-08 42 22
-59 58 55
30 11 05
-30 57 44
12 I0 01
-00 49 23
-23 10 45

R(:)
kpc

Vrad
( k m s -1)

~c~ C08 ~
masyr -I

~/'6
masyr-*

8.54-0.9 223.54-0.5 5.074-0.71 -2.554-0.72

12.14-1.2 320.5+0.6 1.284-0.68 2.394-0.65
12.94-1.3 207.54-0.5 2.124-0.64 -0.024-0.64
10.74-1.1 149.44-1.3 4.054-1.00 -1.724-0.98
19.34-1.9 183.04-1.0 -1.854-0.82 -1.304-0.82
10.24-1.0 - 95.14-0.6 -3.764-0.66 1.794-0.62
18.34-1.8 -79.14-4.1 0.504-1.00 -0.10+1.00
5.34-0.5 232.54-0.7 -5.084-0,35 -3.574-0.34
10.44-1.0 -147.14-0.4 -1.104-0.51 -2.304-0.54
12.84-1.3 101.74-1.0 -4.93+0.86 -2.334-0.84
7.54-0.8 51.84-0.5 5.074-0.68 -10.74-0.56
10.04-1.0
7.34-4.1 -3.314-0.58 -7.204-0.67
2.24-0.2 70.44-0.4 -12.54-0.36 -19.934-0.49
10.34-1.0 189.44-1.1 -3.06+0.64 -5.114-0.72
7.74-0.8 - 246.64-0.9 -0.904-0.71 5.504-1.12
4.94-0.5 43.54-0.6 1.304-0.58 -7.834-0.62
4.44-0.4 75.54-1.1 -6.004-1.00 -3.304-1.00
8.24-0.8 - 120.54-1.7 -3.304-0.55 -0.334-0.70
2.34-0.2 18.94-0.1 3.300.50 -15.204-0.60
13.44-1.3 222.94-0.5 -0.224-0.62 -5.794-0.67
5.74-0.6 15.84-1.0 0.304-0.50 -3.404-0.90
3.24-0.3 - 149.14-0.6 8.604-1.30 -5.104-1.30
6.94-0.7 - 107.74-0.6 4.204-0.40 -2.004-0.40
4.04-0.4 - 32.14-1.5 -0.694-0.42 -2.854-0.45
10.14-1.0 - 135.94-0.9 0.304-1.00 1.40+0.10
5.44-0.5 174.94-0.4 -1.424-0.62 -10.254-0.64
10.34-1.0 - 106.64-0.6 -0.954-0.51 -5.634-0.50
11.54-1.2
- 3.14-0.9 5.904-0.86 -4.954-0.86
8.0+0.8 - 184.34-1.0 1.424-0.69 -7.714-0.65

(3) In t h e a b o v e c o o r d i n a t e s y s t e m , t h e solar m o t i o n is (-10.4, 14.8, 7 . ' 3 ) k m / s [15], t h e

distance b e t w e e n t h e sun a n d t h e G a l a c t i c center is 8.5 kpc, a n d at t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e sun,
t h e velocity of t h e G a l a c t i c r o t a t i o n is 220.0km/s[12];
(4) In t h e h e l i o c e n t r i c e q u a t o r i a l r e c t a n g u l a r c o o r d i n a t e s y s t e m , t h e p o s i t i o n angle of
the n o r t h G a l a c t i c pole is:

O~NGP = 12h51rn34'-15,

~NGP =

2651'23".18,

80 = 1230'0 ",

in which, t h e t h i r d angle 80 is t h e i n c l u d e d angle b e t w e e n t h e g r e a t circle p a s s i n g t h r o u g h

t h e n o r t h celestial pole a n d t h e g r e a t circle passing t h r o u g h b o t h t h e n o r t h G a l a c t i c pole
a nd t h e zero p o i n t of G a l a c t i c longitude;
(5) N o t a t i o n s :
7r + a~ represents t h e p a r a l l a x a n d its u n c e r t a i n t y , in units of arcsec;
Vrad av r e p r e s e n t s t h e }adial v e l o c i t y a n d its uncertainty, in u n i t s of k m / s ;
# a a , ~ r e p r e s e n t s t h e a b s o l u t e p r o p e r m o t i o n in right ascension a n d its u n c e r t a i n t y , in
units of m a s / y r ;

45

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (ZOO3) 42-65

#6 ~ a ~ represents the absolute proper motion in declination and its uncertainty, in units
of mas/yr.
NORTH' GALACTIC POLE
2.3 D e r i v a t i o n o f t h e C o o r d i n a t e s a n d
Velocities
To obtain the coordinates and ,velocities of
the sample clusters in the galactocentric Galactic coordinate system requires some data processing and reduction. In 1987, Johnson et
al.[15] proposed a method of calculating the
space velocity of Galactic clusters and its uncertainty. Our reduction used Johnson's method.
2.3.1 Derivation of the Coordinates
This involves the coordinate transformation
from the heliocentric equatorial rectangular coordinates to the galactocentric Galactic rectangular coordinates. Usually it can be realized
by the rotation matrix of the coordinate sysFig. 1 The variation of polar shift
tem. If I and b are the Galactic longitude and
Galactic declination of a sample cluster, then its
galactocentric Galactic rectangular coordinates can be obtained by the following transformation:

ix] [85xo]sRocosbcosz]
r
rcoscos]
Y

Yo

= IRocosbsinl

Z0

L Ro sin b

=T.

/sinacos5
L sin 5

(1)

in which, T is the transformation matrix. From Table 1 and the parameters defined in
section 2.2, we have

T =

-0.05272 -0.87243 -0.48589]

0.49084 -0.44638 0.74821/ "
-0.86965 -0.19905 0.45176J

(2)

2.3.2 Derivation of the Velocities

In the same way, the space velocities of the sample clusters in the galactocentric Galactic
rectangular coordinate system can be derived:

= B

[ -(V~ad + 10.4)
]
~#a cos 5/7r + 14.8 + 220.0
,p~/~" + 7.3

(3)

in which,

B=T.

cos a cos 5 - sin a - cos a sin 5

sin a cos 5 cos a - sin a sin 5
sin 5
0
cos 5

(4)

46

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

(=4.74057) is the well-known conversion factor from A U / y e a r to k m / s .

2.3.3 C a l c u l a t i o n of the U n c e r t a i n t i e s
Errors in the radial velocity, a b s o l u t e proper m o t i o n , p a r a l l a x a n d o t h e r o b s e r v a t i o n a l
d a t a will cause u n c e r t a i n t i e s in the calculated space coordinates a n d velocities, a n d these
can be calculated from the v a r i a t i o n of a m u l t i v a r i a t e function.
If F ( x , y, z) is a m u l t i v a r i a t e function, t h e n its u n c e r t a i n t y c a n be derived from t h e
following variational e q u a t i o n :

OF 2 2

OF 2 2
) % +

OF 2 2
)
"

(5)

By a p p l y i n g this e q u a t i o n to F o r m u l a e (1) a n d (3), we can derive the u n c e r t a i n t i e s of t h e

space coordinates a n d the three c o m p o n e n t s of velocity.

