Continuous stellar mass-loss in N-body models of galaxies

¹ Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Boční II 1401, 141 31 Prague 4, Czech Republic
² DEMIRM, Observatoire de Paris, 61 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France

Corresponding author: B. Jungwiert, bruno@ig.cas.cz

Received: 22 May 2001
Accepted: 4 July 2001

Abstract

We present an N-body computer code -aimed at studies of galactic dynamics - with a CPU-efficient algorithm for a continuous (i.e. time-dependent) stellar mass-loss. First, we summarize available data on stellar mass-loss and derive the long-term (20 Gyr) dependence of mass-loss rate of a coeval stellar population. We then implement it through a simple parametric form into a particle-mesh code with stellar and gaseous particles. We perform several tests of the algorithm reliability and show an illustrative application: a 2D simulation of a disk galaxy, starting as purely stellar but evolving as two-component due to gradual mass-loss from initial stars and to star formation. In a subsequent paper we will use the code to study changes that are induced in galactic disks by the continuous gas recycling compared to the instantaneous recycling approximation, especially the changes in star formation rate and radial inflow of matter.