Table 2
NGC Fe/H
362
1851
1904
2298
4147
,4590
5024
5139
5272
,5897
,5904
6093
6121
6144
,6205
6218
6254
,6341
6397
6584
6626
6656
,6712
6752
6779
6809
7078
7089
7099

2.4

-1.16
-1.22
-1.57
-1.85
-1.83
-2.06
-1.99
-1.62
-1.57
-1.80
-1.29
-1.75
-1.20
-1.73
-1.54
-1.48
-1.52
-2.29
-1.95
-1.49
-1.45
-1.64
-1.01
-1,56
-1.94
-1.81
-2.25
-1.62
-2.12

T h e coordinates and velocities of the sample clusters

X
Y
Z
Rgc
U
V
W
(kpc)
(kpc)
(kpc)
(kpc)
km s - 1
km s - 1
km s - 1
5.44-0.6 -3.24-0.3 -7.2+0.8 9.64-0.7 32.34-30 -71.84-29 -72.94-22
12.74-1.3 3.04-0.3 -10.9-4-1.1 17.14-1.2 238.04-38 -3.84-26 -101.64-33
16.1+1.6 4.34-0.4 -9.54-1.0 19.24-1.5 121.94-32 -29.04-31 12.74-36
12.74-1.3 1.24-0.1 -9.84-1.0 16.1-4-1.2 -77.44-47 -0.44-26 118.34-51
9.84-1.0 -5.94-0.6 -18.34-1.8 21.64-1.6 91.04-75 -15.44-76 140.94-17
4.44-0.4 3.04-0.3 -8.94-0.9 10.44-0.8 211.84-34 248.14-23 12.04-25
5.74-0.6 16.24-1.6 -8.14-0.8 18.94-1.4 -38.24-86 258.94-87 -75.54-16
5.34-0.5 0.94-0.1 -4.14-0.4 6.74-0.5 -56.04-12 -41.44-12 0.24-11
7.04-0.7 7.44-0.7 7.24-0.7 12.54-0.7 -19.44-26 -93.44-29 -124.5-4-05
-2.14-0.2 6.24-0.6 -3.74-0.4 7.54-0.6 35.04-32 -88.84-58 121.64-45
3.44-0.4 5.54-0.6 0.54-0.1 6.54-0.5 -334.74-33 -72.74-27 -212.9-4-30
-0.84-0.1 3.34-0.3 -1.34-0.1 3.74-0.3 -10.24-11 -126.24-47 -97.1+30
6.44-0.6 0.64-0.1 -0.34-0.0 6.54-0.6 -51.54-03 -16.2-4-25 -14.04-06
-1.34-0A 2.84-0.3 -1.44-0.1 3.44-0.2 -165.6-4-10 -75.64-44 8.1-4-32
5.54-0.6 2.64-0.3 6.64-0.7 9.04-0.6 271.54-41 144.54-25 -113.44-20
4.34-0.4 2.14-0.2 1.34-0.1 5.04-0.4 -137.74-12 126.14-18 -81.44-16
4.64-0.4 1.74-0.2 1.24-0.1 5.04-0.4 -83.34-10 126.04-24 101.94-20
6.0-4-0.6 1.74-0.2 7.64-0.7 9.9+0.7 27.3-4-26 66.14-17 . 42.44-21
6.44-0.6 -0.44-0.0 -0.94-0.1 6.54-0.6 40.6+07 119.54-12 -107.7=h13
3.84-0.4 -3.64-0.3 -4.14-0.4 6.64-0.4 -73.94-26 -146.74-51 -181.4-4-41
2.94-0.3 -0.54-0.1 0.84-0.1 3.04-0.3 -32.04-03 159.04-24 -43.14-17
5.44-0.5 -0.44-0.0 0.64-0.1 5.44-0.5 152.44-05 194.24-19 -123.44-25
2.34-0.2 -0.54-0.0 3.04-0.3 3.84-0.3 98.14-06 186.54-12 -136.44-20
5.24-0.5 -1.64-0.2 -1.64-0.2 5.74-0.5 37.14-05 194.94-09 24.04-07
3.94-0.4 0.74-0.1 9.04-0.9 9.84-0.8 111.44-18 143.54-29 4.64-43
3.64-0.3 -2.14-0.2 0.84-0.1 4.24-0.3 -190.14-07 -1.04-31 -106,14-15
4.64-0.4 -2.04-0.2 9.34-0.9 10.64-0.8 -162.84-30 -11.14-22 -66.14-25
2.94-0.3 -4.04-0.4 9.24-1.0 10.54-0.9 97.24-42 7.34-42 -328.84-51
3.64-0.4 -5.24-0.5 3.64-0.4 7.34-0.5 64.14-21 -103.84-37 53.64-20

Results of Data Reduction

T h e derived space coordinates, velocities a n d other related p a r a m e t e r s of t h e 29 s a m p l e

clusters are listed in T a b l e 2. I n this table, C o l u m n 1 is the N G C n u m b e r of t h e cluster;
C o l u m n 2 is the m e t a l l i c i t y [Fe/H]; C o l u m n s 3-5 are the g a l a t o c e n t r i c c o o r d i n a t e s X , Y,
Z a n d their u n c e r t a i n t i e s ; C o l u m n 6 is the galactocentric d i s t a n c e Rgc a n d u n c e r t a i n t y ;
C o l u m n s 7-9 are U, V, W , the c o m p o n e n t s of the space velocity in t h e d i r e c t i o n s of X ,

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

47

Y, Z, and uncertainties. Asterisks mark those clusters used in the discussion of orbital
morphologies below.

3. S P A C E D I S T R I B U T I O N A N D V E L O C I T I E S OF T H E S A M P L E
CLUSTERS
Based on a study of the metallicities and motions of the globular clusters in the Galaxy,
Zinn[4] and Armondroff[18] proposed that globular clusters consist of two subsystems belonging respectively to the halo population and the disk population and that the halo subsystem
has a low metallicity ([Fe/H]< -0.8), a spherical space distribution, and properties similar
to the halo field stars while the disk subsystem has a high metallicity, and properties similar
to the thick-disk field stars. Their proposition has been confirmed by many observations
and theories. Further observations indicate that the number density of the globular clusters varies with the galactocentric distance, and for galactocentric range 3--20 kpc, it varies
as Rg-35. Thus, most of the globular clusters, especially the halo clusters, are distributed
within galatocentric distance 10 kpc, and have a spherically symmetrical distribution around
the Galactic center.
Next, based on the results listed in Table 2, we will make some analyses and comparisons
on the space position and velocity distribution of the 29 halo clusters of our sample.
3.1 T h e Space D i s t r i b u t i o n
(1) The three-dimensional distribution of our sample clusters in X - Y - Z is shown in
Fig.2, and and their distribution in galactocentric distance is shown by the histogram of
Fig. 3 (the curve is the best Ganssian fit). These figures indicate that the clusters exhibit
a spherically symmetric distribution around the Galactic center, that they are somewhat
concentrated toward the Galactic plane, and that most of them are within 10 kpc, and the
number density has a peak between 5 and 10 kpc. These results are in accordance with the
conclusion of Zinn et al.
(2) The studies made by LIN Qing et al. [17'18] indicate that the metallicity distribution
of the globular clusters in the Galaxy exhibits a double-peak structure. The two peaks given
by Gauss fitting are: [Fe/H]= -1.58, a = 0.33 (metal-poor clusters), and [Fe/H]= -0.54,
a = 0.21 (metal-rich clusters). The metallicities of our sample clusters are [Fe/H] < -0.8, so
there is only one peak in our sample.
Fig.4 is the metallicity histogram and Gauss fitting of our sample clusters: it has a
peak at [Fe/H]-~ -1.6. This result indicates that for the halo globular clusters of the same
integrated spectral type, the number of the clusters as a function of metallicity is consistent
with the above conclusion.
3.2 Velocity F e a t u r e s
(1) The space velocities given in Table 2 are plotted in the 3-dimensional U - V - W
space in Fig.5. It shows that the space velocities of clusters with the same integrated spectral
type exhibit apparently an ellipsoidal distribution, with the dispersion obviously greater in
the Galactic plane than perpendicular to it.
(2) Based on his deep study on the distribution, motions and physical features of the
globular clusters in the Galaxy, Zinn[ 19,2] suggested that subsystems of globular clusters

48

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

20"
15

":'-"

v-z'~i~"~

.............

1.0'

0.8

...5

0 ~Y,~YPlan. l
~ ' ; " ~ . ~ " L~--" "
- " ' ~ . .~,
' , ~~ ~ i " " . ~ , Y
N -5

~0.6
o"

0.4

,o

-20 L'~

"X-ZP'ian: .......

-Ls.i~..-

Y" (o k p ~' ) ~

i ~ 1 15

" : ; ~ 5'

6 5 x (kpc)

Fig. 2 Distribution of the sample clusters in space

0.2
. . . . . . . . . .
5
l0
15 20
25
RGC(KPC)
Fig. 3 The number of sample dusters as a function
of the galatocentric distance
0.0

300

l.O

:1
1001

0.8

II

~0.6

:: 0400

0.4

0.2
0.C
-2.5

-2.0

-1.5
-1.0
~em]

-0.5

~0

Fig.4 Thenumberofsampleclusters as a~nction

ofmetMlici~

Fig. 5 Distribution of space velocities of the sample clusters

with different properties (space distribution, radial velocity, velocity dispersion, age, etc.)
may have different mechanisms of origin. The halo clusters can be further divided into two
subsystems. One is the horizontal-branch (HB) subsystem with metallicity [Fe/H]< - 0 . 8 ,
itself further divided into a red horizontal branch (RHB) and a blue horizontal branch
(BHB). The other is the metal-poor (MP) subsystem with metallicity [Fe/H]< - I . 8 .
It is commonly believed that the RHB clusters have a spherical space distribution,
a larger velocity dispersion and smaller rotational motions, and are distributed mostly in
the region more than 6 kpc from the Galactic center, and that they may have been formed
later in some satellite galaxy following accretion or splitting of the Galaxy. In contrast, the
BHB clusters have marked rotations, a flat ellipsoidal space distribution, and metallicities
varying obviously with the galactocentric distance. They may have been formed normally
in the processes of general collapse. Different from the RHB clusters, the MP clusters are
distributed in the inner region of the Galaxy, their galactocentric distances are generally

49

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) $2-65

in the range 2.7--8kpc. As they were being formed during the collapse, their metallicities
gradually increased, their rotation speeded up, and their space distribution got flatter: they
belong to the oldest branch in the Galaxy.
Table 3 lists the type or subsystem (RHB, BHB or MP) to which each of our sample
clusters belongs, and Figs.6 (a--c) show, separately for the three subsystems, (circles for
MP, triangles for BHB, filled circles for RHB), the variations of the three components of the
space velocity with galatocentric distance.
Table 3
362
1851
1904
2298
4147
4590

RHB
RHB
BHB
MP
RHB
MP

The belonging types of the sample clusters

5204
5139
5272
5897
5904
6093

MP
MP
RHB
MP
RHB
BHB

6121
6144
6205
6218
6254
6341

BHB
MP
BHB
BHB
BHB
MP

6397
6584
6626
6656
6712
6752

MP
RHB
BHB
BHB
BHB
BHB

6779
6809
7078
7089
7099

MP
MP
MP
BHB
MP

From Figs.l-6, showing the distributions and the correlations of the various parameters,
we find:
(1) The clusters of the same spectral type but belonging to different subsystems are
essentially in accordance with their known classification properties.
(2) The results of our data processing and reduction are correct. They provide a reliable
basis for further discussions on the orbital motions of the clusters.

4. T H R E t ~ G A L A C T I C G R A V I T A T I O N A L P O T E N T I A L M O D E L S A N D
ORBIT CALCULATIONS
4.1 A Brief D e s c r i p t i o n of Three Galactic Gravitational P o t e n t i a l M o d e l s
To calculate and analyse the orbits of the sample clusters, we must start with an analytic
model of the Galaxy. We have selected three gravitational potential models in order to study
the effect of different models on the resulting orbital behaviour.
The first model is one proposed by Paczynski[21] (P90 hereafter); the second, by Johnson et al.[22] (JSH95 hereafter); the third, by Danphole et al. (DC95 hereafter) in which the
clusters are restricted to galactocentric distances < 40 kpc. In fact, more and more observations have proved that globular clusters of the Galaxy are mostly distributed within 40 kpc,
and some recent studies take such clusters as having a common origin with the Galaxy. So
it seems that the DC95 model has a universal meaning for the study of globular clusters.
All the three models are axisymmetric and consist of three components: a bulge, a disk,
and a dark halo. For all three models, the disk potential follows the axisymmetric form
proposed by Miyamoto and Nagai in 1975. For the other two components, however, the
forms of the gravitational potentials are different: for the bulge, JSH95 uses the form given
by Hernquist [24], while P50 and DC95 use the traditional Plummer spherically symmetric
form[25]; for the dark halo, Pg0 and JSH95 use the logarithmic form derived directly from
fitting the rotation curve of the Galaxy, while DC95 uses again the Plummer form.
For convenience, the specific forms and parameters of the three gravitational potential
models are listed in Table 4 (in which r 2 = R 2 + z2).

50

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomv and Astrophysics ~7 (2003) ,~2-65

300 '

200 '

A O

..~

,..., 100'

u o

o~

-'100

-200
-300
-40O

lO

15

2o

(a) Uvs.RGc (KPC)

300"
250
200"

I "B~I
I PttBI

.~

150"

100"
>

50~

0-

C
0

-50

-100"
-150"
0

10
15
20
(b) Vvs. RGc (KPC)

25

200
100 '
0

~: -lO0

~r,

-200

..~

&&

I PHBI

-300
-400

10
15
(c) Wvs RGC (KPC)

20

25

Fig. 6 The three components of the space velocities of sample

clusters plotted against galactocentric distance

51

W A N G Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics Z7 (2003) ,~2-65

Table 4
Model
P90

Galactic potential models

potential model and p a r a m e t e r s

P90: (x, y, z) = ~bulge + ~disk + Ohalo -~- 00 = --

(IMb
R2-~(ab+

GMd
R2+(ad~ -

z2+b2) 2

.......

z2+b2) 2

Mb = 1.12 x 101M,ab = 0. kp,bb = 0.277kpe, Md = .07 x 101M,ad = 3.7kpe

bd = 0.20kpc, Mh = 5.0 x 101M,d = 6.0kpe, Oo = - 1 2 . 3 x 104(km s - l ) 2

(Obulge, Odisk, Ohalo, 00)

JSH95

JSH95:

O (x'Y'Z)

GM b _
= O b u l g e + O d i s k "}- O h a l + OO = -- r + c

GM~
~/R2+(ad+~)2

r2
+ 122
o ln(1 + d--~-)
+ O0

M b = 3.4 101M,c = 0.7kpc, Md = 10 101M,ad = 6.5kpc, bd = 0.26 kpc

uo : 1 2 8 k m / s , d = 1 2 . 0 k p c , ~ o = - 5 . 2 104(km s - l ) 2

((I)bulse, Cdisk, (I)halo, 00)

= --

DC95

C~M

, C4M d ,,

GM h

Mb = 1.396 x 10mM,bb = O.35kpe, Md = 7.908 x 1010MO,ad ---- 3.55 kpc

bh = 24.0kpe,bd = 0.25kpc, Mh = 6.978 x 1OHM

(Obulse, Odisk, Ohalo)

4.2 T h e Orbit C a l c u l a t i o n s
(1) Equation of motion
In the galatocentric coordinate system O - X Y Z
motion of the cluster are:
dVx
dt
dV~ _
dt
dVz
dt -

O(x, y, z)
Ox
O~(x,y,z)
Oy
'
O~(x, y, z)
Oz
'

shown in Fig.l, the equations of

dx
dt
Vx ,
dY = vy,
dt
dz
d-'-t= Vz'

(6)

in which if(x, y, z) is the Galactic gravitational potential, Vx = U, Vu = V, Vz = W are the

three components of the space velocity.
Based on the model parameters given in Table 6, we have:
For the P90 and JSH95 models, (x, y, z) = butge + Cdisk + hato + 40;
For the DC95 model, ~(x, y, z) = b~,lg~ + ~disk -~" (~halo.
(2) Numerical integration of the orbit.
Taking the coordinates ( X , Y , Z ) and velocity components ( U , V , W ) of the sample clusters listed in Table 2 as initial values, and using the 4-order Runge-Kutta method we numerically integrated the equations of motion and calculated the orbits and the related parameters
for all the sample clusters for the three different gravitational potential models. The step
length of integration was 105 yr, and the total integration time was 10 l yr (10 Gyr).

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics ~7 (2003) 42-65

52

5. R E S U L T S O F O R B I T C A L C U L A T I O N A N D D I S C U S S I O N
5.1

R e s u l t s o f Orbit C a l c u l a t i o n s
The results of our orbit calculations are summarized in Table 5, which lists the average
values of the orbital parameters and their uncertainties.
Table 5
NGC
number
362

1851

1904

2298

4147

*4590

5024

5139

5272

,5897

*5904

6093

6121

6144

,6205

6218

T h e orbital p a r a m e t e r s and their uncertainties for 29 s a m p l e c l u s t e r s

/tp

/~

(kpc)
0.884-0.29
0.860.31
0.840.31
3.090.04
3.040.07
2.970.06
3.270.09
3.190.16
3.084-0.10
1.580.24
1.544-0.28
1.500.25
10.210.12
9.084-0.17
8.884-0.10
7.874-0.05
7.620.10
7.820.08
5.430.02
5.240.05
5.164-0.03
0.694-0.09
0.680.03
0.654-0.07
6.130.29
5.784-0.33
5.870.26
0.930.02
0.910.03
0.890.03
5.900.03
5.910.07
5.904-0.05
1.470.16
1.474-0.08
1.394-0.13
0.220.00
0.234-0.04
0.210.03
1.974-0.46
2.060.36
1.900.45
7.264-0.06
7.090.12
7.250.10
2.810.41
2.920.42
2.74-}-0.41

(kpc)
12.224-0.19
12.464-0.21
11.840.21
41.310.02
36.664-0.04
30.390.02
23.070.05
22.870.09
21.674-0.04
21.294-0.15
20.984-0.19
19.654-0.16
27.254-0.09
26.900.13
24.500.07
40.894-0.03
33.510.06
26.544-0.05
49.164-0.01
42.664-0.02
34.450.02
8.190.07
8.350.02
8.070.07
14.580.24
14.904-0.25
13.920.19
10.780.02
10.830.03
10.454-0.03
42.464-0.02
32.464-0.04
27.260.03
5.004-0.10
4.890.07
4.860.09
6.70/:0.01
6.720.04
6.694-0.03
4.440.35
4.714-0.28
4.760.35
34.900.04
28.760.08
23.880.06
7.040.34
7.140.33
6.690.34

(kpc)
6.550.05
6.660.06
6.340.05
22.200.01
19.850.02
16.684-0.02
13.170.02
13.034-0.04
12.374-0.03
11.444-0.05
11.264-0.06
10.574-0.05
18.730.01
17.994-0.02
16.694-0.02
24.38+0.01
20.574-0.02
17.180.02
27.294-0.01
23.950.01
19.814-0.01
4.444-0.01
4.510.01
4.360.01
10.350.02
10.344-0.04
9.904-0.04
5.854-0.01
5.874-0.01
5.670.01
24.180.01
19.180.01
16.584-0.01
3.230.03
3.180.01
3.130.02
3.460.00
3.474-0.01
3.450.00
3.464-0.05
3.394-0.04
3.330.05
21.080.01
17.930.02
15.570.02
4.920.04
5.030.05
4.810.04

Pr

0.874-0.05
0.870.08
0.870.06
0.860.00
0.854-0.00
0.824-0.00
0.754-0.01
0.760.01
0.754-0.01
0.860.04
0.860.07
0.864-0.05
0.464-0.01
0.500.01
0.470.01
0.680.00
0.634-0.00
0.554-0.00
0.800.00
0.780.00
0.740.00
0.854-0.08
0.850.02
0.854-0.08
0.414-0.03
0.444-0.03
0.414-0.02
0.840.02
0.840.04
0.840.04
0.760.00
0.690.00
0.640.00
0.550.08
0.544-0.06
0.550.07
0.944-0.01
0.934-0.04
0.944-0.06
0.434-0.12
0.394-0.10
0.430.12
0.664-0.00
0.600.01
0.530.01
0.430.08
0.420.08
0.430.08

(106yr)
1391
1364-I
1281
5242
4282
3144-0
2934-2
2672
2334-1
2584-I
2364-1
2064-1
4164-3
3594-2
2932
5654-3
4222
3034-2
6424-3
5172
3632
921
931
891
2184-2
1942
1822
1250
1204-0
1140
5614-0
3992
2994-2
630
654-1
590
720
740
711
661
661
631
4862
3630
2772
921
962
901

P~

[J[

(108yr) k p c m s - I
2334-2
2271
43464
2102
8274
6944-3 148821
5134-1
4473
4262
140336
3724-2
4254-2
3921
76858
3434-2
5904-3
5184-3 31744-22
4554-3
824-4
6283 29914-19
4734-2
9674-4
8013 23784-11
5764-2
1524-0
1530
3317
1440
3042
2984-2
19254-43
2762
2074-0
1974-0
4434-6
1860
8314-0
6084-3 246014
4682
1001
990
50719
924-0
1300
1394-0
1314
1310
105+1
1011
62055
974-1
6974-3
5431
272823
4292
1442
1501
91054
1371

Etot
102km2s - 2
-10440.2
-8084-0.5
-14380.0
-5500.1
-2844-0.1
-8944-0.1
-7640.1
-4920.3
-10894-0.0
-8084-0.5
-5470.8
-11600.6
-6480.0
-3644-0.0
-9524-0.0
-5330.0
-2924-0.0
-9244-0.0
-4794-0.0
-2100.1
-8060.1
-12281.0
-10094-1.0
-16321.1
-8864-0.0
-6400.0
-12640.0
-10992.6
-8781.6
-15002.0
-5290.0
-3184-0.0
-9310.1
-14294-0.6
-12180.6
-18454-0.7
-13322.0
-11220.9
-17341.5
-14084-0.1
-12020.1
-18260.1
-5904-0.0
-3574-0.0
-9870.0
-12260.1
-10130.0
-16340.1

53

WANG Long et ai. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

Table 5

T h e orbital p a r a m e t e r s and their uncertainties for 29 s a m p l e

clusters (continued)

NGC
Rp
number
(kpc)
6254 3.074-0.47
3.244-0.42
3.004-0.46
6341 1.224-0.29
1.914-0.33
1.174-0.29
6397 3.334-0.38
3.494-0.36
3.244-0.38
6584 0.954-0.31
0.934-0.27
0.914-0.34
6626
1.454-0.37
1.444-0.27
1.374-0.33
6656 4.084-0.25
4.174-0.27
4.054-0.27
6712 2.534-0.38
2.664-0.39
2.504-0.40
6752 3.724-0.45
3.874-0.45
3.674-0.45
6779 5.074-0.33
4.924-0.37
4.984-0.32
6809
1.284-0.39
1.274-0.23
1.224-0.36
7078 3.274-0.19
3.254-0.25
3.194-0.20
7089 5.104-0.04
5.034-0.07
5.064-0.06
7099 0.184-0.05
0.194-0.03
0.174-0.03

Ra
(kpc)
6.114-0.38
6.164-0.32
5.984-0.37
11.834-0.20
12.164-0.21
11.534-0.19
7.244-0.30
7.314-0.27
7.164-0.31
14.824-0.20
14.224-0.20
13.644-0.22
4.014-0.27
3.844-0.23
3.884-0.26
10.314-0.20
10.234-0.20
9.814-0.21
8.674-0.29
8.364-0.27
8.224-0.31
7.404-0.40
7.524-0.38
7.204-0.39
13.984-0.27
14.144-0.29
13.014-0.24
7.024-0.26
7.144-0.17
6.844-0.25
15.984-0.13
15.884-0.17
14.754-0.12
50.184-0.02
40.614-0.04
31.194-0.03
9.974-0.03
10.074-0.03
9.744-0.02

a
(kpc)
4.594-0.04
4.704-0.05
4.494-0.04
6.524-0.05
6.674-0.06
6.354-0.05
5.294-0.04
5.404-0.05
5.21+0.04
7.894-0.06
7.584-0.05
7.284-0.06
2.734-0.05
2.644-0.02
2.624-0.04
7.204-0.02
7.204-0.04
6.934-0.03
5.604-0.04
5.514-0.06
5.364-0.05
5.564-0.02
5.704-0.04
5.444-0.03
9.534-0.03
9.534-0.04
9.004-0.04
4.154-0.06
4.204-0.03
4.034-0.06
9.624-0.03
9.564-0.04
8.974-0.04
27.644-0.01
22.824-0.01
18.124-0.02
5.074-0.02
5.13::h0.01
4.964-0.01

e
0.334-0.10
0.314-0.08
0.334-0.10
0.814-0.05
0.824-0.06
0.824-0.05
0.374-0.07
0.354-0.07
0.384-0.08
0.884-0.07
0.884-0.09
0.884-0.09
0.474-0.13
0.464-0.10
0.484-0.12
0.434-0.04
0.424-0.04
0.424-0.04
0.554-0.06
0.524-0.07
0.534-0.07
0.334-0.08
0.324-0.07
0.334-0.08
0.474-0.03
0.484-0.04
0.454-0.03
0.694-0.11
0,704-0.08
0.704-0.12
0.664-0.02
0.664-0.02
0.644-0.02
0.824-0.00
0.784-0.00
0.724-0.00
0.974-0.04
0.964-0.02
0.974-0.03

Pr
PC
(106yr) (10Syr)
844-1
1324-2
884-1
1374-1
814-1
1264-1
1374-1 2264-2
1364-1 2234-1
1274-1 2074-2
994-1
1514-2
1044-1
1594-1
974-1
1474-1
1734-1 2924-2
1554-I 2594-1
1464-1 2434-1
514-1
834-1
554-1
814-1
504-1
774-1
1414-1 2104-2
1364-1 2104-1
1324-1
1954-1
1114-1
1724-2
1064-1 1664-1
1014-1
1564-2
1054-2 1604-1
1074-2 1664-1
1004-2 1514-1
1964-2 2844-2
1844-2 2804-2
1684-2 2524-2
824-1
1334-1
854-1
1334-1
784-1
1234-1
2054-2 3094-2
1894-1 2994-2
1734-1 2654-2
6554-0 9924-1
4894-2 7574-3
3344-2 5284-2
1124-0 2154-1
1094-0 2154-0
1044-0 2024-1

[JI
k p c m s -1
9154-60

5594-65

10334-56

4764-64

4634-35

13364-44

9074-67

11194-44

16904-48

5124-53

12934-47

22804-17

1144-11

Etot
1O2km2s -2
-12684-0.0
-10544-0.0
-16764-0.0
-10544-0.2
-8174-0.3
-14474-0.1
-11954-0.1
-9834-0,1
-15974-0.1
-9614-0,4
-7424-0.7
-13644-0.5
-15214-0.1
-13064-0.1
-19434-0.1
-10444-0.1
-8304-0.1
-14494-0.1
-11544-0.0
-9584-0.1
-15704-0.0
-11724-0.0
-9584-0.0
-15774-0.0
-9184-0.0
-6794-0.0
-13114-0.0
-12854-0.2
-10684-0.4
-16964-0.3
-9014-0.0
-6584-0.1
-12914-0.0
-4734-0.0
-2314-0.0
-8634-0.0
-11434-2.3
-9224-1.6
-15444-2.4

Note: The table lists for all sample clusters the identification number (Col.1), mean perigalactic distance
Rp and mean apogalactic distance Ra (Cols.2,3), orbital semi-major axis (ColA), orbital eccentricity (Col.5),
mean radial period Pr and mean azimuthal period P~ of the orbit (Cols.6,7), the average total angular
momentum calculated with the JSH95 model (Col.8), and average total energy (Col.9). The uncertainties of
the parameters are given together with the corresponding calculated values.
The data in the three lines behind the identification name are the results calculated by the Galactic
potential models P90, JSH95, and DC95, respectively.
The sample clusters denoted by the symbol * axe used for discussion of orbital morphologies.

5.2
5.2.1

Analysis and Discussion of Results

The Orbital Morphology
For discussing the relationship

of the orbits, metallicities and orbital morphologies,

we chose from our sample of 29 globular clusters, six "representatives".

Table 6 lists the

54

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

identification number, type, galatocentric distance, and metallicity of these six representative
clusters. Other relevant data can be read off from Tables 2 and 5, where these six clusters are
marked with asterisks. Among the 6 representative clusters, the metallicities of NGC6712
and NGC6341 are respectively the largest and smallest in our sample, and the metallicity
of NGC5897 happens to be the critical value dividing the HB and MP subsystems. The
metallicities of the six representatives are in the range 0.23,~0.29.
Table 6
NGC(No.)
6712
5904
6205

The basic p a r a m e t e r s of 6 representative clusters

Type
BHB
RHB
BHB

[Fe/H] Rsc(kpc) NGC(No.) Type

-1.01
3.77
5897
MP
-1.29
6.46
4590
MP
-1.54
9.00
6341
MP

[Fe/H] ngc(kpc)
-1.80
7.53
-2.06 10.35
-2.29
9.88

Figs.7 (a--f) illustrate the orbits of the 6 representative clusters in three different gravitational potentials, projections in the Galactic plane ( X - Y plane) are shown on the left,
those in the vertical plane passing through the sun (the X - Z plane), on the right. Analysing
and comparing Figs.7 (a--f), we find:
(1) The orbits of the sample clusters exhibit some periodicity, and most of them are
distributed within galactocentric distance 40 kpc. Because of the continuous precession of
the perigalacticon, the radial period Pr and azimuthal period PC are not equal: the orbits
are periodic, bound, but not closed.
(2) Fig.7 and the data in Table 5 indicate that using different potential models does not
make much difference in the resulting orbital morphology, but does affect the apogalactic
distance: the apogalactic distances calculated by the P90 model are greater than those
calculated by the other two models, and some of the apogalactic distances are greater than
40 kpc, not in agreement with the observational results. In comparison, the DC90 model
gives all the apogalactic distances < 40 kpc, and so is more reasonable.
(3) A large number of studies have revealed that the orbits of some clusters may exhibit
a type of abnormality, often called "chaotic" behavior. Schuster et al.[26] and Carlberg et
al.[27] have discussed in detail the orbital variation when the cluster approaches the Galactic
center. They found that because the clusters are affected by the radiation from the Galactic
core, their motion in the Galactic plane will partially be transformed to vertical motion.
This leads to changes in the "abnormal" morphology. At present, most authors believe that
the "chaotic" behavior may take place when the cluster crosses the innermost ,-, 1 kpc region
around the Galactic center.
From Figs.7a, 7d, and 7f we can see that for three clusters with small perigalactic
distances, i.e. NGC6712 (Rp -~ 2.5kpc), NGC5897(Rp -,, 0.9kpc), and NGC6341(Rp ,,~
1.0kpc), the "chaotic" behavior does take place when they come within about 1 kpc of the
center. This is particularly clear for NGC5897 with Rp ,,, 0.9 kpc.
Based on the results of our numerical calculations, we can consider that the "chaotic"
behavior may be caused by the following factors:
(i) In the region close to the Galactic core there exist the effect of radiation pointed
out by Schuster et al. [26] and Carlberg et al.[27] and the effect of other disturbances. (ii)
The selected Galactic gravitational potential models may have some possible effects. In the
region close to the Galactic core these models may no longer be suitable. They may not
describe precisely the mass distribution in the inner region and the results given by the

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

55

numerical integration will not reflect correctly the actual motion. (iii) The effect related to
the method and step of the numerical integration is not very important, because the same
method was used for all 6 clusters, and only those with small perigalactic distances showed
the abnormal behaviour, which was the more marked the smaller the perigalactic distance.
Besides these 6 clusters, we have calculated the orbits of the other clusters in our sample,
and the conclusion is similar.
In addition, for those clusters whose galatocentric distances may be less than 1 kpc,
the uncertainty of the orbit determination depends greatly on whether or not the Galactic
gravitational potential can describe precisely the inner region of the Galaxy. However, when
we evaluate quantitatively the uncertainties in the orbit calculations, the various effects
are difficult to disentangle. Therefore, we suppose that the uncertainties in our calculated
orbital parameters are mainly caused by uncertainties in the positions, velocities and other
basic parameters of the clusters.
(4) For our sample clusters, the correlation between the metallicity and orbital morphology is not apparent, but the orbital size is correlated with the orbital morphology. For
example, NGC6205 and NGC4590 have about the same perigalactic distance and apogalactic
distance, hence a similar orbital morphology, while their metallicities are quite different.
(5) Among the 6 representative clusters, only NGC5904 belongs to the RHB subsystem
and its apogalactic distance is the larges t. As Dinescu et al.[ll] indicated, the clusters of the
RHB subsystem generally have larger apogalactic distances. Now, in places far away from
the Galactic center the weakened constraint of the Galactic gravitational potential makes
the orbital periods longer, and the orbital curves get sparser. The orbital morphologies
shown in Fig.7(b) have confirmed this conclusion. In comparison, the orbital sizes of the
clusters of the BHB and MP subsystems are much smaller, and this point is also confirmed
by the other five figures.
5.2.2 Analysis of the Orbital Parameters
(1) The relationship between the orbital parameters and metallicity
Using the calculated results given in Table 5, we have displayed separately in F i g s . 8 12, as functions of the metallicity [Fe/H], the orbital parameters (the orbital semi-major axis
a, orbital eccentricity e, perigalactic distance Rp, apogalactic distance R~, and azimuthal
period PC) of the 29 sample clusters. Examining these figures, we can find:
(i) The orbital semi-major axis a, apogalactic distance Ra, and azimuthal period PC
vary with the metallicity in similar ways (see Fig.8, Fig.11, and Fig.12). For 22 clusters
(about 76% of the sample) with different metallicities, these orbital parameters are respectively in the following ranges: 3kpc< a <15kpc, 4kpc< Ra <25kpc, and 80 x 108yr
< PC < 400 x 106 yr. Especially, in the [Fe/H] interval between -1.9 and -1.4 are concentrated the 15 sample clusters whose apogalactic distances are less than 40 kpc, and there
is a peak at [Fe/H]= -1.6. There is also a noticeable peak in the relationship between
the perigalactic distance and metallicity, shown in Fig. 10. This result is consistent with
the conclusion of LIN Qing et al. and the curve shown in Fig.4. This indicates that the
variations of the orbital parameters are related to the initial space positions and velocities
of the given sample clusters;
(ii) Both Dinescu (1999) and Chiba et al.[ 2s] have found that the orbital eccentricity
tends to be high in the range [Fe/H]_< -1.8. The ratio of the clusters with low eccentricities
will increase in the range [Fe/H]> 1.8, and for about 16,,,20% of the halo clusters, their

56

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

[NGC 6712(P90)[ [Fe/H]:-I.01

[NGC 6712(P90)l

[Fc/H]:-l.01

-2
-4
-6
-8

-6

-4

-2

-8

-6

-4

-2

x (kpc)

x (kpc)

~qGC 6712(JSH95~

[Fg/H]:-I.01

~IGC 6712(JSH95~ [Fe/I-I]:-l.01

2
-~o

-2

-2

-4.

-4

-6
-6

-4

-2

-6

-6

-4

X (kpc)
41

INGC 6712(DC95)]

-2
0
X (kpc)

[NGC 6712(DC95)1 [Fe/H]:-l.01

[Fe/H]:-l.01 6
4

-4.
6

-6

-4

-2
0
X (kpc)

-6

-4

-2

x (kpc)

(a) The orbit of NGC6712

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

I NGC5904(P90)I

50
40
30
20

[Fe/H]:-l.29

-10
-20
-30
-40

[Fe/H]:-l.29

20
15
10
~, 5

~>.

o
-5
-10
-15
-20

4
-40-30-20-I0

001

0 10 20 30 40
X(kpc)

~NGC5 9 - ( ) 4 ( ~

[Fe/Hl:-l.29

-40-30-20-10

10 20 30 40

X(kpe)

10,1

15

-20

"lOt

-10

-30

-15

~NGC5904(JSH95~ [Fe/H]:-l.29

"l

-30 -20

-10

10

20

30

-30

-20 -10

X(kpc)
30

-30

57

-20

[-NGC5904(DC95)
1 [Fe/H]:-l.29

15

-10

-15
-30

0
10
X(kpc)

10

20

30

X(kpc)

20

30

[ NGC5904(DC95)]

-20

(b) The orbit of NGC5904

-10

0
10
X(kpc)

[Fe/H]:-I.29

20

30

58

WANG Long et at. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

15]

[Fe/H]:-I.54

101

40

INGC6205(P90)~

30

"5" 5

20
"~" I0

"

-i0

-10[
-15
-40-30-20-10

101

-20

0 10 20 30 40
X(kpc)

~NGC6205(JSH95~

[Fe/H]:-I.54

-30
-40
-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
X(kpc)
30

INGC6205(JSH95~ [Fe/H]:-I.54

lOl

ot
~" .5t
-10
-15
-30 -20 -10

10 20 30

-20
-30
-30 -:20 -1'0

[N~:C~0~(~J

[Fem]:-l.54

fo

2'0 3"0

30-

INGC6205(DC95)J

[Fe/H]:-I.54

20

~" 5

~ I0-

-lO-

.101
~0 -20 .10

0
X(kpc)

X(kpc)

10

[Fe/I-I]:1.54

10 20

30

"20J
"3~30 -20 -10

0
x(~o

x(~c)

(c) The orbitofNGC6205

10

20

30

WANG Long et al.

/ Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

~N~}C 5897~q0~

8"

[Fe/H]:- 1.80

[NOC 5897(P90)1

59

[Fe/H]:- 1.80

2]

l-

4-

0-

2
O

~-1

-2

~ -2-

-4"

-3"

-6

-4-

-8

-lO

"5

-3

-2

-1

0
X(kpc)

[Fe/H]:- 1.80

-2

-1

INGC5897(JSH95~

4
3
2

[Fe/H]:- 1.80

0
t,q
-1

~-o
-2

-2

-4
-6
-8

..10

-3

x(~,c)

~-NGC5897(JSH95~

10.
8
6
4
~" 2

-2

-1

-3
-4
-5

-2

-1

X(kpc)
[~C5897L-~DC9~_5

8
6

[Fe/H]:- 1.80

3-

1
X(kpc)

INGC5897(DC95~

[Fe/H]:-1.80

4
2

~- o I
~

-2"

-4.
-6"
-8"

-10.

-3

-2

-1

0
i
X(kpc)

-3

(d) The orbit of NGC5897

-2

-1

0
X(kpc)

60

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 4~-65

i]

30
2O

,Nc459o90ej:.2.oII1

,N459oo e1:.2.o6

40
2

-20

t
-20
-3

-40

-40

]:-2.06
20
I

40
30
21)
10

-10~

N -10
-20

-20t

-30
-30-20-tO

10 20 30 40

40

-40

:-2.06

-30 -20 -lO

X(kp0

lO 20 30 40

X(kpc)

[NGC4590(DC95)I [Fern]:-2.06
20
15
10

"10t
-15
-20
-30 -20 -I0

INGC4590(DC95)I [Fe/H]:-2.06
20
t

-t0]
-20
0
t0
X(kpc)

20

30

"3030 -20

(e) The orbit of NGC4590

-t0

0
t0
X(kpc)

20 30

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

[NGC6341( Pg0 ~ [Fe/H]:-2.29

INGC6341( P90 ] [Fe/H]:-2.29

Av

10.

8.

6.

6.
"-"
o

4"

;"

4.

""

N -2
-4
-6

-8

-8

-10

-10
-10-8-6-4

- 1 0 - 8 - 6 - . 4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
X (kpc)
10-

,-,

-2 0

8 10

X (k~)
10.

[~q~634 I(JSH9~ [Fe/H]:-2.29

64

2"

INGC6341(JSH95]

[FePd]:-2.29

0.

N" -2.

N -2
-4
-6

-4.
-6
.8.

-8

-10
- 1 0 - 8 -6 -4 -2 0

8 10

-10-8-6-4

-2

x (kpc)
[NGC6341(DC95)J

,~
..~
~"

61

8 10

X (k~)
[Fe/H]:-2.29

10

10

6
42
20

6
4N

.2-4-

[NGC6341(DC95)[

[Fe/H]:-2.29

0
.4-

.6 ~

-6.

-10-10-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
X (kp)

-8"

8 10

-10-8-6-4-2

8 1.0

X (kp)

(f) The orbit of NGC6341

Fig. 7 The orbits of 6 representative clusters for 3 Galactic potential models (the left and
right panels show the orbits in the X-Y and X-Z planes, respectively)

62

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics P7 (2003) 42-65

orbital eccentricities .are less than 0.4. Fig.9 shows the relationship between the orbital
eccentricity and metallicity for the 29 sample clusters. Taking the result of calculation with
DC95 model as example, among the 12 sample clusters with [Fe/H]_< -1.8 there is only
one cluster whose eccentricity is lower than 0.4, and among the 17 sample clusters with
[Fe/H]> -1.8 there are 6 clusters (or 35%) whose eccentricities are _< 0.4. Therefore, for 7
of our 29 sample clusters (24%), the eccentricity is _< 0.4. Obviously, our result is basically
in agreement with the finding of Dinescu et al.
(2) Effect of different gravitational potential models on the orbital parameters.
The effects of different gravitational potential models on the perigalactic distance and
orbital eccentricity are relatively small. Especially, the effect on the eccentricity is very
small, and this is in agreement with the conclusion of Dinescu et al. But the effects on the
semi-major axis a, radial period Pr, azimuthal period PC, and others, and, especially on the
apogalactic distance Ra, are relatively clear. From Fig. 11 we see that Ra values greater than
40kpc are not found in the DC95 model (they are found in the other two): this illustrates
the strong constraint of the DC95 model on the apogalactic distance.
(3) The uncertainties of the x)rbital parameters
The uncertainties of the orbital elements are also given in Table 5 and Fig.8--Fig.12 for
all the sample clusters. Except the uncertainty in the eccentricity, the uncertainties in the
other orbital elements are all very small, and the effect of different gravitational potential
models is not obvious. It proves that the uncertainties of the orbital elements are mainly
caused by those in the basic parameters of the clusters, such as the absolute proper motion,
radial velocity, initial position, and other factors, and among the various orbital elements
the orbital eccentricity is most sensitive to these factors.
(4) The orbital total energy and angular momentum distribution
In Fig.13, we present the relationship between the total energy and angular momentum
separately for clusters belonging to the three subsystems (RHB, BHB, and MP) and for the
three gravitational potential models. This figure shows that for all three potential models,
the RHB clusters tend to occur in the region of high energy and angular momentum, while
the RHB and MP clusters are more spread out in the energy range.
Combining the above analyses of the orbital morphology and parameters we can find
that the RHB type clusters have higher metallicities, eccentricities, orbital sizes and total
energies, while the other two types are not so distinct in these physical quantities. This
conclusion is again similar to the results of Dinescu et al. Therefore, our study on clusters
of the same integrated spectral type also shows that globular clusters of the RHB type may
differ from the other types in their origin and evolution mechanism.

6. C O N C L U S I O N
We have selected a sample of 29 globular clusters with integrated spectral type F in the
Galaxy. Based on their basic parameters such as distance, radial velocity, metallicity, etc.
given by Harris in 1999 and their absolute proper motion data given by Dinescu et al., we
derived their spatial and velocity distributions. Taking these as initial conditions, their orbits
were numerically followed for three Galactic gravitational potential models. The results of
the calculations indicate:

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27

P90
JSH95
* DC95

(2005) 42-65

P90
JSH95

30

25

1.0
0.9"
0.8

20

G'I5
10

I
0

0.6
0.5

0.4

0.3.

0.7-

O0

!I

i
!

0.20.l

-2.4 -2.2 -2.0 -1.8 -1.6 -1.4 -1.2 -1.0

0.0
-2.4 - 2 . 2 - 2 . 0 - 1 . 8 - 1 . 6 - 1 . 4 - 1 . 2

O r b i t a l s e m i - m a j o r axis as a f u n c t i o n of

metallicity for 29 s a m p l e clusters

-1.0

[Fe/H]

[Fc/I-I]
Fig. 8

Fig. 9

O r b i t a l eccentricity as a f u n c t i o n of m e t a l -

licity for 29 s a m p l e c l u s t e r s

P90
JSH95
* DC95

P90
JSH95
* DC95

1210-

63

50

!
8

40

0
I

~.6

'

I ~||

3O
*

"~ 20

I
2O"

it ~

i|

lO

Perigalactic d i s t a n c e as a f u n c t i o n of

metallicity for 29 s a m p l e clusters

4*

| I

II
i~ ii I

-2,4 -2.2 -2.0 -1.8 -1.6 -1.4 -1.2 -1,0

[Feral

[Fe/H]
Fig. 10

-2.4 -2.2 -2.0 -1.8 -1.6 -1.4 -1.2 -1.0

t*

Fig. 11

A p o g a l a c t i c d i s t a n c e as a f u n c t i o n of

metallicity for 29 s a m p l e c l u s t e r s

(1) The sample clusters exhibit a spherically symmetric distribution around the Galactic
center. They are located within galactocentric distance 40 kpc, and are concentrated in the
5--10 kpc range. Their space velocities exhibit an ellipsoidal distribution.
(2) Of the 29 sample clusters, 17 belong to the horizontal branch (HB) subsystem
([Fe/H]< -0.8)(with 6 belonging to RHB, 11 belonging to BHB), and 12 belong to the
metal-poor (MP) subsystem ([Fe/H]< -1.8). The results of our calculations demonstrate
that their physical characteristics, such their distribution in space and velocity dispersion and
so on are accordant with the known results of the globular clusters in general. The number
density of our sample clusters varies with the metallicity and peaks around [Fe/H]= -1.6.
(3) We have analyzed the orbital morphologies of 6 representative clusters. It is found
that almost all six move in open and periodic orbits within galactocentric distance 40 kpc.
Using different gravitational potential models did not much affect the specific orbital morphologies, but did affect the apogalactic distance to varying degrees. Most of the clusters
have maximum galactocentric distances less than 40 kpc. For a given gravitational potential
model, when the orbit passes within about 1 kpc of the Galactic center, "chaotic" behavior

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 (2003) 42-65

64

P90
JSH95
* DC95

I000

8OO
A

v,I

6OO

400

200

*!

0.

* t

~..

%%
0

-2,4 -2.2 - 2 . 0 - 1 . 8 - 1 . 6

-1.4 -1.2 -1.0

-0.2
-0.4
-0.6.
-0.8-1.O
-1.2,
-1.4
-1.6
-l.g
-2.0

oD

o
~

tJA

o| A

-
v~

v~

[Fem]

500 1000 1500 2000 250030003500

IJI(kpe*kin/s)

Fig. 12 A z i m u t h period as a function of metallicity

Fig. 13

for 29 sample clusters

gular m o m e n t u m for 29 sample clusters

Total energy as a function of orbital an-

may take place, examples are NGC6712, NGC5897, and NGC6341. The correlation between
the metallicity and the orbital morphology is not obvious. The clusters of the RHB subsystem have greater galactocentric distances, and major parts of their orbits stretch into
regions far from the Galactic core. In comparison, clusters of the BHB and MP subsystems
have much smaller orbits.
(4) For our 29 sample clusters, the orbital semi-major axis, apogalactic distance, and
azimuthal period vary with the metallicity in essentially similar ways. The orbital eccentricity is related to the metallicity. Among the selected halo clusters, about 24% have orbital
eccentricities less than 0.4. The different gravitational models have little effects dn the perigalactic distance and eccentricity, but quite noticeable effects on the apogalactic distance,
orbital semi-major axis, radial period, azimuthal period. Their effect on the uncertainties
of the orbital parameters is not apparent. The uncertainties of the orbital parameters are
mainly caused by uncertainties in the basic parameters such as the absolute proper motion,
radial velocity, initial position, and so on, and the effect on the orbital eccentricity is most
obvious. Compared to the other two subsystems, the RHB clusters have higher metallicities,
greater eccentricities, as well as larger orbits, greater total energies and angular momenta.
All this further justifies the point that globular clusters of the RHB type differ from 'the
other types in their origin and evolution mechanism.

WANG Long et al. / Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics 27 ($003) 42-65

65

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